Van Patten Family History & Genealogy

Vincent Van Patten was born on October 17, 1957 in Bellerose, Nassau County, New York United States. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Vincent Van Patten .

Nels Van Patten was born on January 15, 1955 in New York United States to Dick Van Patten and Patricia (Poole) Van Patten, and has siblings Vincent Van Patten and James Van Patten. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Nels Van Patten .

Joyce Van Patten was born on March 9, 1934 in New York United States. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Joyce Van Patten .

Richard Van Patten was born on September 21, 1907 in New York, New York United States, and died at age 77 years old on May 4, 1985 in Los Angeles County, CA. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Richard Van Patten .

Eleanor Marie (Gatta) Van Patten was born on March 16, 1918 in United States, and died at age 53 years old in December 1971. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Eleanor Marie (Gatta) Van Patten .

Tim Van Patten was born on June 10, 1959 in New York United States. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Tim Van Patten .

Josephine (Acerno) Van Patten was born on October 18, 1907 in United States, and died at age 68 years old on May 17, 1976 at Sherman Oaks in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Josephine (Acerno) Van Patten.

Dick Van Patten Born Richard Vincent Van Patten December 9, 1928 Kew Gardens, Queens, New York, U.S. Died June 23, 2015 (aged 86) Santa Monica, California, U.S. Resting place Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills Occupation Actor, comedian, businessman, animal welfare advocate Years active 1935–2012 Spouse(s) Patricia Poole ​(m. 1954)​ Children 3, including Vincent Relatives Tim Van Patten (half brother) Joyce Van Patten (sister) Richard Vincent Van Patten (December 9, 1928 – June 23, 2015) was an American actor, comedian, businessman, and animal welfare advocate, whose career spanned seven decades of television. He was best known for his role as patriarch Tom Bradford on the ABC television comedy-drama Eight Is Enough. Van Patten began work as a child actor and was successful on the New York stage, appearing in more than a dozen plays as a teenager. He worked in radio, on Duffy's Tavern. He later starred in numerous television roles including the long-running CBS television series, "Mama" and Young Doctor Malone. Later, he would star or co-star in many feature films, including Charly, Mel Brooks's Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Spaceballs, and Charlton Heston's Soylent Green. Van Patten was the founder of Natural Balance Pet Foods and National Guide Dog Month. Early life Richard Vincent Van Patten was born on December 9, 1928, in the Kew Gardens section of the New York City borough of Queens, the elder child of Richard Byron Van Patten, an interior decorator, and Josephine Rose (née Acerno), who worked in advertising. His younger sister is actress Joyce Van Patten. His mother was of Italian descent, while his father had Dutch and English ancestry. He began work as a model and actor as a child making his Broadway debut at the age of seven. He was successful on the New York City stage, appearing in a dozen theatrical plays before reaching his teen years. He later moved to Hollywood and began a lengthy career in film and television. Van Patten's career in show business began as a child actor on Broadway in 1935 in Tapestry In Gray starring Melvyn Douglas. He was billed as "Dickie Van Patten" and went on to appear in twelve other Broadway plays as a teenager. He moved on to television with the role of Nels Hansen in the CBS series, Mama, starring Peggy Wood, about a Norwegian-American family living in San Francisco, in the early 20th century. It ran from 1949 to 1957. In 1949, James Dean, then an unknown, replaced Patten on the show for a time, when Patten was drafted into the Army. In 1975, he played "Friar Tuck" on When Things Were Rotten, a comic take on Robin Hood, created by Mel Brooks. The series ran for 13 episodes before being canceled. He was best known as the Bradford family patriarch, Tom Bradford, on Eight Is Enough, which aired from 1977 to 1981, and which was loosely based on a book of the same name by the American journalist Thomas Braden. Van Patten appeared in episodes of Sanford and Son, Banacek, Arrested Development, The Brian Keith Show, Cannon, The Streets of San Francisco, Adam-12, Emergency!, Growing Pains, and Happy Days. He had numerous leading roles in motion pictures including Joe Kidd, The Snowball Express and The Santa Trap. He played a small role in the dystopian film Soylent Green (1973). Van Patten appeared in several films directed by Mel Brooks, including High Anxiety, Spaceballs, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights, as well as cameos in the music videos for "Smells Like Nirvana" and "Bedrock Anthem" by "Weird Al" Yankovic, and on The Weird Al Show. He played "Jack Benson" in Opposite Day (2009). He also was a commentator for the World Series of Poker from 1993 to 1995. The Hollywood Walk of Fame honored Van Patten on November 20, 1985, with a Star of Television marker at 1541 North Vine Street. On January 12, 2008, Van Patten received a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. On November 1, 2009, Phoenix Books published Eighty Is Not Enough!, a book co-authored by Van Patten and Robert Baer, in which Van Patten shared his 80-year journey of insights and anecdotes through the entertainment industry. He discusses his journey from his humble beginning in Queens, New York; his rise as a childhood star on Broadway during the Great Depression; working as an actor on the radio; the advent of television and his role in the second-ever live situation comedy Mama; a rough period between acting gigs; a rise back to the top that led the TV icon to the lead role on the popular hit show Eight Is Enough and subsequent roles in television and movies. Other work Main articles: Natural Balance Pet Foods and National Guide Dog Month An animal enthusiast, Van Patten co-founded Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods in 1989. Van Patten's creation of his own brand of dog food was satirized in comedian John Hodgman's 2008 book More Information Than You Require, and was rebranded as Dick Van Patten's Hobo Chili for Dogs. He founded National Guide Dog Month which began in 2008 to raise awareness and money for non-profit guide dog schools in the United States, accredited by the International Guide Dog Federation. Patriarch of a famous Hollywood family, Van Patten was the older brother of actress Joyce Van Patten, and the older half-brother of film director and Emmy award-winning television director/producer Tim Van Patten. He was married to Patricia Poole (also known as Pat Van Patten) from 1954 until his death. She was a professional dancer on Broadway and a June Taylor dancer on The Jackie Gleason Show. They lived in Sherman Oaks, California. They had three sons, all actors: Vincent, Nels, and Jimmy. Nels, who is married to actress Nancy Valen, is named for the character Van Patten played on the CBS's I Remember Mama. Van Patten was related to several other actors through marriages. His sister Joyce married actor Martin Balsam; their daughter is actress Talia Balsam. Talia's first husband was actor George Clooney, and she is now married to actor John Slattery. Van Patten's son, Vince, is married to actress Eileen Davidson. Grave of Dick Van Patten at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills. In January 2006, Van Patten was taken to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering a diabetic stroke. Van Patten, who suffered from Type 2 diabetes, made a full recovery. Van Patten died at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, on June 23, 2015, at age 86. Complications from diabetes were the listed cause. Willie Aames, who played son Tommy Bradford on Eight Is Enough, called his television father "truly a gem [who] will be missed. ... As Dick always said, 'Remember our times together, gang ... Cause these ARE the good ole' days". Betty Buckley, Van Patten's co-star on the series, recalled, "Every day on the set he was a happy, jovial person, always generous and ready to play, tease, and always keep us all laughing. He was the consummate professional, a wonderful actor, master of comedy, and a kind and generous human being." He is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles. On November 20, 1985, Dick Van Patten was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2008, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.

