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Adam Rich
Adam Rich in 1977
Born	Adam Rich (1968-10-12)12 October 1968 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	7 January 2023(2023-01-07) (aged 54) 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). 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. His role 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. In 1991, he was arrested and charged with attempted burglary of a pharmacy.

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

In 2002, Rich was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI). He was in drug rehabilitation at least three times during his life.

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

Career

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.

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

Death

Rich died in his Los Angeles home on January 7, 2023.

Filmography

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Adam Rich" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

References

1. ^ ""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."
2. "Meet Adam Rich of Eight Is Enough". Daily Record. Ellensburg, Washington. United Press International. September 23, 1978. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
3. Bernstein, Fred A. (9 February 2011). The Jewish Mothers' Hall of Fame. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. ISBN 9780307767165. Retrieved 8 January 2023 – via Google Books.
4. ^ "Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow". National Enquirer. 88 (19). New York City: American Media, Inc.: 43 May 13, 2013. ISSN 1056-3482.
5. Eggers, Dave (April 26, 2000). "Diary of a Media Hoax: The Death of Adam Rich". AlterNet. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
6. ^ Gliatto, Tom (August 26, 1991). "The Heartbreak Kid". People. Archived from the original on 2008-04-23. Retrieved February 28, 2012. former Eight Is Enough child star Adam Rich, now 22 ... won the part of Nicholas when he was 9
7. 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
8. "1977 Betty Crocker Snackin Cake "Adam Rich" TV Commercial". Retrieved 8 January 2023 – via YouTube.
9. "Wheatsworth crackers - ad from 1982". Retrieved 8 January 2023 – via YouTube.
10. Heching, Dan (8 January 2023). "Adam Rich, 'Eight Is Enough' actor, dead at 54". CNN.com. Retrieved 8 January 2023.

External links

• Adam Rich at IMDb

• 1968 births
• 2023 deaths
• American male child actors
• American male film actors
• American male television actors
• Jewish American actors
• Jewish American male actors
• People from Granada Hills, Los Angeles
• Male actors from Los Angeles
• 20th-century American male actors