Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Dick Van Patten, TV star best known for ‘Eight is Enough,’ dead at 86
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/dick-van-patten-star-dead-86-article-1.2267863Dick Van Patten, a happy nice guy who became famous for playing a happy nice guy on “Eight Is Enough,” died Tuesday morning at the age of 86.
He had been in St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, Calif., suffering from complications of diabetes. He had suffered several strokes in recent years.
The Queens-born Van Patten, who started his acting career on Broadway at the age of 7, was best known as the tolerant, understanding patriarch Tom Bradford on “Eight Is Enough,” the ABC sitcom that ran from 1977 to 1981.
From 1978 to 1984 he also played three different characters – Charlie Dillinger, John Whitcomb and George Hayes – on “The Love Boat.”
With a round face and a warm smile, Van Patten became well-known for dozens of nice-guy roles during a long career that took him from “Naked City” and “Rawhide” to “The Doris Day Show,” “7th Heaven,” “Happy Days” and “Family Guy.”
He had been in St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, Calif., suffering from complications of diabetes. He had suffered several strokes in recent years.
The Queens-born Van Patten, who started his acting career on Broadway at the age of 7, was best known as the tolerant, understanding patriarch Tom Bradford on “Eight Is Enough,” the ABC sitcom that ran from 1977 to 1981.
From 1978 to 1984 he also played three different characters – Charlie Dillinger, John Whitcomb and George Hayes – on “The Love Boat.”
With a round face and a warm smile, Van Patten became well-known for dozens of nice-guy roles during a long career that took him from “Naked City” and “Rawhide” to “The Doris Day Show,” “7th Heaven,” “Happy Days” and “Family Guy.”
More at link
