One of TV’s most beloved father figures, Dick Van Patten, has passed away at age 86. E! News can confirm that the Eight Is Enough actor died earlier this morning at Saint John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, Calif., due to complications from diabetes. The actor and animal activist’s publicist Jeff Ballard told The Wrap, “He was the kindest man you could ever meet in life. A loving family man. They don’t make them like him anymore.” In addition to the highly successful Eight Is Enough series, Van Patten also acted in several other popular shows including The New Dick Van Dyke Show, The Love Boat, Happy Days, and several recent hits like Arrested Development, Hot in Cleveland and That ’70s Show.
