Actor Dick Van Patten passed away today of complications from diabetes. He was 86.

Van Patten’s acting career spanned 75 years first appearing on Broadway at the age of seven. He was on TV in its very earliest days as a cast member of the CBS TV show Mama,which ran from 1949 to 1957. But he is best remembered for starring in the ABC TV series Eight Is Enough, which aired from 1977 through 1981. In recent years, he made guest appearances on programs like Arrested Development, That ’70s Show,and Hot in Cleveland.

Some of Van Patten’s film credits include Charly, Soylent Green,and Dickie Roberts: Child Star. He also appeared in three Mel Brooks movies — High Anxiety, Spaceballs,and Robin Hood: Men in Tights.

He was the older brother of actress Joyce Van Patten and for a time was the brother-in-law of actor Martin Balsam. He was also the half-brother of actor Vince Van Patten and father of actor/tennis and poker player Vince Van Patten.

In addition to acting, Van Patten was active on the poker tournament scene and also founded the company Natural Balance Pet Foods.

Van Patten was also one of Hollywood’s most prominent Republicans.

But even Van Patten had his breaking point, as we can see when King Roland had no choice but to give up the combination to Dark Helmet to spare Princess Vespa a hideous nosejob in Spaceballs.[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_large”,”fid”:”97929″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]