Dick Van Patten

Overview

Born
December 9, 1928 · Queens, New York City, New York, USA
Died
June 23, 2015 · Santa Monica, California, USA (complications from diabetes)
Birth name
Richard Vincent Van Patten
Height
5′ 9¼″ (1.76 m)

Dick Van Patten began acting as a child. He made his first of 27 Broadway appearances at age seven in "Tapestry in Grey." After, he appeared in numerous films, including Freaky Friday (1976), Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), and Spaceballs (1987). His television credits include his best-known role on the 1980s comedy-drama Eight Is Enough (1977), on which he played Tom Bradford, the patriarchal head of the pack.

Van Patten authored several bestselling books, including "How To Get Your Child Into Show Business" and his autobiography, "Eighty Is Not Enough." He was also known for lending his name to "Natural Balance," a line of high-end dog food that is intended to be indistinguishable from stews and other dishes, that are normally intended for human consumption. He was married to Pat Poole (née Patricia Poole) for 61 years; the union produced three sons: Nels Van Patten, James Van Patten, and Vincent Van Patten.
- IMDb mini biography by: Jeff Ballard Public Relations (2014)

Founder of "Natural Balance" dog and cat food.
Every Sunday, he played tennis with Alan Alda, Mel Brooks, and Gene Wilder.
When Van Patten was six years old, he went to the racetrack for the first time, with his father. As an adult, the actor owned racehorses and attended races at the Hollywood Park track from 1970 until his death, sitting in the same front row section. He frequently accompanied Angie Dickinson and Telly Savalas to the track.
Tom Bradford, Van Patten's character on Eight Is Enough (1977), was ranked #33 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [20 June 2004 issue].
Was offered the co-starring role of Dr. Adam Brinker on The Love Boat (1977), opposite Gavin MacLeod, but had already decided to star on Eight Is Enough (1977), instead. The role ultimately went to Bernie Kopell, a friend of Van Patten.

[on the 1981 cancellation of Eight Is Enough (1977)] Nobody called me to tell me it was canceled. I read it in the paper.
[on his longest-running acting career]: It was fun doing this and going through my life. I've had a great life. It was exciting. I worked with the most interesting people, and I traveled all over the country
[Of Adam Rich's drug/alcohol abuse]: There are many child actors, including myself, who never fell into these types of problems. If you're a child actor who can't make the transition (to more adult roles), you can't baby yourself and get involved with dope. Adam was wildly popular (on Eight Is Enough). He was the best part of the show, and then he had a lot of trouble getting roles. He's short, he's in that awkward stage where he's not as cute as he used to be, so he's difficult to cast.
[Who recalled about his father taking him to different pet stores around New York City]: One week we'd go to Brooklyn; the next week to the Bronx; the next week to Manhattan. Every week I'd buy a different pet. The whole third floor of our house was my menagerie. I had my own little pet shop up there. Everything- snakes, turtles, horned toads and more. In the back yard I had rabbits and a goat. And of course, there was Skippy the dog and Beauty the cat.
[In 2010]: If a man sits next to you and feels your leg, say loud and clear, 'Stop what you are doing immediately!' And he will stop.