Patricia (Poole) Van Patten was born in United States. She was married to Dick Van Patten on April 25, 1954, and they were together until Dick's death on June 23, 2015. Patricia Van Patten has children Nels Van Patten, James Van Patten, and Vincent Van Patten. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Patricia (Poole) Van Patten.

James Van Patten was born on October 7, 1956 in New York United States. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember James Van Patten .

Barbara Elaine Van Patten of Suncook, Merrimack County, NH was born on November 13, 1943, and died at age 66 years old on July 6, 2010. Barbara Van Patten was buried at New Hampshire State Cemetery Section 5 Row R Site 475 110 Daniel Webster Highway (rt3), in Boscawen.

William Douglas Van Patten of Lakeport, Lake County, CA was born on September 12, 1917, and died at age 86 years old on October 16, 2003. William Van Patten was buried at Willamette National Cemetery Section CC Site 1552 11800 Se Mt. Scott Boulevard, in Portland, Or.

Laura Ette Van Patten of Lakeport, Lake County, CA was born on November 30, 1921, and died at age 80 years old on April 16, 2002. Laura Van Patten was buried at Willamette National Cemetery Section CC Site 1552 11800 Se Mt. Scott Boulevard, in Portland, Or.

Richard Thomas Van Patten of Corona, Riverside County, CA was born on June 20, 1943, and died at age 65 years old on May 11, 2009. Richard Van Patten was buried at Riverside National Cemetery Section BD Row B Site 252 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, in Riverside.

Denis Lee Van Patten was born on October 31, 1940, and died at age 40 years old on December 22, 1980. Denis Van Patten was buried at Willamette National Cemetery Section P Site 686 11800 Se Mt. Scott Boulevard, in Portland, Or. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Denis Lee Van Patten.

John A Van Patten of Atwater, Merced County, CA was born on March 20, 1916, and died at age 90 years old on March 13, 2007. John Van Patten was buried at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery Section C-10 Site 5 32053 West Mccabe Road, in Santa Nella.

James Raymond Van Patten of Hemet, Riverside County, CA was born on June 20, 1940, and died at age 68 years old on April 5, 2009. James Van Patten was buried at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery Section CBN Row 3 Site 438 P.o. Box 6237, in San Diego.

Mary Elizabeth Van Patten was born on August 24, 1924, and died at age 85 years old on December 29, 2009. Mary Van Patten was buried at Ft. Scott National Cemetery Section 15 Site 110 900 East National Street, in Fort Scott, Ks. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Mary Elizabeth Van Patten.

Waltraut Kurz Van Patten was born on February 27, 1940, and died at age 68 years old on February 28, 2008. Waltraut Van Patten was buried at Dallas - Ft. Worth National Cemetery Section 15B Site 383 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, in Dallas, Tx. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Waltraut Kurz Van Patten.

Janet F Van Patten was born on January 19, 1932, and died at age 74 years old on October 4, 2006. Janet Van Patten was buried at Santa Fe National Cemetery Section 13 Site 297 501 North Guadalupe Street, in Santa Fe, Nm. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Janet F Van Patten.