Dick Van Patten

Richard Vincent Dick Van Patten was an American actor, businessman, and animal welfare advocate, best known for his role as patriarch Tom Bradford on the ABC television comedydrama Eight Is Enough.

Van Patten was born in the Kew Gardens section of the New York City borough of Queens, the son of Josephine Rose , who worked in advertising, and Richard Byron Van Patten, an interior decorator. His mother was of Italian descent, while his father had Dutch and English ancestry. He began work as a model and actor as a child making his Broadway debut at the age of seven. He was successful on the New York stage, appearing in a dozen theatrical plays before reaching his teen years. He later moved to Hollywood and began a lengthy career in film and television.

Source: Wikipedia