Child actor Adam Rich stared as Nicholas Bradford on the hit TV show “Eight Is Enough” which aired on ABC from 1977 – 1981. While that is certainly the role that he is best known for and the character that fueled a haircut trend, it was not Rich’s only acting role. His very first role was on “The Six Million Dollar Man” in 1976, and his last role was playing Crocodile Dundee on the show “Reel Comedy” in 2003. In between, he also acted on multiple projects including “Code Red,” “Small Wonder,” and “CHiPs” as well as working as a voiceover actor, lending his voice to a character on the animated series “Dungeons & Dragons.”

Rich consciously stepped away from acting after the 1980s. While he still went on to act a few more time, he reportedly didn’t like being in the spotlight.

In recent years, he was public about his struggle with his mental health, and he tried to motivate others who also were working through their own mental health struggles.

TMZ reports that Rich’s mantra was, “Life is for living, and I live my life to the fullest everyday.” Unfortunately, TMZ also broke the sad news that Rich was found dead at his home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles on Saturday, January 7, 2023. He was 54 years old. The police do not suspect foul play, but a cause of death has yet to be revealed.

Adam Rich, the former child star from Eight Is Enough, has died. He was 54.It’s always going to tough for any child actor, and that haircut was on every kid in the 1970s and 1980s. pic.twitter.com/ww0xOFfLFo

— Eric Alper 🎧 (@ThatEricAlper) January 8, 2023

Many people have been tweeting their memories of Rich including people who never met him in person but who felt close to him due to his kind and generous interactions with them on social media.

Adam Rich was a sweet generous soul who never stopped believing he’d find the human kindness that was missing from his life I know Adam found friends here & we mourn this true loss along with everyone else who grew up watching him on Eight Is Enough 💔 https://t.co/7ks9JVf4kk

— Tara Dublin (@taradublinrocks) January 8, 2023

He was so generous to those of here and elsewhere. I was amazed that someone I had a crush on in my youth would engage with me on Twitter. Such kindness. I’m so sad to hear of his passing.

— JCStew (@JCStew1313) January 8, 2023

I’m so sad about this. We met on Twitter a few years ago and we followed each other. Our connection was he lived just a few blocks from me before moving to LA. I checked on him when I didn’t hear from him but this time I hadn’t heard from him since Sept. He was struggling.

— WeirderIsGood 🇺🇸 (@WeirderIsGood) January 8, 2023

Back in 2021, Rich posted on Instagram about his time on “Eight Is Enough.” He wrote, “I’m grateful for the joy felt while working on 8!… I do hope it may have brought you some joy as well…”

That was Rich’s last Instagram post. More recently, in December 2022, he tweeted for the last time. This tweet was actually a retweet of a post from September 2022. In the original tweet, he wrote, “Human beings weren’t built to endure mental illness.” He added that people who battle mental illness are “very, very strong.”

The retweet was a responce to Stephen tWitch Boss’s suicide. Rich wrote, “The only thing those suffering from a mental illness know how to do is pretend to be ok.” He added, “The stigma is killing people.”

#988SuicideCrisisLine 📲The only thing those suffering from a mental illness know how to do is pretend to be ok. 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!❤️‍🩹#RIP💔🕺🏿tWitchBoss🕺🏿 https://t.co/o9bEpAscJ0

— Adam Rich 🦍 (@TheeAdamRich) December 16, 2022

Rich’s publicist, Danny Deraney, described him as “unselfish.” He added that Rich “always looked out for those he cared about.”