Adam Rich obit

Adam Rich, ‘Eight Is Enough’ actor, dead at 54

 

He was not on the list.

Adam Rich, an actor who rose to fame as a child playing the youngest Bradford family member, Nicholas, on the TV drama “Eight Is Enough,” has died, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

 

He was 54.

Rich died Saturday at his home in LA, according to a report by TMZ, citing his family. They did not share a cause of death.

While Rich is best known for his role on “Eight Is Enough,” he also appeared on several TV shows and assorted TV movies throughout the late ’70s and ‘80s. Some of those credits include “Fantasy Island,” “CHiPs,” “Small Wonder,” and a voice role on the animated series “Dungeons & Dragons.”

Rich’s last TV credit was an episode of “Baywatch” in 1993, before stepping away from on-camera appearances for ten years.

He later played himself in the 2003 David Spade comedy “Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star,” and portrayed Crocodile Dundee in the TV series “Reel Comedy” that same year.

Rich faced legal troubles for alleged burglary in 1991. His TV dad from “Eight Is Enough,” actor Dick Van Patten, once paid his bail, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times. Rich appeared in TV commercials for Betty Crocker Snackin' Cake and Nabisco's Wheatsworth crackers.

Rich won the role of Nicholas at the age of eight. After Eight Is Enough, he had roles in Irwin Allen's short-lived 1981 TV series Code Red on ABC and the 1983 sitcom Gun Shy on CBS.

Rich made guest appearances on television series including The Love Boat, CHiPs, Fantasy Island, The Six Million Dollar Man, St. Elsewhere, and Baywatch. He also did voice work on the cartoon series Dungeons & Dragons, along with Eight Is Enough co-star Willie Aames.

As part of a satire on celebrity death, Rich participated in a 1996 hoax which falsely reported his passing, as written by “Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius” author Dave Eggers, for Might Magazine.

The former child star was featured in the CNN series “The History of the Sitcom” in 2021, and reflected on his career in a post on Instagram at the time.

“I’m grateful for the joy felt while working on 8!…,” Rich wrote. “I do hope it may have brought you some joy as well.”

 

Filmography

 

 

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1976    The Six Million Dollar Man     Bob            Episode: "A Bionic Christmas Carol"

1977    The City      Donnie Collins            Television film

1977–81            Eight Is Enough            Nicholas Bradford            Main cast (112 episodes)

1978    Fantasy Island   Herbie Block            Episode: "Instant Family"

1979    The Love Boat            Brian Phillips            Episode: "Oldies But Goodies"

1979    CHiPs            Himself            Episode: "Roller Disco: Part 2"

1979    Tukiki and His Search for a Merry Christmas            Tukiki (voice)            Television special

1980    3-2-1 Contact            Nicholas Bradford            Episode: "Crowded/Uncrowded: Human Crowding"

1981    The Devil and Max Devlin   Toby Hart     Feature film

1981–82            Code Red      Danny Blake   Main cast (13 episodes)

1982    CBS Children's Mystery Theatre Jeffrey Brenner            Episode: "The Zertigo Diamond Caper"

1982    Fantasy Island   Huck Finn            Episode: "Natchez Bound"

1982    CHiPs            Louis Hindall            Episode: "Fallout"

1983    Gun Shy      Clovis            Episodes: "Reading, Writing and Robbing", "Mail Order Mommy"

1983–85            Dungeons & Dragons            Presto, the Magician            Voice role (27 episodes)

1986    St. Elsewhere            Louis Appleton            Episode: "Family Affair"

1986    Small Wonder            Peter Watson            Episode: "Chewed Out"

1986    Silver Spoons Scott            Episode: "Rick Moves Out"

1987    Eight Is Enough:  A Family Reunion   Nicholas Bradford            Television film

1988    Small Wonder                The Beast            Episode: "The Gang's All Here"

1989    An Eight Is Enough Wedding            Nicholas Bradford            Television film

1993            Baywatch         Ethan            Episode: "Sky Rider"

2003    Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star      Himself (cameo)            Feature film