Dick Van Patten Took a Huge Risk To Help Troubled ‘Eight Is Enough’ Costar Adam Rich
There’s a story worth telling about actor Dick Van Patten that truly defines his character. You might not know this, but he helped one of his Eight Is Enough costars in a significant way.
Back in the early ’90s, Adam Rich, who had played Dick’s youngest son, Nicholas, was really struggling. According to the Deseret News, he’d been arrested for trying to steal a drug-filled syringe from a doctor’s office, he had broken into a pharmacy to steal drugs, and he had been caught shoplifting. All of this happened within just a few short months. As a result, Adam found himself in a place where he couldn’t afford bail. When no one else proved willing to come to Adam’s aid, Dick stepped up and put his own home up as collateral to get Adam out of jail.
Today, I’d like to spend a few minutes reminiscing about Dick, the actor, producer, Hollywood legend and all-around nice guy. While he’s probably best known for his role as Tom Bradford on Eight Is Enough, he had a long and impressive career that’s worth remembering.
Everett Collection
Dick was born on December 9, 1928, in Kew Gardens, New York. The youngest of three children, his father was a theater manager and producer. It was because of this that Dick got his start in acting as a child, making his Broadway debut at the age of seven.
Throughout his career, Dick appeared in hundreds of movies and television shows. In the ’70s alone, he was featured in shows like The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, One Day at a Time, Happy Days, and The Six Million Dollar Man and movies like Westworld. Bet you didn’t think I’d mention that last show…but the short-lived CBS TV series featuring the early work of Connie Sellecca was a favorite of mine.
But the really good stuff was, as many fans know, Eight Is Enough. As the family patriarch, Tom Bradford, Dick led the cast of the popular show, which ran from 1977 to 1981 on ABC. The TV series was based on a book by journalist Tom Braden and followed a family with, appropriately, eight kids. Dick’s performance as the dad was a big reason for the program’s success; he had a warmth and kindness that made you want him to be your own dad.
Even after Eight Is Enough ended, Dick continued to act, appearing in TV shows like The Love Boat: The Next Wave and Arrested Development. He also showed up in the Mel Brooks classic Spaceballs as Princess Vespa’s father, King Roland. Simply put, Dick loved being in the entertainment industry … and, truth be told, TV and movie audiences loved him right back.
Sadly, Dick Van Patten passed away on June 23, 2015, at the age of 86. His legacy lives on, not just through reruns of Eight Is Enough, but also through his seven-decade-long career. And, as much as Dick loved acting, there were actually other things he was way more passionate about.
Family always came first. At the time of his passing, The Sacramento Bee, shared this quote from Dick: “Tom Bradford was very much like me. His family came first. His career was second. It was the same with me.”
Along with his family, Dick was passionate about animal rights. He was also a philanthropist, doing many good deeds that he preferred to remain anonymous. In fact, it was what Dick did when he was away from the bright lights of Hollywood that was truly a testament to his kind heart.
Puzzler '80s Comedy Classics
Vol 1, Issue 6
This issue is packed with puzzles and trivia from all your favorite '80s sitcoms.
Buy This Issue