Dick Van Patten

Dick Van Patten
Van Patten in 2010
Born	Richard Vincent Van Patten (1928-12-09)December 9, 1928 New York City, U.S.
Died	June 23, 2015(2015-06-23) (aged 86) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills
Occupations	Actor comedian businessman animal welfare advocate
Years active	1935–2012
Known for	Tom Bradford in Eight Is Enough
Spouse	Patricia Helon Poole ​ ​ (m. 1954)​
Children	3, including Vincent and Nels
Relatives	Joyce Van Patten (sister) Tim Van Patten (half-brother) Talia Balsam (niece) Grace Van Patten (niece)

Richard Vincent Van Patten (December 9, 1928 – June 23, 2015) was an American actor, comedian, businessman, and animal welfare advocate, whose career spanned seven decades of television. He was best known for his role as patriarch Tom Bradford on the television series Eight Is Enough.

Van Patten began work as a child actor and was successful on the New York stage, appearing in more than a dozen plays as a teenager. He worked in radio, on Duffy's Tavern.^[1] He later starred in numerous television roles including the long-running CBS television series, "Mama" and Young Doctor Malone. Later, he would star or co-star in many feature films, including Charly, Mel Brooks's Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Spaceballs, and Soylent Green. Van Patten was the founder of Natural Balance Pet Foods and National Guide Dog Month.

Early life

Richard Vincent Van Patten was born on December 9, 1928, in the Kew Gardens section of the New York City borough of Queens, the elder child of Richard Byron Van Patten, an interior decorator, and Josephine Rose (née Acerno), who worked in advertising. His younger sister was actress Joyce Van Patten.^{[citation needed]}

His mother was of Italian descent, while his father had Dutch and English ancestry. He began work as a model and actor as a child making his Broadway debut at the age of 7. He was successful on the New York City stage, appearing in a dozen theatrical plays before reaching his teen years. He later moved to Hollywood and began a lengthy career in film and television.^[2]

Career

Actor

Van Patten's career in show business began as a child actor on Broadway in 1935 in Tapestry In Gray starring

Van Patten appeared in several films directed by Mel Brooks, including High Anxiety, Spaceballs, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights as well as cameos in the music videos for "Smells Like Nirvana" and "Bedrock Anthem" by "Weird Al" Yankovic, and on The Weird Al Show.^[5] He played "Jack Benson" in Opposite Day (2009). He also was a commentator for the World Series of Poker from 1993 to 1995.^[2]

The Hollywood Walk of Fame honored Van Patten on November 20, 1985, with a Star of Television marker at 1541 North Vine Street.^[6] On January 12, 2008, Van Patten received a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.^[7]

On November 1, 2009, Phoenix Books published Eighty Is Not Enough!, a book co-authored by Van Patten and Robert Baer, in which Van Patten shared his 80-year journey of insights and anecdotes through the entertainment industry. He discusses his journey from his humble beginning in Queens, New York; his rise as a childhood star on Broadway during the Great Depression; working as an actor on the radio; the advent of television and his role in the second-ever live situation comedy Mama; a rough period between acting gigs including spending time as a real estate agent in Queens, New York; a rise back to the top that led the TV icon to the lead role on the popular hit show Eight Is Enough; and subsequent roles in television and movies.^[8]

Other work

An animal enthusiast, Van Patten co-founded Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods in 1989. Van Patten's creation of his own brand of dog food was satirized in comedian John Hodgman's 2008 book More Information Than You Require, and was rebranded as Dick Van Patten's Hobo Chili for Dogs.^[9] Van Patten also appeared as a television spokesman for Fisher-Price toys in the late 1980s.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Family

Patriarch of a famous Hollywood family, Van Patten was the older brother of actress

In January 2006, Van Patten was taken to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles following a diabetic stroke. Van Patten, who had Type 2 diabetes, made a full recovery. Van Patten died at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California on June 23, 2015, at age 86. Complications from diabetes were the listed cause.^[11]

Willie Aames, who played son Tommy Bradford on Eight Is Enough, called his television father "truly a gem [who] will be missed...As Dick always said 'Remember our times together, gang...Cause these ARE the good ole' days". Betty Buckley, Van Patten's co-star on the series, said "Every day on the set he was a happy, jovial person, always generous and ready to play, tease, and always keep us all laughing. He was the consummate professional, a wonderful actor, master of comedy, and a kind and generous human being."^[11]

He is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles.

Honors

On November 20, 1985, Dick Van Patten was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.^[6] In 2008, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.^[12]

Filmography

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Film

Television

Music videos

Bibliography

• Van Patten, Dick;
  ISBN 978-1607477006
  .