On Thursday June 23rd of 2015, legendary actor Richard Van Patten passed away in his Los Angeles, California, home at the age of 86. Born on December 9, 1928 in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York, Richard (known as Dick to his friends) began his career in the entertainment industry at a young age, appearing in a number of live theater productions throughout the 1950s. He went on to land a number of movie roles throughout the 1960s, eventually making a name for himself as a highly sought-after character actor. His most notable credits include roles in the films “The Novel” (1966), “The Desperate Mission” (1969), and “The Long Goodbye” (1973). In addition to his film career, Van Patten had a successful television career. He appeared on shows including “The Brady Bunch” (1969–1974) and “Eight is Enough” (1977–1981), the latter of which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. He was seen in guest-starring roles as well, appearing on popular shows such as “Murder She Wrote” and “Matlock.” Van Patten had many other interests aside from acting. He was a passionate animal rights activist, adopting numerous pets over the years and becoming involved with animal rights causes throughout his life. He also enjoyed travel, having visited Russia, India, and many other countries around the world during his career. He is survived by his wife, three sons, and four grandchildren.