Dick Van Patten was born in Richmond Hill, New York City. He attended the Professional Children's School in New York — where, incidentally, he first met his wife, Pat Poole, when both were 11 years old and in the sixth grade. He began his distinguished show business career as "Dickie Van Patten," child actor, and made his Broadway debut at the age of seven playing Melvyn Douglas' son in "Tapestry in Gray." Van Patten had been working consistently ever since, appearing in all theatrical media: stage, radio, television and films. Van Patten's theatrical credits are prodigious, as befits a lifetime career devoted to that medium. He appeared in such classics as "On Borrowed Time," "Ah, Wilderness," "Watch on the Rhine," "The Skin of Our Teeth," "Kiss and Tell," and scores more, both in New York and in summer stock. Van Patten replaced David Wayne in the role of Ensign Pulver in "Mister Roberts" when Wayne went to Hollywood. One of his Broadway appearances was in "I Was Dancing." Beginning with his years as a child star, Van Patten had been heard on more than 600 radio shows. In television, his first major role was that of Nels in "Mama" (the series adapted from the successful play, "I Remember Mama") which ran for nine seasons on CBS, from 1949 to 1958. Van Patten co-starred in "The Partners" series and has appeared in guest roles on many major shows. Van Patten, who was the brother of actress Joan Patten, was 5'10" tall, weighs 155 pounds and had blonde hair and blue eyes. During the eighties Dick Van Patten achieved success with another TV series, "Eight Is Enough" where he played the father of a numerous family.
Known For
Credits
Cast Credits
Celebrity Ghost Stories (2009)
Guest starring as Dick Van Patten
- Episode 2x07: Christopher Knight, Carol Alt, Dick Van Patten, Marissa Jaret Winokur (Aug 28, 2010)
Arrested Development (2003)
Guest starring as Cal Cullen
- Episode 2x17: Spring Breakout (Apr 10, 2005)
Hollywood Squares (2003)
Guest starring as Dick Van Patten
- Episode 2001-12-05: Dec 5, 2001 (Dec 5, 2001)
Family Guy (1999)
Guest starring as Tom Bradford
- Episode 1x07: Brian: Portrait of a Dog (May 16, 1999)
That '70s Show (1998)
Guest starring as Murph
- Episode 8x10: Sweet Lady (Jan 26, 2006) [Special Guest Star]
The Love Boat: The Next Wave (1998)
Guest starring as Sidney Glacken
- Episode 1x04: How Long Has This Been Going On? (May 4, 1998)
7th Heaven (1996)
Guest starring as James Rodgers, Sr.
- Episode 8x17: Two Weddings, an Engagement and a Funeral (Feb 23, 2004)
E! True Hollywood Story (1996)
Guest starring as Narrator
- Episode 3x50: Gilligan's Island (Dec 12, 1999)
Boy Meets World (1993)
Guest starring as Amish Farmer
- Episode 4x01: You Can Go Home Again (Sep 20, 1996)
Murder, She Wrote (1984)
Guest starring as District Attorney Frederick Whittaker
- Episode 2x16: Murder in the Electric Cathedral (Feb 16, 1986)
Too Close for Comfort (1980)
Guest starring as Arthur
- Episode 3x21: Don't Rock the Boat (Apr 28, 1983)
The Love Boat (1977)
Starring as Dr. Adam O'Neil
- Episode S01 Special: The Love Boat - Mona Lisa Speaks / Mr. & Mrs. Havlicek Abroad / Are There Any Real Love Stories? / Till Death Do Its Part (Sep 17, 1976)
Guest starring as The Great Stellini
- Episode 6x26: The Professor Has Class / When The Magic Disappears / We, The Jury (Apr 2, 1983)
Guest starring as Howard Ethan
- Episode 5x18: His Girls Friday / A Wife for Wilfred / The Girl Who Stood Still (Feb 13, 1982)
Guest starring as Charlie Dillinger
(2 episodes)
- Episode 4x06: The Mallory Quest / The Offer / Julie, the Vamp (2) (Nov 15, 1980)
- Episode 4x05: The Mallory Quest / The Offer / Julie, the Vamp (1) (Nov 15, 1980)
Guest starring as Congressman John Whitcomb
- Episode 1x17: Winner Take Love / The Congressman Was Indiscreet / Isaac's History Lesson (Jan 28, 1978)
Guest starring as George Hayes
- Episode 7x15: No More Alimony / How Do I Love Thee? / Authoress! Authoress! (Jan 7, 1984)
CHiPs (1977)
Guest starring as Dick Van Patten
- Episode 4x06: The Great 5K Star Race and Boulder Wrap Party (2) (Dec 7, 1980) [Uncredited]
Eight Is Enough (1977)
Starring as Tom Bradford
(7 episodes)
- Episode 4x27: Finally Grad Night (Apr 30, 1980)
