'Eight Is Enough' Child Star Adam Rich Died at 54: Cause of Death Confirmed 5 Months Later

• Adam Rich was known for starring in the sitcom, "Eight Is Enough," as a child.
• He appeared in the spin-off shows and other projects before he decided to quit acting.
• Rich struggled with substance abuse and was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). He died at age 54.

Adam Rich was a former child star whose acting career began when he appeared on the hit ABC sitcom, "Eight Is Enough," in the late 1970s.

He starred as Nicholas Bradford, the youngest member of the Bradford family, which consisted of eight children. Dick Van Platten played his on-screen father, Tom Bradford.

Rich was only eight years old when he starred in "Eight Is Enough," which ran for five seasons from 1977 until 1981. After the popular show ended, he starred in several projects.

Rich appeared in the short-lived action series "Code Red," which aired from 1981 to 1982. He lent his voice to the animated series, "Dungeons & Dragons" and also starred in the 1997 movie, "The City."

However, the New York native decided to quit Hollywood and show business to step away from the limelight in the '80s. He wanted to lead a private life.

Despite this, Rich remained active on social media, often advocating for mental health. In a September 2022 tweet, he talked about people being stigmatized for having mental issues.

"Human beings weren't built to endure mental illness. The mere fact that some people consider those to be weak or have a lack of will is totally laughable because it's the total opposite. It takes a very, very strong person...a warrior if you will...to battle such illnesses," he penned.

The television star retweeted his post in December of that year after reports revealed that dancer Stephen "tWitch" Boss died by suicide at age 40.

Rich wrote on Twitter that people who have mental illness tend to pretend to be okay when they are not and urged them to stop doing that. He stated:

"Enough! The stigma is killing people. Be yourself. OK, or not OK, is the only way to create change & stomp the stigma! Heal your truth."

Rich's Cause of Death Revealed Five Months after His Death

Rich sadly passed away on January 7, 2023, at age 54. A family revealed he died at his Los Angeles home but refrained from disclosing the cause of death.

A police officer reportedly divulged the Hollywood star was found unresponsive at his apartment, adding there was no suspected foul play in his death.

Five months after Rich died, details surrounding his death became public knowledge. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's autopsy report, obtained by TMZ, revealed Rich died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl.

He had non-toxic levels of alcohol in his system and lorazepam, a generic for Ativan. The report also revealed his body was in a "state of mild decomposition."

In addition, a law enforcement officer disclosed to the outlet that Rich's death was possibly the result of an overdose. The manager at his apartment reportedly discovered his body inside the bathroom, where there was also a white powder substance believed to be drugs.

The "Benji at Work" star struggled with substance abuse through the years and was once allegedly apprehended for attempting to steal pills from a pharmacy.

Diagnosis in His Early 30s Ruined His Relationship & Dreams of Fatherhood

In addition to his addiction, Rich revealed during a November 2021 interview that his world crumbled after being diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in his early 30s.

He explained that it was during the period when he had stopped working being the camera, something he had been doing for a couple of years.

"I was in a relationship, probably one of my serious yet, at the time, and thought I was going to be getting married and having a child. And that sort of ended abruptly," he revealed, adding:

"Losing that relationship and everything, it just broke me in half. And I haven't been the same person since, almost in a good way."

Rich delved further into his diagnosis, disclosing that he was part of the two to three percent considered treatment resistant. Anti-depressants stopped working after six to nine months, according to him.

Moreover, the actor admitted that initially, he was in denial about his diagnosis. He suffered tremendously, being in constant pain until he eventually started taking medication. Rich described the experience as "terrible."

After he died, his former co-stars from "Eight Is Enough" mourned his death with tributes on social media, and some revealed they remained friends with him even in adulthood.

Willie Aames, who portrayed his brother in the series, penned a touching Facebook post that he learned about Rich's death from his wife, Winnie. "I'm gutted. Adam was more than a colleague. He was very much my only little brother. A lifelong friend," Aames expressed about the devastating news.

In a separate post, he divulged Rich had thought about returning to acting before he passed, adding, "[…] He was one of those kid actors that our generation will always remember."

Meanwhile, Rich's on-screen stepmother, Betty Buckley, also wrote a heartfelt tribute for the late veteran star, sharing he had a good sense of humor and lit up people's faces.

"Adam and I have remained friends all of these years. His love and support have always meant a lot to me," Buckley said of her beloved pal's passing.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Other international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org.

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