Vincent Van Patten (born October 17, 1957) is an American actor, former professional tennis player, and the commentator for the World Poker Tour.
Early and personal life Van Patten was born in Bellerose, New York, as the youngest son of actor Dick Van Patten and his wife, Patricia Helon "Pat" Van Patten (née Poole), a former June Taylor dancer. He is of Dutch, English, and Italian descent.
He was first urged into show business at age nine by his father's agent. He appeared in more than thirty commercials, including Colgate toothpaste, before his father was cast in the TV series, Arnie, and moved his family from Long Island to Los Angeles.
From his first marriage to Betsy Russell he has two sons: Richard and Vince. His second marriage, on April 15, 2003, was to The Young and the Restless actress Eileen Davidson; they have one child together, a son named Jesse Thomas Van Patten.
Vince is related to several other well-known actors, actresses, and singers through blood and by marriage. Vince is a brother of James and Nels Van Patten, a nephew of Joyce Van Patten and Timothy Van Patten, and a cousin of Talia Balsam.
Acting As a child actor during the 1970s, Van Patten guest-starred in over three dozen classic television series, including Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The High Chaparral, Nichols, Medical Center, Adam-12, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, ‘’Night Gallery’’, Wonder Woman, and a variety of television movies. He also had roles in the films Charley and the Angel (1973) and Chino (1973). At age 16, he was cast in Apple's Way, a CBS drama series, in which he played the son of an architect who leaves the big city to rear his family in rural and fictional Appleton, Iowa.
In the fall of 1975, at age 18, Van Patten appeared as John Karras in a 12-week CBS drama series Three for the Road. In 1976, he co-starred in The Bionic Boy, a two-hour ABC attempted spinoff of the popular Lee Majors vehicle The Six Million Dollar Man, that never went to series. He made a guest appearance in the final episode of the NBC television anthology series $weepstake$ in 1979.
In 1978, Van Patten starred in the cult film classic Rock 'n' Roll High School. He starred in several other films in the 1970s and 1980s, including the 1979 action thriller Survival Run (aka Spree), Yesterday (1981) as a Vietnam war veteran, the slasher film Hell Night (1981), Gidget's Summer Reunion (1985), The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission (1987), and Camp Fear (1991). He wrote, produced, and starred in The Break (1995), distributed by Lions Gate with Martin Sheen. Van Patten co-wrote and produced 7 Days to Vegas (2019), based on a true story, about a bet he made in 1995 that he could walk from Los Angeles, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada, in seven days.
Films Year Title Role Notes 1970 Dial Hot Line Stevie Television movie 1972 The Bravos Peter Harkness Television movie 1973 Charley and the Angel Willie Appleby Chino Jamie Wagner 1978 Rooster: Spurs of Death! Wyatt 1979 Rock 'n' Roll High School Tom Roberts Survival Run Chip 1981 Yesterday Matt Kramer Hell Night Seth 1985 Gidget's Summer Reunion Mickey Television movie 1987 The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission Ronnie Webber Television movie 1990 Payback Terry Cartwright 1991 Camp Fear Professor Hamilton 1995 The Break Nick Irons 2000 Backyard Dogs ZZ Nash 2001 When Billie Beat Bobby Lornie Kuhle Television movie 2003 High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story Jimmy D. 2016 The Guest House Abe 2019 7 Days to Vegas Duke also co-screenwriter and co-producer