- Episode 4x26: A Little Triangle (Apr 9, 1980)
- Episode 3x24: Dads, Daughters, Different Drummers (Feb 28, 1979)
- Episode 3x23: The Better Part of Valour (Feb 21, 1979)
- Episode 2x22: Great Expectations (Feb 22, 1978)
- Episode 2x07: The Bard and the Bod (Nov 2, 1977)
- Episode 1x01: Never Try Eating Nectarines Since Juice May Dispense (Mar 15, 1977)
C.P.O. Sharkey (1976)
Guest starring as Psychiatrist
- Episode 1x07: Kowalski, the Somnambulist (Jan 26, 1977)
Battle of the Network Stars (1976)
Guest starring as ABC Captain
(2 episodes)
- Episode 1x07: Special #7 (Nov 2, 1979)
- Episode 1x06: Special #6 (May 7, 1979)
What's Happening!! (1976)
Guest starring as Mr. Claxton
- Episode 1x06: The Burger Queen (Nov 20, 1976)
When Things Were Rotten (1975)
Starring as Friar Tuck
(13 episodes)
- Episode 1x13: This Lance for Hire (Dec 3, 1975)
- Episode 1x12: The Spy (Part 2) (Nov 26, 1975)
- Episode 1x11: The Spy (Part 1) (Nov 26, 1975)
- Episode 1x10: Birthday Blues (Nov 19, 1975)
- Episode 1x09: Quarantine (Nov 12, 1975)
- Episode 1x08: There Goes the Neighborhood (Oct 29, 1975)
- Episode 1x07: Ding Dong, the Bell is Dead (Oct 22, 1975)
- Episode 1x06: The Ultimate Weapon (Oct 15, 1975)
- Episode 1x05: A Ransom for Richard (Oct 8, 1975)
- Episode 1x04: Those Wedding Bell Blues (Oct 1, 1975)
- Episode 1x03: The House Band (Sep 24, 1975)
- Episode 1x02: The French Dis-connection (Sep 17, 1975)
- Episode 1x01: The Capture of Robin Hood (Sep 10, 1975)
Ellery Queen (1975)
Guest starring as Billy Geeter
- Episode 1x14: The Adventure of the Eccentric Engineer (Jan 18, 1976)
Emergency! (1972)
Guest starring as Morris Meers
- Episode 2x09: Women (Nov 25, 1972) [Co-Star]
Guest starring as Carter Merkle
- Episode 5x19: Grateful (Feb 7, 1976)
Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1972)
Guest starring as Alfred Brindle
- Episode 1x03: They Have Been, They Are, They Will Be... (Sep 27, 1974)
The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1971)
Guest starring as Bill Ellsworth
- Episode 2x01: The Former Mr. Preston (Sep 17, 1972)
The Partners (1971)
Starring as Sgt. Higgenbottom
(19 episodes)
- Episode 1x19: Two in a Pen (Aug 25, 1972)
- Episode 1x18: Two or False (Aug 11, 1972)
- Episode 1x17: Magnificent Perception (Aug 4, 1972)
- Episode 1x16: Headlines for Higgenbottom (Jul 28, 1972)
- Episode 1x15: They Steal Cars, Don't They? (Jan 8, 1972)
- Episode 1x14: Desperate Ours (Dec 25, 1971)
- Episode 1x13: North is Now South (Dec 18, 1971)
- Episode 1x12: New Faces (Dec 11, 1971)
- Episode 1x11: Our Butler Didn't Do It (Dec 4, 1971)
- Episode 1x10: Have I Got an Apartment for You! (Nov 27, 1971)
- Episode 1x09: Take My Wife, Please (Nov 13, 1971)
- Episode 1x08: Requiem for a Godfather (Nov 6, 1971)
- Episode 1x07: To Catch a Crooke (Oct 30, 1971)
- Episode 1x06: Witness for the Execution (Oct 23, 1971)
- Episode 1x05: How Many Carats in a Grapefruit (Oct 16, 1971)
- Episode 1x04: Waterloo at Napoleon (Oct 9, 1971)
- Episode 1x03: The Prisoner of Fender (Oct 2, 1971)
- Episode 1x02: Abra Cadaver (Sep 25, 1971)
- Episode 1x01: Here Comes the Fuzz (Sep 18, 1971)
Love, American Style (1969)
Guest starring as Jack
- Episode 3x50: Love and the Particular Girl (Dec 17, 1971)
Guest starring as Homer
- Episode 2x39: Love and the Tattoo (Feb 5, 1971)
The Hollywood Squares (1966)
Guest starring as Panelist
(4 episodes)
- Episode 13x68: April 30-May 4, 1979 (DT) (Apr 30, 1979)
- Episode 12x76: May 29-June 2, 1978 (DT) (May 29, 1978)
- Episode 12x26: December 5-9, 1977 (DT) (Dec 5, 1977)
- Episode 11x80: June 13-17, 1977 (DT) (Jun 13, 1977)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)
Guest starring as Dick Van Patten
- Episode 1979-03-21: Mar 21, 1979 (Mar 21, 1979)
The Mike Douglas Show (1961)
Guest starring as Co-Host
(2 episodes)
- Episode 18x174: Jul. 12, 1979 (Jul 12, 1979)
- Episode 18x171: Jul 9, 1979 (Jul 9, 1979)
Guest starring as Dick Van Patten
- Episode 18x21: Oct 30, 1978 (Oct 30, 1978)
Rawhide (1959)
Guest starring as Matt Reston
- Episode 1x06: Incident of the Power and the Plow (Feb 13, 1959)
The Wonderful World of Disney (1954)
Guest starring as Dick Van Patten
- Episode 25x08: Mickey's 50 (Nov 19, 1978)