Richard Isay was born on 13 December 1934 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He was married to Gordon Harrell and Jane Franzblau. He died on 28 June 2012 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
He was a professor of psychiatry at Weill Corneill Medical College and a faculty member at Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research both in New York City.