Adam Rich, The Youngest Of The ‘Eight Is Enough’ Brothers, Dies At 54

At the age of 54, Adam Rich, an actor best remembered for his role in the hit 1970s and 1980s family comedy “Eight is enough,” passed away in Los Angeles. A police source told TMZ that someone went to his house and found him dead, but the cause of death has not been disclosed.

After a short acting career, Rich abruptly left the spotlight and never recovered. He was apprehended in 1991 when he smashed through a pharmacy window in search of drugs. Although his fictional father, Dick Van Patten, posted bail, Rich was quickly re-arrested for more offences.
Even younger, in 1976 in an episode of “The Six Million Dollar Man,” Adam Rich made his acting debut. Episodes of shows including “Fantasy Island,” “Code Red,” and “Holidays at Sea” featured him as a guest star. His career began to deteriorate in the 1980s, but he did voice Presto the Wizard in the “Dungeons and Dragons” cartoon.

 

Two telefilms followed in the footsteps of television’s most famous large family, and he appeared in both of them, ‘Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion’ (1987) and ‘An Eight Is Enough Wedding’ (1989), in what would be his final roles.

When “Might” magazine reported his death in 1996, it was later proven to be incorrect. It was tragic that he became a broken toy because he couldn’t handle the perks of fame. His stated goal in life was to work in the entertainment industry, but he was never interested in fame. Another profound statement of his is cited on IMDb: “Life is to be lived, and I live mine to the maximum every day.”

 

He spent years in treatment, but was caught for DUI again in 2002 after he nearly hit a California Highway Patrol car, according to Deadline.

The ABC series “Eight is plenty,” which aired from 1977 to 1981, was based on the life of journalist Tom Braden, who is the father of eight children and wrote a book of the same name. Rich played Nicholas Bradford, the youngest and most mischievous member of the Bradford family, in a television series produced by William Blinn. The appearance of Ralph Macchio, the young hero of “The Karate Kid” and the repulsive adult of “Cobra Kai,” as well as Lani O’Grady and Connie Needham, stands out among its performers.