Born in the land of Oz, Ridghaus relinquished a son at age 19 and then later, at the age of 35, learned of his adoption.

He co-created the documentary film Six Word Adoption Memoirs, permeating adoptionland worldwide, then designed and edited a coffee table book from the second round of interviews.

With graduate degrees in law, film, and English Composition he taught university-level writing and media courses, including poetry, for 20 years. Currently Ridghaus co-facilitates Adoptee Voices Writing Group and Vocce – a writing group for birth/first parents.

His lifelong love for cinema started with Star Wars. and he continually studies light in motion and story craft. An amateur mycophile, when not on set he can be found in deep woods foraging and carrying his vintage Yashica Mat -124 G.