Growing up as a child actor, Rich lived in Granada Hills, California with his parents and younger brother. He was active in Sports, including baseball, football, bicycle riding, skateboarding, and swimming. He also had an interest in drawing. At age 14, he tried smoking marijuana, and at 17, in 1986, he dropped out of high school. He almost died of a Valium overdose in 1989. In 1991 he was arrested and charged with attempted burglary of a pharmacy.