'Eight Is Enough' Actor Adam Rich Suspected To Have Died From A Drug Overdose

L.A. police investigators now suspect that former child actor Adam Rich's recent death was likely caused by a drug overdose. The investigators have reportedly found evidence in Rich's apartment of white powdery substances they suspect to be drugs. With the actor's history of drug troubles, it's more likely he died from an overdose, lessening the possibility of foul play.

Rich previously revealed to the public that he began drinking and trying drugs at 13. He was later arrested for stealing morphine from a pharmacy, only to be bailed out by Van Patten, his TV godfather. The actor first rose to fame playing Nicholas Bradford on the successful TV show "Eight Is Enough," which ran from 1977 to 1981.

Rich also worked on films like "Code Red" and "Dungeons & Dragons," making it onto the VH1 list of the greatest 100 kid stars. The child star left Hollywood in the 80s because he realized he didn't like anything about celebrity life.

Read on to learn more.

L.A. law enforcement has revealed to TMZ that they suspect former child star Adam Rich died from a drug overdose. The investigators have reportedly found evidence from the crime scene to support the drug overdose theory. Rich was found dead earlier this month after his building manager conducted a welfare check on his apartment.

The officers believe the actor had been dead for a while before the apartment manager came by. There was also allegedly a white powdery substance found at his home, which is suspected to be drugs. With Rich's complicated history of drug abuse, investigators strongly suspect an OD, lessening the possibility of foul play.

Law enforcement also told TMZ that no one in the apartment had heard from Rich since January 5th, so it's unclear when exactly he died. Nothing will be confirmed until the police get back their autopsy and toxicology reports, which will state the official cause of the actor's death.

According to the TMZ report on Rich's death, the actor's family only found out about his death this weekend. He reportedly struggled with drug issues for many years and once revealed that he'd begun drinking and trying various drugs by the time he was 13 years old.

In 1991, Rich was arrested for allegedly smashing the window of a pharmacy with a tire iron to steal morphine and other painkillers. Prosecutors later discovered that just before the break-in, he'd been denied a painkiller prescription at a nearby hospital emergency room. Rich called his TV godfather Van Patten, who posted his bail and sent him back home.

By his 22nd birthday, Rich had been in and out of rehab at least five times and eventually overdosed into a coma for two weeks. The press extensively covered his drug issues and rehab stints, often grouping him with other sitcom child stars that were also struggling with drugs and petty crimes.

Rich first rose to fame playing the role of Nicholas Bradford on "Eight Is Enough," which ran from 1977 to 1981. The show was based on a memoir written by Tom Braden, who actually raised eight children in real life. A 1977 article by The New York Times praised "Eight Is Enough" and called it one of "the better productions" on television.

In 1991, People Magazine did a profile of Rich and called him an "audience favorite." They also quoted Van Patten in describing Rich's "magnetism" as an actor. Before his retirement, Rich also starred in "Code Red" and "Dungeons & Dragons." He was later included on VH1's compilation of the greatest 100 kid stars in film history, ranking at #73.

Despite his talent, Rich eventually retired from Hollywood in the 80s because he realized he didn't like the celebrity life or the spotlight. He took up acting at his former high school, Chatsworth High School, where his former drama teacher also taught Val Kilmer and Kevin Spacey.

Sometime in his early 30s, Rich began receiving treatment for depression and was open about his struggle to find the right medication. In 2020, the actor started a mental health page on Twitter, which gained modest traction. In a YouTube interview, Rich spoke about how clinical depression isn't a mood but an illness that stems from brain chemistry.