Brandon Cruz

Brandon Edwin Cruz (born May 28, 1962) is an American actor best known for his role as Eddie Corbett, son of widower Tom Corbett (played by Bill Bixby) on the television comedy-drama series The Courtship of Eddie's Father. Cruz is also a punk rock musician, having sung for such bands as Dr. Know, Dead Kennedys, and Flipper.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Cruz.
Brandon Cruz
Brandon Cruz, circa 1969.
Born
Brandon Edwin Cruz

(1962-05-28) May 28, 1962
Bakersfield, California
OccupationActor, singer
Known forThe Courtship of Eddie's Father

Early life and career

Cruz was born in Bakersfield, California, and moved to Silver Strand Beach in Ventura County, California, with his family at the age of two months. At age five he auditioned for, and won, his breakthrough role as Eddie Corbett in the television series The Courtship of Eddie's Father, which aired on ABC from 1969 to 1972. 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." [1]

Cruz (center) with The Courtship of Eddie's Father co-stars Bill Bixby and Miyoshi Umeki

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 once again reunited him on-screen with Bixby. Cruz also played the role of Joey Turner, the Yankees pitcher, in the 1976 movie The Bad News Bears.[2]

Cruz turned his attention to punk rock in the late 70s, and in 1981, was performing with the Nardcore punk band Dr. Know. The group released several records, and after a name change to KNOW, toured Europe in 2017. Cruz also served as lead vocalist with Dead Kennedys from 2001 until 2003.[3] Cruz was interviewed in the documentary film 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."[1]

In 1991, Cruz was honored by the Young Artist Foundation with its Former Child Star "Lifetime Achievement" Award for his role as "Eddie" on The Courtship of Eddie's Father.[4] He has also worked behind-the-scenes in television as an assistant editor on the animated series South Park, among other shows.[2]

Filmography
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 Episode: "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 The Motorcycle Diaries Miner (Chile) Diarios de motocicleta (original title)[5]
2004 Eddie's Father Slice
2012 The Lords of Salem Ted Delta
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References
  1. American Profile magazine. Celebrity Q&A, December 27, 2011. Publishing Group of America.
  2. "Brandon Cruz biography". Sitcoms Online.com. 2005. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  3. "Brandon Cruz Biography". Flixster.com. 2010. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  4. "13th Annual Youth in Film Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  5. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) – IMDb, retrieved October 2, 2019
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