James Van Patten is an American actor, screenwriter, and film producer. He is best known for his role as Dr. Adam Heffner in the Saw film series, as well as his roles in television and film during a career spanning several decades.
Early life and family James Van Patten was born in Brooklyn, New York. He comes from a family in the entertainment industry:
He is the son of actor Dick Van Patten and former dancer Patricia Poole. He is the brother of actor and former professional tennis player Vincent Van Patten and actor Nels Van Patten. He is the nephew of actress Joyce Van Patten and director/actor Timothy Van Patten, as well as the cousin of actress Talia Balsam.
Career Van Patten began his acting career in the early 1970s, making guest appearances on popular television series such as The Odd Couple and Happy Days.
Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, he appeared in film productions including Freaky Friday (1976), Hot Lead and Cold Feet (1978), California Dreaming (1979), and Roller Boogie (1979). In 1988, he starred alongside his brother Vincent in the TV movie The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission.
In 1989, he wrote and starred in the sports comedy short Dirty Tennis alongside his father Dick Van Patten, Bruce Jenner, and Nicollette Sheridan.
In the 2000s, Van Patten gained broader recognition among horror film fans for playing the recurring role of Dr. Adam Heffner (the coroner) in the Saw franchise, appearing in Saw IV (2007), Saw VI (2009), and Saw 3D (2010).
He has also worked behind the camera as a screenwriter and producer, co-writing and producing films such as 7 Days to Vegas (2019).
Selected filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes1976Freaky FridayCashierUncredited1978Hot Lead and Cold FeetJake1979California DreamingRick1979Roller BoogieHoppy1983Young WarriorsFred1989Dirty TennisJimmyAlso writer1993Robin Hood: Men in TightsVillager2007Saw IVDr. Adam Heffner2008Saw VDr. Adam HeffnerCameo / Uncredited2009Saw VIDr. Adam Heffner2010Saw 3DDr. Adam Heffner2011A Thousand CutsFrankAlso producer2017InconceivableDr. Weisman20197 Days to VegasCarlAlso co-writer and producer
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1972The Odd CoupleYoung Felix1 episode1977Happy DaysMark3 episodes1988The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal MissionDavid WebberTelevision film
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