Television Year Title Role Notes 1970 The High Chaparral Culley Broxton Episode: "Spokes" Bracken's World Pete O'Connell Episode: "Nude Scene" The Interns Young Samuel Episode: "Dancy" Nanny and the Professor Tommy Episode: "The Humanization of Herbert T. Peabody" 1970–1972 Bonanza Tommy Brenner / Tim Griffin 2 episodes 1970–1973 Medical Center Kenny / Jimmy / Benjy 3 episodes 1971 Ironside Sonny Brokaw Episode: "The Target" The Courtship of Eddie's Father Mark Episode: "To Catch a Thief" The Bill Cosby Show Jimmy Episode: "The Saturday Game" Cannon Shaun Donaldson Episode: "The Salinas Jackpot" Marcus Welby, M.D. Philip Grand Episode: "This Is Max" Adam-12 Virgil Stephens Episode: "Truant" Night Gallery Chris Segment: "Big Surprise" 1972 Nichols Grover Episode: "About Jesse James" The Partners Roger Higgenbottom Episode: "Headlines for Higgenbottom" ABC Afterschool Special Mark voice, Episode: "The Last of the Curlews" The New Scooby-Doo Movies Additional roles voice, 16 episodes 1972–1973 The Magical World of Disney Todd ThompsonDavey 4 episodes Gunsmoke Colby EatonHeck Walden Episode: "Bohannan"Episode: "The Boy and the Sinner" 1973 Barnaby Jones Kevin Mills Episode: "Day of the Viper" Jeannie Billy voice, Episode: "The Kid Brother" Love, American Style Bobby Segment: "Love and Carmen Lopez" Dirty Sally George Episode: "The Orphans" 1974–1975 Apple's Way Paul Apple Main role; 28 episodes 1975 Three for the Road John Karras Main role; 13 episodes 1976 Phyllis Rob Episode: "Crazy Mama" The Six Million Dollar Man Andy Sheffield Episode: "The Bionic Boy" 1977 James at 16 Rip Lindeman Episode: "Pilot" Wonder Woman Johnny 2 episodes Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels Additional roles Episode: "The Mystery Mansion Mix-Up" 1978 What Really Happened to the Class of '65? Phil Episode: "The Most Likely to Succeed" Flying High Unknown role Episode: "Palm Springs Weekend" 1978–1979 Insight Morgan / Rick Adams 2 episodes 1979 How the West Was Won Bob Cooper Episode: "The Rustler" 1981 The Love Boat Frank 1 episode 1990 Matlock Dave Travis Episode: "The Pro" 1992 Baby Talk Elliot Episode: "Requiem for a Lightweight" 1992–1997 Baywatch Vincent / Dr. Tom Morella 6 episodes 2000 The Young and the Restless Christian Page 12 episodes 2006 Cuts Himself as Vincent Van Patten Episode: "Rogue Trip" 2022 Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem Phil Hellworth 2 episodes
Tennis career Van Patten was a professional tour tennis player who in 1979 was awarded the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Rookie of the Year award. The highlight of his career came in October 1981 when he defeated top ten world ranked pros José Luis Clerc, Vitas Gerulaitis and top-seeded John McEnroe to win the Seiko World Super Tennis tournament in Tokyo. His career high ranking in singles was world No. 26, reached on February 11, 1982.
In singles, Van Patten reached the third round of the US Open twice, in 1982 and 1983, and Wimbledon once, in 1985. In doubles his best Grand Slam event result was reaching the quarter-finals of the French Open in 1981, partnering with Mel Purcell. His highest doubles ranking was world No. 24, reached in September 1986.
Finals Singles (1 win / 2 losses) ResultW/L DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScoreLoss 0–1 May 1980 São Paulo, Brazil Carpet Wojciech Fibak 0–6, 6–7Win 1–1 Oct 1981 Tokyo, Japan Carpet Mark Edmondson 6–2, 3–6, 6–3Loss 1–2 Oct 1983 Maui, US Hard Scott Davis 3–6, 7–6(7–2), 6–7(4–7)
Doubles (1 win / 1 loss) ResultW/L DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreLoss 0–1 Sep 1983 San Francisco, US Carpet (i) Ivan Lendl Peter Fleming John McEnroe 1–6, 2–6Win 1–1 Miami, US Hard Brad Gilbert Stefan Edberg Anders Järryd walkover
Poker Van Patten learned to play poker at the age of 14 from his father, actor Dick Van Patten.
In the 1990s, Vincent Van Patten put together his own Hollywood home game with famous regulars like Ben Affleck and Tobey Maguire.
He finished in the money at the 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event, finishing 481st in a pool of 7,319 entrants and received winnings totaling $27,519. (This amount was awarded to finishers in 460th through 531st place.)
Since 2003, he has been a commentator on World Poker Tour. The first four seasons were broadcast on Travel Channel; seasons five and six on Game Show Network, and, from the seventh through to the current season, it has aired on Fox Sports Networks.Profile, pokerlistings.com; accessed March 2, 2016.
With Robert J Randisi, he wrote The Picasso Flop, a novel about Las Vegas poker.
As of September 2020, Van Patten has $104,383 in live tournament earnings from seven events.
References
Bibliography
External links
Van Patten profile, PokerListings.com Vince Van Patten Interview (video + transcript)