According to Deadline, child star Adam Rich has died at age 54. He was known for his role as Nicholas Bradford in the 1977 television comedy Eight is Enough.
He was found dead in his home in Los Angeles on Saturday, according to a family member via TMZ. No foul play is suspected and no cause of death has been revealed as of yet.
Eight is Enough ran for four years and ended in 1981. Per Deadline, the “series followed the Bradford family, which consisted of eight children. It detailed their life as they date, grow, marry and had children themselves.” Rich portrayed the youngest son of the family. Among the cast were Dick Van Patten (Spaceballs, Robin Hood: Men in Tights), Lani O’Grady (Massacre at Central High, The Kid with the Broken Halo), Connie Needham (Fame, Ellen), Susan Richardson (American Graffiti, CHiPs), Laurie Walters (Columbo, Warlock Moon), and Grant Goodeve (F.E.A.R. First Encounter Assault Recon, Star Fox: Assault). The drama was nominated for two Emmy Awards and won various other awards.
Rich’s other achievements include Code Red and Dungeons & Dragons.
Reportedly, he was arrested in 1991 for breaking a pharmacy window to get drugs and was bailed out by his Eight is Enough co-star Van Patten. After that, he went through years of rehab, but was arrested in 2002 on DUI charges.
No details about a memorial service has been announced.
Below are several tweets from notable figures in Hollywood.
Rest in peace Adam Rich. Such sad news. Gone too soon. Youngest Child On TV’s ‘Eight Is Enough’ Was 54 https://t.co/bM022cKgSl via @Deadline #adamRich pic.twitter.com/kF8s21fy4S
— Lydia Cornell (@LydiaCornell) January 8, 2023
How can this be true?!
RIP sweet Adam Rich. pic.twitter.com/MN1wEriIhl— Erin Murphy (@Erin_Murphy) January 8, 2023
RIP Adam💔💔🙏🙏🙏 Adam Rich, ‘Eight Is Enough’ actor, dead at 54 – CNN https://t.co/3ZoLdqWfaA
— Jill Whelan (@WhelanJill) January 8, 2023
ADAM RICH.
RIP MY FRIEND YOU WILL BE MISSED pic.twitter.com/YOtl1Ogssp— Todd Bridges (@ToddBridges) January 8, 2023
Thank you all for reaching out regarding Adam Rich.
If you knew Adam, you just loved the guy. And oh the stories he could tell.
Here is my statement: pic.twitter.com/3OITGnESuf
— Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) January 8, 2023
ANOTHER BRILLIANT LIGHT, ANOTHER TORTURED SOUL, ANOTHER CHILD STAR WHO COULDNT FIND HIS PEACE AFTER WHAT HE ENDURED! HE WAS A FRIEND, A COMRADE, & A TALENTED PERSON W A DEEP PASSION 4 HELPING OTHERS UNDERSTAND MENTAL ILLNESS! #RIPADAMRICH ILL MISS HIM! https://t.co/QdGYpmdWOV..
— Corey Feldman (@Corey_Feldman) January 8, 2023