About
"I like to do TV series. I think they're so comfortable. You're doing the same part every week. You're working with the same people and there's a lot of recognition. I like to do series best. I really do."
In his two-hour interview, Dick Van Patten (1928-2015) discusses the beginning of his acting career, performing in 27 Broadway shows from the time he was just seven years old. He details what it was like working as a child actor on his first TV show, Mama, and how this prepared him for the leading role he would later have on the hit family show, Eight Is Enough. He details his time working on Eight Is Enough and shares fond memories of the cast and crew. He also outlines shows on which he appeared throughout his long career, including The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Arrested Development, and Hot in Cleveland. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on May 11, 2011 in North Hollywood, CA.
Highlights
Dick Van Patten on the camaraderie between the cast members and advice he gave to the younger members of the cast of Eight Is Enough
Dick Van Patten on issues Eight is Enough dealt with throughout the series
Dick Van Patten on the legacy of Eight Is Enough
Dick Van Patten on working with Paul Newman, Jack Lemon and James Dean on the show Mama
Dick Van Patten on his guest appearance on Hot in Cleveland with Carl Reiner and Don Rickles
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences: being a child model and performing in 27 Broadway shows from the time he was 7 years old; on working in radio at age 11
On appearing on the TV show Mama a.k.a. I Remember Mama; on a typical work week on the show and what it was like working with the cast and crew
On doing commercials for the sponsors of the show Mama; on the 1950 Christmas episode of the show; on appearing on Broadway and the show Mama, concurrently
On his memories of the Hollywood Blacklist; on playing a villain on Young Dr. Malone; on working on The Love Boat; on appearing in the special Men in White; on working on A Memory of Two Mondays
Chapter 2
On working on the special Men in White; on working on The Dick Van Dyke Show; on guest roles he had on several shows; on his work on several Mel Brooks projects
On how he got involved with the TV show Eight is Enough; on the premise of the show; on the characters and family dynamic within the show; on issues dealt with during the series' run; on the cast of Eight Is Enough
On episodes and the reunion movies for Eight Is Enough; on the Eight Is Enough Wedding
On the legacy of Eight is Enough; on his other TV appearances; on his approach to acting; on advice to aspiring actors; on his proudest career achievement; on how he would like to be remembered
Shows
Arnie
Dick Van Patten on working on the show Arnie
Arrested Development
Dick Van Patten on his guest appearance on Arrested Development
Dick Van Dyke Show, The
Dick Van Patten on working on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Don Rickles Show, The
Dick Van Patten on a guest role he had on The Don Rickles Show
Eight Is Enough
Dick Van Patten on how appearing on Mama prepared him for his role on Eight is Enough
Dick Van Patten on how he got involved with the TV show Eight is Enough and working on the show with the cast and crew
Goldbergs, The
Dick Van Patten on the differences between the shows The Goldbergs and Mama
Happy Days
Dick Van Patten on a guest role he had on Happy Days
Hot in Cleveland
Dick Van Patten on his guest appearance on Hot in Cleveland
I Dream of Jeannie
Dick Van Patten on a guest role he had on I Dream of Jeannie with Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Dick Van Patten on a guest role he had on Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Love Boat, The
Dick Van Patten on appearing as a villain on The Love Boat
Dick Van Patten on a guest role he had on The Love Boat
Mama
Dick Van Patten on appearing on the show Mama
Dick Van Patten on the premise of the TV show Mama; his character "Nels" and what it was like working on the show with the cast and crew
Maude
Dick Van Patten on a guest role he had on Maude
Medical Center
Dick Van Patten on a guest role he had on Medical Center
Six Million Dollar Man, The
Dick Van Patten on a guest role he had on The Six Million Dollar Man
That Girl
Dick Van Patten on a guest role he had on That Girl with Marlo Thomas
Wonder Woman
Dick Van Patten on a guest role he had on Wonder Woman
Topics
Hollywood Blacklist
Dick Van Patten on his memories of the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Dick Van Patten on his memories of the Hollywood Blacklist
Representation on Television
Dick Van Patten on issues Eight is Enough dealt with throughout the series
Sports
Dick Van Patten on the Eight Is Enough reunion movies beating the World Series in TV ratings
Technological Innovation
Dick Van Patten on seeing a prototype of TV at the World's Fair for the first time
Television Industry
Dick Van Patten on his memories of the Hollywood Blacklist
