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Richard Vincent "Dick" Van Patten was an American actor, businessman, and animal-welfare advocate. He appeared in many Disney films, such as Snowball Express as Mr. Carruthers, Superdad ad Ira Kushaw, The Strongest Man in the World as Harry, Gus as Cal Wilson, Treasure of Matecumbe as the Gambler, Freaky Friday as Harold Jennings, and The Shaggy D.A. as Raymond.

Richard Vincent Van Patten was born on December 9, 1928, in the Kew Gardens section of the New York City borough of Queens. He began work as a model and actor as a child making his Broadway debut at the age of seven with Tapestry In Gray starring Melvyn Douglas. He was successful on the New York City stage, appearing in a dozen theatrical plays before reaching his teen years. He later moved to Hollywood to began a film and television career.

His film credits included Joe Kidd, Soylent Green, Beware! The Blob, Westworld, High Anxiety, Spaceballs, The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Opposite Day. He also appeared in various television roles, such as Mama, Rawhide, Young Doctor Malone, I Dream Of Jeannie, The Partners, The Doris Day Show, Love, American Style, Sanford and Son, The Paul Lynde Show, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Medical Center, Emergency!, The Streets of San Francisco, The Rookies, Insight, Adam-12, Barnaby Jones, When Things Were Rotten, Maude, The New Adventures of Wonder Woman, What's Happening!!, Happy Days, Eight Is Enough, The Love Boat, Hotel, Murder, She Wrote, The Facts of Life, Growing Pains, The Golden Palace, Diagnosis: Murder, Baywatch, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Cybill, Touched by an Angel, Boy Meets World, The Weird Al Show, Family Guy, Arrested Development, That '70s Show, and Hot in Cleveland.

Outside of acting, Van Patten co-founded Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods in 1989 and founded National Guide Dog Month which began in 2008 to raise awareness and money for non-profit guide dog schools in the United States.

Van Patten died at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, on June 23, 2015, at age 86 from complications from diabetes.

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