Credit: Unsplash

Rich was best known as Nicholas Bradford in the 70s television series.

Over the weekend, it was announced that Adam Rich, the actor who was best known for his childhood role as Nicholas Bradford in the 70s television series Eight is Enough, had passed away. His cause of death has not been confirmed at the time of writing, though an autopsy is underway. He was 54 years old.

The news was announced by Rich’s public representative, Danny Deraney, on Twitter. “Adam was simply a wonderful guy,” Deraney tweeted. “He was kind, generous and a warrior in the fight against mental illness. Adam did not have an ounce of ego. He was unselfish and always looked out for those he cared about, which is why many people who grew up with him feel like part of their childhood gone, and sad today. He really was America’s little brother.”

We’re remembering the life of actor Adam Rich. pic.twitter.com/yW2ML0RfGd

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 9, 2023

Following his starring role on Eight is Enough, Rich would make several brief appearances in a variety of other daytime television series until unofficially retiring from acting in the early 90s. Prior to this, he went through substance abuse difficulties, nearly dying from a Valium overdose, as well as legal troubles, but in the last decade, made an effort to get clean and reinvent himself. In the last several years, he had become an outspoken advocate for mental health on his personal Instagram account.