Eddie Applegate obit

Eddie Applegate, Actor on ‘The Patty Duke Show,’ Dies at 81

He portrayed Richard Harrison, the easygoing boyfriend of the Brooklyn-born Patty Lane, on the 1960s ABC sitcom.

 

He was not on the list.

Eddie Applegate, who played Richard Harrison, the high school boyfriend of Patty Lane, on The Patty Duke Show, died Monday. He was 81.

Applegate died at a nursing home in Los Angeles after a long illness, his friend, Lizzie Maxwell, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Applegate appeared in 88 of the ABC sitcom’s 104 episodes as Richard, who dated the Brooklyn-born Patty (Duke). Of course, Duke also played an identical cousin, Cathy Lane, on the series, which aired from 1963-66.

In CBS’ 1999 reunion telefilm, The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin‘ in Brooklyn Heights, Applegate returned as Harrison; now, he was Patty Lane’s ex-husband.

While starring in a Las Vegas stage production of Bye Bye Birdie, Applegate was approached by a producer to appear in the 1963 romantic comedy A Ticklish Affair, starring Shirley Jones, Carolyn Jones, Gig Young and Red Buttons.

A native of Wyncote, Pa., Applegate also appeared on such shows as The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The Lucy Show, Daktari, Gunsmoke and the short-lived comedy Nancy, created by Sidney Sheldon and featuring Celeste Holm.

More recently, Applegate played a grandfather in the Emma Stone starrer Easy A (2010) and appeared in the crime film Rain From Stars (2013). He also worked as an agent, artist and carpenter.

Applegate's career began at the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania. He was active in stock theater, particularly on the East Coast, for more than eight seasons in both winter and summer. He also had the role of Hugo Peabody in the national touring production of Bye Bye Birdie.

Survivors include his children Heather and Michael, their respective spouses Eric and Julie and grandchildren Jenna, Zack, Katie, Lauren, Kyle and Mia.

Actor (18 credits)

 2013 Rain from Stars

Henry

 2012 Drunk & Disorderly (TV Short)

Pete

 2010 Easy A

Micah's Grandfather

 2005 Welcome to September

Hank

 2003 Exorcism

Arch Bishop

 1999 The Patty Duke Show: Still Rockin' in Brooklyn Heights (TV Movie)

Richard Harrison

 1970-1971 Nancy (TV Series)

Willie Maxwell

- A Girl's Best Friend (1971) ... Willie Maxwell

- Boys' Night Out (1970) ... Willie Maxwell

- It's a Bad Day for Meeting Presidents (1970) ... Willie Maxwell

 1970 Gunsmoke (TV Series)

Al

- Snow Train: Part 2 (1970) ... Al

- Snow Train: Part 1 (1970) ... Al

 1968 Daktari (TV Series)

Ted Rainey

- A Man's Man (1968) ... Ted Rainey

 1966 The Carol Channing Show (TV Movie)

Stanley - Hot Dog Eater

 1963-1966 The Patty Duke Show (TV Series)

Richard Harrison

- Do a Brother a Favor (1966) ... Richard Harrison

- The Invisible Boy (1966) ... Richard Harrison (credit only)

- Fiancee for a Day (1966) ... Richard Harrison

- Three Little Kittens (1966) ... Richard Harrison (credit only)

- Don't Bank on It (1966) ... Richard Harrison

1963 Mr. Novak (TV Series)

Swish Lehr

- My Name Is Not Legion (1963) ... Swish Lehr

 1963 The Lucy Show (TV Series)

Bob Mooney

- Lucy and the Bank Scandal (1963) ... Bob Mooney

 1963 A Ticklish Affair

Yeoman Corker Bell

 1963 The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (TV Series)

Walter Funk

- Three Million Coins in the Fountain (1963) ... Walter Funk

 1959 Deadline (TV Series)

Young Man in Soda Shop

- Scramble (1959) ... Young Man in Soda Shop (uncredited)

 1957 Emotional Maturity (Short)

Jim Dawson

 1956 Kraft Theatre (TV Series)

Other Passenger / Titanic

- A Night to Remember (1956) ... Other Passenger / Titanic

Hide Hide Self (2 credits)

 1999 Celebrity Profile (TV Series documentary)

Self

- Patty Duke (1999) ... Self

 1963 Best of Patty Duke (TV Special)

Richard