Adam Rich

Adam Rich (October 12, 1968 – January 7, 2023) was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal of Nicholas Bradford, the youngest son on the television series Eight Is Enough, which ran for five seasons (1977–1981). Known for his pageboy haircut, Rich's character on the show led him to be known as "America's little brother".^[1][2][3][4]

Rich was born on October 12, 1968,^[5] the son of Francine and Rob Rich. His family was Jewish.^[6] Growing up as a child actor, Rich lived in Granada Hills, Los Angeles, with his parents and younger brother. The family briefly lived in Florida where he learned how to act at the local gym. He was active in sports, including baseball, football, bicycle riding, skateboarding, and swimming. He also had an interest in drawing. At age 14, he tried smoking marijuana, and at 17, in 1986, he dropped out of high school.^[7] He almost died of a valium overdose in 1989. On April 16, 1991, he was arrested after a shoplifting spree at a pharmacy and a Bullock’s department store in Northridge, Los Angeles. He was released, with his television father Dick Van Patten paying his bail.^[8][9]

In 1996, there was a media hoax that Rich had been murdered; the story was published in the San Francisco-based magazine Might, with Rich's consent.^[7][10]

In 2002, Rich was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI).^[7] Rich had publicly discussed his experiences with depression and substance abuse in the months before he died and had a history of many drug rehabilitation stints and several overdoses. He tweeted in October 2022 that he had been sober for seven years after arrests. He urged his followers never to give up.^[4]

リッチは8歳の時に『エイト・イズ・イナフ』のニコラス役を獲得した。 ^{[ 11 ] [ 12 ]}『エイト・イズ・イナフ』の後、彼はアーウィン・アレンの短命に終わった1981年のABCのテレビシリーズ『コード・レッド』と1983年のCBSのシットコム『ガン・シャイ』に出演した。^{[ 11 ]}

リッチは、 『ラブ・ボート』、 『白バイ野郎ジョン＆パンチ』 、『シルバースプーン』、『ファンタジー・アイランド』、『600万ドルの男』、『セント・エルスウェア』 、『ベイウォッチ』などのテレビシリーズにゲスト出演した。また、 『エイト・イズ・イナフ』で共演したウィリー・エイムズと共に、アニメシリーズ『ダンジョンズ＆ドラゴンズ』で声優も務めた。^{[ 13 ]}

リッチはベティ・クロッカーのスナッキン・ケーキ^{[ 14 ]}とナビスコのウィートワース・クラッカー^{[ 15 ]}のテレビコマーシャルに出演した。

リッチは2023年1月7日、54歳でロサンゼルスの自宅で亡くなった。ロサンゼルス郡検視局の検死報告書によると、リッチはフェンタニルの過剰摂取で死亡した。^{[ 16 ]}

• Adam Rich at IMDb