Brandon Cruz
Brandon Edwin Cruz (born May 28, 1962) is an American actor and singer 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.
Brandon Cruz | |
|---|---|
 Brandon Cruz, circa 1969. | |
| Born | Brandon Edwin Cruz May 28, 1962 Bakersfield, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, singer |
| Known for | The 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 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 | Season 1, Episode 2: "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 |
References
- American Profile magazine. Celebrity Q&A, December 27, 2011. Publishing Group of America.
- "Brandon Cruz biography". Sitcoms Online.com. 2005. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- "Brandon Cruz Biography". Flixster.com. 2010. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- "13th Annual Youth in Film Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
