Eighty Is Not Enough: One Actor's Journey through American Entertainment

By: Robert Baer and Dick Van Patten

Sign Up Now! Already a Member? Log In
You must be logged into Bookshare to access this title. Learn about membership options, or view our freely available titles.

Synopsis: Recognizable for his cherubic countenance and roles playing mild-mannered fathers in movies and on TV, Dick Van Patten had one of the lengthiest and most impressive track records in the acting business. As a child, Van Patten performed alongside Broadway stars such as Melvyn Douglas, Tallulah Bankhead, Alfred Lunt, and Lynn Fontanne, often winning roles over newcomers such as Marlon Brando and Roddy McDowell. He worked in radio and became a familiar face in the early days of television, ultimately becoming an “ everydad” in the 1970s comedy/drama Eight Is Enough. He was a roommate to Burt Lancaster, a next-door neighbor to Michael Jackson, and a successful businessman. In Eighty Is Not Enough, the beloved actor reflects on a career that lasted over seven decades. Along the way he shares insights and anecdotes about some of the biggest names in TV, movies, and theater, as well as the challenges he faced as a husband, father, animal rights crusader, and working actor in an ever-evolving business.