General Discussion

joeybee12

(56,177 posts) Tue Jun 23, 2015, 01:01 PM Jun 2015

Dick Van Patten, 'Eight is Enough' Star, Dies at 86

Dick Van Patten, the genial comic actor best known as the patriarch of TV's "Eight is Enough," has died, according to his publicist Daniel Bernstein.

No details on his death were immediately available. He was 86.

Born in New York, the veteran entertainer began his career as a child actor performing on the stage and on TV during its infancy.

But his greatest success was as Tom Bradford, a middle-aged widower and father of eight children who met and married Abby, played by Betty Buckley. The ABC comedy-drama aired from 1977-1981.

Van Patten's film roles included "Spaceballs," "The Santa Trap" and "Soylent Green."

http://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/dick-van-patten-eight-enough-star-dies-86-n380311

Never a fan of Eight is Enough, but he got around...showed up everywhere for a while...and for some reason I thought he would have been older than this. RIP

3 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Dick Van Patten, 'Eight is Enough' Star, Dies at 86 (Original Post) joeybee12 Jun 2015 OP

Rest in peace shenmue Jun 2015 #1

aw, that's a shame, he's a good hearted man freeplessinseattle Jun 2015 #2

When I found out "Eight" was based on Tom Braden's marriage closeupready Jun 2015 #3

shenmue

(38,506 posts)

1. Rest in peace

Reply to joeybee12 (Original post)

Tue Jun 23, 2015, 01:15 PM

Jun 2015

freeplessinseattle

(3,508 posts)

2. aw, that's a shame, he's a good hearted man

Reply to joeybee12 (Original post)

Tue Jun 23, 2015, 04:15 PM

Jun 2015

My cats love his brand of healthy pet foods, which are supposed to be so quality that are human grade.

A few years ago I saw him on a news segment, walking through his factory with a journalist, both holding an open can of cat food and fork.

The reporter was hesitant, but looked surprised at how not unpleasant it tasted, though could improve with salt for the human palate.

Not that I've been brave enough to try it myself, but good to know

closeupready

(29,503 posts)

3. When I found out "Eight" was based on Tom Braden's marriage

Reply to joeybee12 (Original post)

Tue Jun 23, 2015, 04:19 PM

Jun 2015

to a woman (DC celebutante whose name escapes me ATM) with whom he had an open marriage, I just loved Tom Braden even MORE than I had in the 80's when he was Bob Novak's counter-nemesis on the original Crossfire.

This was an enjoyable show from my childhood. RIP, Dick.

Reply to this discussion