Dick Van Patten

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. 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.

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. In 1949, James Dean, then an unknown, replaced Patten on the show for a time when Patten was drafted into the Army. In 1975, he played "Friar Tuck" on When Things Were Rotten, a comic take on Robin Hood, created by Mel Brooks. The series ran for 13 episodes. He was best known as the Bradford family patriarch, Tom Bradford, on Eight Is Enough, which aired from 1977 to 1981, and which was based on a book of the same name by the American journalist Thomas Braden. He played "Jack Benson" in Opposite Day (2009). He also was a commentator for the World Series of Poker from 1993 to 1995. On January 12, 2008, Van Patten received a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

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.

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. Van Patten also appeared as a television spokesman for Fisher-Price toys in the late 1980s.

Personal life Family Peggy Wood, who played Van Patten's mother in the television program Mama, congratulates Pat and Dick on their wedding, 1954. Van Patten was the older brother of actress Joyce Van Patten, and the older half-brother of film director and Emmy award-winning television director/producer Tim Van Patten. He was married to Patricia Helon Poole (also known as Pat Poole and Pat Van Patten; born March 12, 1931) from 1954 until his death. Pat Poole was a professional dancer on Broadway and a June Taylor dancer on The Jackie Gleason Show. They lived in Sherman Oaks, California. They had three sons, all actors: Nels, James and Vincent. Nels, who is married to actress Nancy Valen, is named for the character Van Patten played on the CBS's Mama. Van Patten was related to several other actors through marriages. His sister Joyce married actor Martin Balsam; their daughter is actress Talia Balsam. Talia's first husband was actor George Clooney, and she is now married to actor John Slattery. Van Patten's son Vince is married to actress Eileen Davidson.

Illness and death Grave of Dick Van Patten at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills. 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.

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."

Filmography

Film

Television Year Title Role Notes Mama Nels Hansen 1958 The Silent Service Hadley episode: "Tiger Shark". Executive Officer of the subject submarine.Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Paul Sterovsky episode: "The Broken Frame" 1959 Rawhide Matt Reston episode: "Incident of the Power and the Plow"1961 Naked City Carhop episode: "The Well-Dressed Termite"1961–1962 Young Doctor Malone Larry Renfrew 1970 The Governor & J.J. Bertram Bannister I Dream Of JeannieGrocery store manager season 5, episode 26; "My Master, the Chili King"; Air date: May 26, 1970; series finaleThat Girl Mr. Morse Arnie Walter Granscog/Walker 1971 Great Performances Raymond 1971–1972 The Partners Sgt. Nelson Higgenbottom 1971–1972 The Doris Day Show April's Father 1971–1973 Love, American Style segments: "Love and the Tattoo", "Love and the Parent's Sake" (George), "Love and the Particular Girl" (Jack) 1972 Sanford and Son Hamlin episode: "The Great Sanford Siege"The Don Rickles Show David Hec Ramsey Earl Enright Banyon Earl Gifford 1972–1973 The Paul Lynde Show Dr. Willis/Wollner 1972–1974 The New Dick Van Dyke Show Max Mathias/Mr. Compton 1972–1975 Medical Center Dr. Feldman/Dr. Whittaker/Man at Hotel 1972–1976 Emergency! Carter Merkle/Morris Meers 1972–1976 The Streets of San Francisco Thurman Barber/John Collins 1973 McMillan & Wife Henry The Brian Keith Show Jerry Mason Cannon George Abel 2x18 Murder for Murder Thicker than Water John Adam's Rib Commissioner Hoyt Wait Till Your Father Gets Home 1973–1975 The Rookies Fullmer/Waldon 1973–1983 Insight Jerry 1974 Chopper One Arnie Nolan Banacek Donald Morgan The Girl with Something Extra Morgan Sierra Ed Kolchak: The Night Stalker Alfred Brindle Adam-12 Harry Curtis season 7, episode 9; "Alcohol" Air date: December 10, 19741974–1976 Barnaby Jones Melvin Pearson/Merle Overton 1975 Hot l Baltimore A.J. Horn When Things Were Rotten Friar Tuck 1975–1976 The Six Million Dollar Man Harry Green/Palmer 1976 Ellery Queen Billy Geeter Phyllis Walter Maude Gordon Coleman The New Adventures of Wonder Woman Jack Wood episode: "Beauty on Parade"What's Happening!! Mr. Claxton The Tony Randall Show Myron C. Dobbs 1976–1977 Happy Days Asst. Principal Marvin Conners/Hunsberger 1977 C.P.O. Sharkey Psychiatrist One Day at a Time Frank 1977–1981 Eight Is Enough Tom Bradford 1978–1984 The Love Boat Charlie Dillinger/Congressman John Whitcomb/George Hayes 1979 Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker Herb Thurston TV movie1982 High Powder Tom Reed TV movie1982 Andy Williams New England Christmas himself TV special1983–1985 Hotel Frasier Pratt/Herbert Pitts 1984 The Hoboken Chicken Emergency Mayor TV movieMasquerade Finder of Lost Loves Alan Nettles The New Mike Hammer Judge Charles Bamer 1985 Crazy Like a Fox The Midnight Hour Martin Grenville TV movie 1986 Murder, She Wrote District Atty. Fred Whittaker episode: "Murder in the Electric Cathedral"Combat Academy Principal 1987 The Facts of Life Frank Stickle episode: "Ex Marks the Spot" Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion Tom Bradford TV movieRags to Riches Phil Johnson 1989 Growing Pains Nick Simpson episode: "Fortunate Son" An Eight Is Enough Wedding Tom Bradford TV movieJake Spanner, Private Eye The Commodore TV movie1990 McGee and Me! Graham 1990–1991 WIOU Floyd Graham 1993 The Golden Palace Taylor The Odd Couple: Together Again Roy TV movieDiagnosis: Murder Monty Emerson episode: "Murder at the Telethon" 1994 Burke's Law Dr. Paul Hampton Baywatch Henry/Sam episode: "Guys and Dolls"Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Orphanage Worker/Santa episode: "Season's Greedings"1995 Cybill Himself episode: "Nice Work If You Can Get It"1995–1998 Touched by an Angel Jerry/Eb 2 episodes 1996 Maybe This Time Jack Boy Meets World Amish Farmer episode: "You Can Go Home Again"1997 The Weird Al Show The Burglar episode: "Al Gets Robbed" 1998 The Love Boat: The Next Wave Sid Glacken Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Chester segment: "The Chess Game" 1999 Family Guy Tom Bradford (voice) episode: "Brian: Portrait of a Dog" Late Night with Conan O'Brien Mr. Ropely 2001 Gary & Mike Ba (voice) 2003 Life with Bonnie Himself episode: "It's a Wonderful Job"2004 7th Heaven James Rodgers Sr. episode: "The Chess Game"2005 Arrested Development Cal Cullen episodes: "Spring Breakout" and "Righteous Brothers"2006 That '70s Show Murph episode: "Sweet Lady"2009 The Sarah Silverman Program Dr. Eddie Hackmeyer 2011 Hot in Cleveland Lester episode: "The Chess Game"

Music videos Year Title Role Notes1992 Smells Like Nirvana Himself 1993 Bedrock Anthem Himself