Adam Rich

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title: "Adam Rich" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1968-births", "2023-deaths", "accidental-deaths-in-california", "american-male-child-actors", "american-male-film-actors", "american-male-television-actors", "drug-related-deaths-in-california", "jewish-american-male-actors", "people-from-granada-hills,-los-angeles", "male-actors-from-los-angeles", "male-actors-from-new-york-city", "20th-century-american-male-actors"] description: "American actor (1968–2023)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Rich" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American actor (1968–2023) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

Field	Value
name	Adam Rich
image	Adam Rich 1977 photo.jpg
caption	Rich in 1977
birth_date
birth_place	New York City, U.S.
death_date
death_place	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
occupation	Actor
years_active	1976–2003
::

| name = Adam Rich | image = Adam Rich 1977 photo.jpg | caption = Rich in 1977 | birth_date = | birth_place = New York City, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1976–2003

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".

Personal life

Rich was born on October 12, 1968, the son of Francine and Rob Rich. His family was Jewish. 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. 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.

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.

In 2002, Rich was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). 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.

Career

Rich won the role of Nicholas on Eight is Enough 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.

Rich appeared in television commercials for Betty Crocker Snackin' Cake and Nabisco's Wheatsworth crackers.

Death

Rich died at his Los Angeles home on January 7, 2023, at the age of 54. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's autopsy report indicates Rich died from an accidental fentanyl overdose.

Filmography

::data[format=table]

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 (final role)
::

References

References

1. Carras, Christi. (2023-01-08). "Adam Rich, former child star of 'Eight Is Enough,' dies at 54". [[Los Angeles Times]].
2. Berman, Marc. "'Eight Is Enough' Star Adam Rich Dies At 54".
3. Reul, Katie. (2023-01-08). "Adam Rich, Former Child Star of 'Eight Is Enough,' Dies at 54".
4. (2023-06-24). "Eight Is Enough actor Adam Rich died of fentanyl effects, autopsy report says". [[The Guardian]].
5. Bernstein, Fred A.. (February 9, 2011). "The Jewish Mothers' Hall of Fame". Knopf Doubleday.
6. (May 13, 2013). "Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow".
7. Curtiss, Aaron. (1991-04-18). "Actor Adam Rich Arrested in Store Shoplifting Incident".
8. Kato, Brooke. (2023-01-11). "'Eight is Enough' star Adam Rich dies of suspected 'overdose'". [[New York Post]].
9. Eggers, Dave. (April 26, 2000). "Diary of a Media Hoax: The Death of Adam Rich".
10. "Adam Rich".
11. (September 7, 2018). "1977 Betty Crocker Snackin Cake "Adam Rich" TV Commercial".
12. (November 13, 2015). "Wheatsworth crackers - ad from 1982".
13. Heching, Dan. (January 8, 2023). "Adam Rich, 'Eight Is Enough' actor, dead at 54". [[CNN]].
14. Gliatto, Tom. (August 26, 1991). "The Heartbreak Kid".
15. Brand, Sam. (March 1, 2010). "Adam Rich Skips 'Eight Is Enough' TV Reunion". [[PopEater.com]].
16. (September 23, 1978). "Meet Adam Rich of ''Eight Is Enough''". [[Daily Record (Washington).

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