Adam Rich

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Not to be confused with entrepreneur Adam Rich, co-founder of Thrillist.com.
Adam Rich in 1977

Adam Rich (born October 12, 1968)[1] is an American actor noted for his role as Nicholas Bradford, the youngest son on the television series Eight Is Enough, which ran for five seasons (1977–1981). A distinctive feature of his appearance during his years as a child actor was his pageboy haircut, which inspired thousands of parents of that era to imitate the look for their young sons.[2] His role on the show led him to be known as "America's little brother."[2]

Personal life[]

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.[3] He almost died of a Valium overdose in 1989. In 1991, he was arrested and charged with attempted burglary of a pharmacy.[3]

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.[3][4] Might writer Dave Eggers included the incident in his memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.

In 2002, he was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI).[3] He has been in drug rehabilitation at least three times.[3]

As of 2013, he occasionally made personal appearances and marketed script ideas for TV shows and films.[3]

Career[]

Rich won the role of Nicholas at the age of eight.[5][6] 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.[5]

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.

Rich appeared in TV commercials for Betty Crocker Snackin' Cake[7] and Nabisco's Wheatsworth crackers.[8]

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

References[]

  1. ^ "Meet Adam Rich of Eight Is Enough". Daily Record. Ellensburg, Washington. United Press International. September 23, 1978. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b ""Eight Is Enough" cast: Where are they now, 30 years later?". Fox News. January 15, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2013. FOXNews.com, Jan 15, 2013. Quote: "Playing the youngest of the Bradford clan, Adam Rich was America's little brother. In the late '70s and early '80s, thousands of boys sported a Nicholas-style haircut."
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow". National Enquirer. New York City: American Media, Inc. 88 (19): 43. May 13, 2013. ISSN 1056-3482.
  4. ^ Eggers, Dave (April 26, 2000). "Diary of a Media Hoax: The Death of Adam Rich". AlterNet. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Gliatto, Tom (August 26, 1991). "The Heartbreak Kid". People. Retrieved February 28, 2012. former Eight Is Enough child star Adam Rich, now 22 ... won the part of Nicholas when he was 9
  6. ^ Brand, Sam (March 1, 2010). "Adam Rich Skips 'Eight Is Enough' TV Reunion". PopEater.com. Retrieved February 28, 2012. Rich was 9 years old when 'Eight Is Enough's' first of five seasons premiered
  7. ^ Betty Crocker Snackin' Cake commercial from 1977
  8. ^ Wheatsworth crackers commercial from 1982

External links[]

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