Underrepresented Voices
Dick Van Patten on issues Eight is Enough dealt with throughout the series
World Series
Dick Van Patten on the Eight Is Enough reunion movies beating the World Series in TV ratings
Professions
Actor
Dick Van Patten on how appearing on Mama prepared him for his role on Eight is Enough
Genres
Comedy Series
Dick Van Patten on how appearing on Mama prepared him for his role on Eight is Enough
Dick Van Patten on the differences between the shows The Goldbergs and Mama
Dick Van Patten on appearing as a villain on The Love Boat
Dick Van Patten on working on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Dick Van Patten on working on the show Arnie
Drama Series
Dick Van Patten on the premise of the TV show Mama; his character "Nels" and what it was like working on the show with the cast and crew
Dick Van Patten on how he got involved with the TV show Eight is Enough and working on the show with the cast and crew
People
Willie Aames
Dick Van Patten on working with Willie Aames on Eight is Enough
Tallulah Bankhead
Dick Van Patten on acting in a play with Tallulah Bankhead and Fredrick March
Gertrude Berg
Dick Van Patten on the differences between the show The Goldbergs and Mama
William Blinn
Dick Van Patten on producer, William Blinn's involvement with the show Eight is Enough
Mel Brooks
Dick Van Patten on his work on several Mel Brooks projects
Betty Buckley
Dick Van Patten on Betty Buckley's character on Eight Is Enough
Johnny Carson
Dick Van Patten on appearing on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
Lee J. Cobb
Dick Van Patten on a bet he made with Lee J. Cobb while working on Men in White
James Dean
Dick Van Patten on James Dean being hired as his replacement to work on the show Mama
Dick Van Patten on working with Paul Newman, Jack Lemon and James Dean on the show Mama
Barbara Eden
Dick Van Patten on a guest role he had on I Dream of Jeannie with Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman
Lynn Fontanne
Dick Van Patten on working with Lynn Fontanne and Sylvia Sidney and mishaps while working in live TV
Mary Frann
Dick Van Patten on having Mary Frann play his wife on Eight Is Enough - the second reunion movie
Larry Hagman
Dick Van Patten on a guest role he had on I Dream of Jeannie with Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman
Mark Hamill
Dick Van Patten on Mark Hamill's involvement with the pilot for Eight is Enough
Charlton Heston
Dick Van Patten on his role in the film Soylent Green and working with Edward G. Robinson and Charlton Heston
Ron Howard
Dick Van Patten on working with Henry Winkler and Ron Howard on Happy Days
Diana Hyland
Dick Van Patten on working on the soap opera Young Dr. Malone with Diana Hyland
Dick Van Patten on Diana Hyland's involvement with Eight Is Enough and how her death was handled on the show
Dianne Kay
Dick Van Patten on working with Dianne Kay on Eight is Enough
Elia Kazan
Dick Van Patten on acting in a play directed by Elia Kazan
Jack Lemmon
Dick Van Patten on working with Paul Newman, Jack Lemon and James Dean on the show Mama
Rue McClanahan
Dick Van Patten on appearing as a villain on The Love Boat with Rue McClanahan
Arthur Miller
Dick Van Patten on working on A Memory of Two Mondays
Worthington Miner
Dick Van Patten on working with Worthington "Tony" Miner
Ralph Nelson
Dick Van Patten on working with the director, Ralph Nelson and handling challenges of live TV on the show Mama
Paul Newman
Dick Van Patten on working with Paul Newman, Jack Lemon and James Dean on the show Mama
Lani O'Grady
Dick Van Patten on working with Lani O'Grady on Eight is Enough
Doris Quinlan
Dick Van Patten on working with Doris Quinlan
Carl Reiner
Dick Van Patten on his guest appearance on Hot in Cleveland with Carl Reiner and Don Rickles
Adam Rich
Dick Van Patten on working with Adam Rich on Eight is Enough
Don Rickles
Dick Van Patten on a guest role he had on The Don Rickles Show with Don Rickles
Dick Van Patten on his guest appearance on Hot in Cleveland with Carl Reiner and Don Rickles
Edward G. Robinson
Dick Van Patten on his role in the film Soylent Green and working with Edward G. Robinson and Charlton Heston
Sylvia Sidney
Dick Van Patten on working with Lynn Fontanne and Sylvia Sidney and mishaps while working in live TV
Fred Silverman
Dick Van Patten on how Fred Silverman chose him for his role on the TV show Eight is Enough
David Susskind
Dick Van Patten on appearing on the special Men in White produced by David Susskind
Marlo Thomas
Dick Van Patten on a guest role he had on That Girl with Marlo Thomas
Dick Van Dyke
Dick Van Patten on working on The Dick Van Dyke Show with Dick Van Dyke
Henry Winkler
Dick Van Patten on working with Henry Winkler and Ron Howard on Happy Days
Peggy Wood
Dick Van Patten on the first TV show he worked on as a child: Mama a.k.a. I Remember Mama
Dick Van Patten on working with Peggy Wood, Judson Laire, Robin Morgan, Iris Mann
Dick Van Patten on the differences between the show The Goldbergs and Mama