Brandon Cruz | |
---|---|
Born | Brandon Edwin Williams May 28, 1962 Bakersfield, California, U.S. |
Occupation(s) | Actor, singer, editor, consultant |
Known for | The Courtship of Eddie's Father |
Spouse | Elizabeth "Liz" Finkelstein [1] (div. 2018) [2] |
Children | 2, including Ruby Cruz |
Brandon Cruz (born Brandon Edwin Williams on May 28, 1962) is an American musician, actor, editor and consultant. He is best known as a child actor for his role as Eddie Corbett, son of widower Tom Corbett (played by Bill Bixby), on the television series The Courtship of Eddie's Father . Cruz is also a punk rock musician, having sung for bands such as Dr. Know and the reunited version of the Dead Kennedys.
Cruz was born in Bakersfield, California, U.S., to Mexican-American parents. When he was two months old, the family moved to Silver Strand Beach in Oxnard, California. [3]
At age seven, he auditioned for and won his breakthrough role as Eddie Corbett in the television series The Courtship of Eddie's Father, which aired from 1969 to 1972. Co-star Bill Bixby and Cruz spent considerable time together, especially when the show was on hiatus, prompting Cruz to tell American Profile magazine "Bill Bixby was like my second father." [4] Cruz is the last living cast member of the series following co-star Kristina Holland’s death in 2023.
Cruz continued as a child actor for several years following the cancellation of The Courtship of Eddie's Father with a number of guest appearances in television shows like Kung Fu , Gunsmoke , and The Incredible Hulk —which reunited him on-screen with Bixby. Cruz also played the role of Joey Turner in the 1976 movie The Bad News Bears . [5]
Cruz turned his attention to punk rock in the late 1970s, and in 1981 was performing with the hardcore punk band Dr. Know. The group released several records, and after a name change to KNOW, toured Europe in 2017. Cruz also was the lead vocalist with Dead Kennedys from 2001 until 2003. [6] Cruz was interviewed in the documentary American Hardcore: The History of American Punk Rock, 1980–1986 . Reflecting on life after being a child star, which has brought tragedy to so many others, Cruz told American Profile "Surfing and punk rock probably saved my life." [4] Dr. Know still plays shows. They are writing a new album and will tour the world in 2024.
Cruz has worked behind-the-scenes in television and film, such as an assistant editor on the animated series South Park . [5] [7] He later worked for the United Paramount Network, the Discovery Channel and American Chopper . [8]
In 1991, Cruz was honored by the Young Artist Foundation with its Young Artist Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award for his role as Eddie on The Courtship of Eddie's Father. [9]
Cruz and nurse Elizabeth "Liz" Finkelstein [7] [8] were married in 1994. They divorced in 2018. They have a son, Lincoln Bixby Cruz (born 1995), and a daughter, actress Ruby Jean Cruz (born 2000). [10] [11] Cruz now works as a consultant to people suffering from addictions and is a practicing Buddhist. A book on his life is in the early stages.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1969 | 80 Steps to Jonah | Little Joe | |
1969–1972 | The Courtship of Eddie's Father | Eddie Corbett | 73 episodes |
1970 | But I Don't Want to Get Married! | Bernard | Television movie |
1972 | Gunsmoke | Jimmy Morgan | Episode: "The Drummer" |
1972 | Kung Fu | Peter Gideon | Season 1, Episode 1: "King of the Mountain" |
1973 | Medical Center | Mooch | Episode: "Night Cry" |
1973 | The Going Up of David Lev | David | Television movie |
1973 | Love, American Style | Ernie | Segment "Love and the Unsteady Steady" |
1974 | Family Theatre: Married Is Better | Television movie | |
1974 | Police Story | Victor Rollins | Episode: "Cop in the Middle" |
1974 | Doc Elliot | Robert Wells | Episode: "A Time to Grow" |
1976 | The Bad News Bears | Joey Turner | |
1976 | Jeremiah of Jacob's Neck | Clay Rankin | Television movie |
1976 | ABC Afterschool Special | Benny Singleton | Episode: "Mighty Moose and the Quarterback Kid" |
1978 | The One and Only | Sherman | |
1978 | The Incredible Hulk | Kevin | Episode: "747" |
1995 | Safe | Steve | |
1997 | Jesus Rides Shotgun | Chintz | |
1998 | Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction | Episode: "The Card Game" | |
2004 | Eddie's Father | Slice | |
2012 | The Lords of Salem | Ted Delta |
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