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RIP Dick Van Patten

Van Patten SANTA MONICA, CALIF.–Genial actor Dick Van Patten, perhaps best known as the dad in the TV series “Eight is Enough,” died Tuesday, June 23, at a hospital here. He was 86.
MSTies will remember he was presented as the mastermind in Crow’s expose of “The Van Patten Project” in a host segment in episode 322- MASTER NINJA I.

There’s a nice long obit here.

20 Replies to “RIP Dick Van Patten”

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  1. Smoothie of Great Power says:

    I remember him most as King Roland of Spaceballs.

       9 likes

  2. fred zone cuba says:

    you were enjoyed.

       2 likes

  3. Torgospizza-NJ says:

    I remember seeing a double feature in 1973, of Westworld and Soylent Green. Both featured Dick Van Patten in small, memorable roles, as the wimpy new sheriff and the “friendly” orderly at the suicide center. When he’s given charge of Saul (Edward G. Robinson) he looks down on the chart and says, feigning interest, “I see your favorite color is orange” in manner suitable for a flight attendant at the river styx. Underrated but always memorable. RIP

       2 likes

  4. Johnny's nonchalance says:

    Dick “Don Vito Corleone” Van Patten,

    you spawned one of the all time most amusing mushmouths, for which this MSTie is eternally grateful.

       2 likes

  5. SoRefined says:

    Despite what MST3K told us, Dick Van Patten was actually Tim Van Patten’s (much older) half brother, not his father.

    Fortunately, Tim found his niche behind the camera.

    Johnny’s nonchalance:
    Dick “Don Vito Corleone” Van Patten,

    you spawned one of the all time most amusing mushmouths, for which this MSTie is eternally grateful.

       2 likes

  6. TarlCabot says:

    I’m going to reveal a plot that will blow the lid off the entertainment industry!:
    The Van Patten Project!

    Sitting atop the hierarchy, Dick Van Patten. Or should I say Don Dick Van Vito Corleone! His plan…to place one of his own hellish drop in every ‘B’ grade movie or TV production in Hollywood! Think of “I Remember Mama”. The show ran until ’63 and then, mysteriously, no Dick. Then in the ’70’s, decade of shame, Dick explodes across the television screen with ‘The New Dick Van Dyke Show’, ‘When Things were Rotten’ and ‘Eight is Enough’, (a show that launched the criminal careers of many a hack talent). Now, Timothy Van Patton comes forth to do his evil with ‘ The White Shadow’ and ‘The Master’. Then, James appears in the western mini-series ‘Chisholm’. Then what happens to him, I don’t know! Next, along comes Vincent, who was truly abyssmal in ‘ Apples Way’ and ‘The Bionic Boy’, (at least he could smell the bacon frying and had enough sense to become a tennis player). The parallels to ‘The Godfather’ are inescapable.
    Enter sister Joyce, yes Joyce. Like Caligula’s grandmother: plotting and planning in the background. A string of failures in her wake: ‘The Don Rickles Show’, ‘The New Mary Tyler Moore Hour’, that Herb Edelman and Bob Denver show…

    *Joel pulls Crow away by the net*

       3 likes

  7. Gary Bowden says:

    Sad to hear this,since I grew up watching him on The Love Boat and a few other TV shows.As well as in movies like High Anxiety,Spaceballs;just to name a few..Was also in the T&A movie Lunch Wagon…RIP

       3 likes

  8. Kenneth Morgan says:

    He also made a memorable appearance in “Weird Al” Yankovick’s video for “Bedrock Anthem”.

       4 likes

  9. Oh great, how am I supposed to find his death scene in “High Anxiety” funny now?

       3 likes

  10. Lee says:

    Long live the king of Druidia!

       9 likes

  11. snowdog says:

    Good morrow, Abbot… and RIP.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m4GUdb_ey8

       1 likes

  12. Dalty Smilth says:

    Fans of author, comedian, former literary agent, and Deranged Millionaire John Hodgman will also recognize him as the face of Dick Van Patten’s Hobo Chilli For Dogs, and various other themed specialty dogfoods in his persona as “Chef Woofgang”. Is it overstating the case to say he was truly the Paul Newman of dog food? In my opinion, no, no it is not.

       1 likes

  13. Doug Glassman says:

    Goodbyyyyeeee Abbot!

    (Along with his great Mel Brooks film roles, Van Patten also created my dog’s brand of dog food, so thanks for that as well.)

       3 likes

  14. trickymutha says:

    The Godfather of MST- RIP

       2 likes

  15. [The Original] Stan McSerr, Destroyer of Worlds says:

    Kenneth Morgan:
    He also made a memorable appearance in “Weird Al” Yankovick’s video for “Bedrock Anthem”.

    He was also in The Nirvana parody Smells Like Nirvana. He offered a bite of his sandwich to the punk in the bleachers. The punk slapped it away. Ah Memories.

       2 likes

  16. goalieboy82 says:

    what is it with spammers?

       1 likes

  17. Dr. Frankenkeister says:

    It appears that 86 was enough.

       3 likes

  18. [The Original] Stan McSerr, Destroyer of Worlds says:

    Just now saw him on Emergency!

       1 likes

  19. zombiewhacker says:

    Dick will be missed.

    Less known about Van Patten: he was a regular guest at the Playboy Mansion (it’s not what you think… he and his wife loved Heff’s tennis courts. Um, well, at least that’s what he told Entertainment Tonight.)

    I’d also like to give a shout out to Dick’s bright performance as a scout troop leader in the otherwise horrid Son of Blob.

    Anyways, bye Dick.

       0 likes

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