Eighty Is Not Enough

Recognizable for his cherubic countenance and his numerous roles as the mild-mannered father in movies and on TV, Dick Van Patten has one of the most lengthy and impressive track records in the acting business. In fact, he estimates that “I’ve probably had more jobs than any other actor living.” 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 “everydad” in the1970s comedy/drama Eight is Enough. He’s been a roommate to Burt Lancaster, a next-door neighbor to Michael Jackson and a successful off screen businessman. In Eighty Is Not Enough, this beloved actor reflects on a career that has lasted over seven decades. Along the way he shares insights and anecdotes about some of the biggest names in television, movies and theater, as well as the challenges he has faced as a husband, father, animal rights crusader and working actor in an ever evolving business.