Butch Patrick Turns 70

Having already knocked my brains out writing this piece about rock bands earlier today, I’ll keep this 70th birthday tribute to Butch Patrick (be. 1953) short and sweet. However, isn’t it funny? After semi-retiring from acting in 1975, Patrick played in rock bands himself, with names like “Eddie and the Monsters” for years. A theme emerges.

The above autographed publicity still is from the collection of my brother-in-law, who obviously dug The Munsters as a kid (though his favorite show, to the point of obsession, was Lost in Space). Patrick has over five dozen professional acting credits on IMDB. He is of course known for playing the boy werewolf Eddie on The Munsters from 1964 to 1966. But that’s far from his only notable credit. As a very high-looking teenager he co-starred with Charles Nelson Reilly on the Sid and Marty Kroft show Lidsville (1971-72). In between those two high profile gigs, there were two other very strong ones. He starred as the voice of Milo (the lead) in the 1971 animated film of The Phantom Tollbooth, and had a recurring role on My Three Sons.

Patrick’s career as a child star began when he was around 8. He was also in episodes of The Monkees, I Dream Of Jeannie, Mr. Ed, Adam-12, Bonanza, and many others. Some of his last credits of the first phase of his career included appearances on Shazam! and Ironside.

Much later, he had brief appearances in Scary Movie (1991), Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003, with David Spade), and cameos in various Munsters reboots. And today, by golly, he can play Grandpa if he wants to!

Now, Butch, don’t bite! DOWN, boy!