Richter, the third of four children, was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to mother, Glenda Swanson (née Palmer), a kitchen cabinet designer, and father, Laurence R. Richter, who taught Russian at Indiana University for more than 32 years.[1][2][3] Richter was raised in Yorkville, Illinois. He graduated from Yorkville High School in 1984, where he was elected Prom King.[4][5] His parents divorced when he was 4 and his father later came out as gay.[6]