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Dick Van Patten — TV Flash editorial portrait
Actor MamaEight Is Enough

Nels

Dick Van Patten

Dick Van Patten is known to TV Flash readers as Nels — a defining face of the catalog era.

Networks & studios

  • CBS — via catalog credits
  • ABC — via catalog credits

On the dial

Shows in our catalog

CBS · 1949–1957

Mama

Norwegian immigrant family warmth — live family drama before sitcoms ate the hour.

ABC · 1977–1981

Eight Is Enough

Sacramento brood with a columnist dad — blended-family sprawl before it was a genre.

External sites for further reading — TV Flash is not affiliated with these networks or studios.

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