Skip to Search Skip to Live Player Skip to Content Skip to Footer

Joel Katz

80’s Child Star Adam Rich Dead at 54

Author Joel Katz
EIGHT IS ENOUGH - Gallery - Shoot Date: March 30, 1978. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) ADAM RICH

A part of my childhood has died.

TMZ reported that “Eight is Enough” star Adam Rich has died at the age of 54. Adam played Nicholas Bradford in the TV series between 1977 and 1981. VH1 lists Adam as one of the greatest kid stars of all time. I remember watching that show every week when I was a kid.

Adam played Nicholas Bradford in the series which aired on ABC. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, he passed away and was found in his home over the weekend, and the cause of death was not revealed.

I remember his signature bowl haircut which was a fashion trend during the 70s when the show aired for five seasons from 1977-1981. After Eight Is Enough, he also had a recurring role as a firefighter Danny Blake in ABC’s Code Red, and also appeared on Children’s Mystery Theatre. Adam was also a voice actor on the Dungeons & Dragons series and made appearances in shows like Fantasy Island, CHiPs, St. Elsewhere, Silver Spoons and Baywatch. He made his final TV appearance in 2003.

He struggled with substance abuse throughout his career, and nearly died of an overdose in the eighties. In the early nineties he was arrested for breaking and entering, and was bailed out by his Eight Is Enough co-star Dick Van Patten. He spent three years in rehab but was arrested again for a DUI.

Reactions to Rich’s death also poured in from his fellow child stars:

The Love Boat actress Jill Whelan: “Rest in peace Adam.”

Erin Murphy, who played Tabitha Stevens in the TV series Bewitched: “How can this be true?! RIP sweet Adam Rich.”

Diff’rent Strokes’ Todd Bridges: “RIP MY FRIEND YOU WILL BE MISSED.”

Corey Feldman: 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!

 

Celebrity Deaths 2022: Musicians, Entertainers & Cultural Figures We Lost

We’ve had to say goodbye to some big names this year in the worlds of entertainment and beyond.

Scroll through the gallery below to see the musicians, celebrities and other cultural figures we’ve lost in 2022

Joel Katz is the Morning Show Personality, Assistant Program Director, Podcast Host, Voiceover artist, audio producer, and Digital Content Writer for Magic 98.3. Joel has been working in New Jersey radio since college and started at Magic in 2002 as the Morning Show Host, “I can’t think of another place where I’d fit more perfectly; it’s just a great company with awesome people.” Joel is married to Kathleen, his elementary school sweetheart (they were each other’s first dates at age 9), shares a birthday with his oldest son, Ty, and has twins, Kiera and Liam. Joel runs at least 3.1 miles every day and enjoys playing basketball, doing laundry, saving his turn signal for when he really needs it, kissing dogs through a fence, using coasters, making that cool noise by rubbing his fingers on balloons, and chasing after ping pong balls on a windy cruise ship.

Sign me up for the Magic 98.3 email newsletter!

Be the first to know about our awesome ticket giveaways, the latest updates with your favorite artists, and more.

*
*
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.
Author Joel Katz
Category:
Tags:
,,

More Celebrity News

Load More