Adam Rich passed away yesterday at the age of 54, according to TMZ.
The actor is best known for being America’s little brother thanks to his role as Nicolas Bradford, the youngest child on Eight is Enough in the late ’70s. Boys all over the US had his page boy haircut because parents wanted their kids to be as cute as he was. Heck, I was totally crushing on him when I was in my single digits.
He continued to act throughout the ’80s, but then he suffered from mental illness and addiction.
Rich was very open about his mental illness. He was trying to change the way we look at people who suffer from it and how we treat them. I wish we could’ve done more for him. Maybe that is what his legacy will be. Accepting people with mental illness and treating them like we would treat anyone else with illness and not like they are lepers.
Today, I am honoring him by rewatching his second series Code Red on Crackle. And I am also honoring him by offering to be here for you if you need to talk. If not me, then please call 988.
