new married name, Needham, at start of season 4) Willie Aames as Thomas "Tommy " Bradford, Jr. Adam Rich as Nicholas Bradford In the pilot, the role of David was played by Mark Hamill, Nancy was played by Kimberly Beck, and Tommy was played by Chris English. When ABC screened the pilot, they were unhappy with the performances of Beck and English, who were let go and replaced, respectively, by Dianne Kay and Willie Aames. Hamill sought to get out of his five-year contract on Eight Is Enough to take the opportunity to star in George Lucas' Star Wars; Lorimar Productions granted his request and the role was re-cast with Grant Goodeve. Recurring Jennifer Darling as Donna (1977–1981) Michael Thoma as Dr. Greg Maxwell (1977–1981) Virginia Vincent as Daisy Maxwell (1977–1981) Janis Paige as Vivian "auntie V" Bradford (1977–1980) Joan Prather as Janet McArthur Bradford (1977–1981) Brian Patrick Clarke as Merle "The Pearl" Stockwell (1979–1981) Ralph Macchio as Jeremy Andretti (1980–1981) Michael Goodrow as Ernie Fields (1979–1981) James Karen as Eliot Randolph (1978–1981) Michele Greene as Jill (1980–1981) Production The show was developed by writer William Blinn and was a Lorimar Production. It was originally distributed by Worldvision Enterprises. For the first three years the show filmed interior scenes at The Burbank Studios now known as the Warner Bros. Ranch. From the fourth season the show filmed interiors at MGM Studios in Culver City. The home featured in the exterior shots was on Chiquita St, near Lankershim Boulevard in Los Angeles. The house has since been demolished and replaced. The interiors for seasons one through three were filmed on Soundstage 9 The Burbank Studio. Seasons four and five were shot on two stages at MGM in Culver City. The show's team of producers included Robert L. Jacks, Gary Adelson, Greg Strangis, and Phil Fehrle. Executive producers were Lee Rich and Philip Capice. As a production of the Lorimar stable, who were concurrently producing CBS's The Waltons, writers were often contracted by the producers and were shared between both programs. (Waltons co-star Will Geer also made an Eight Is Enough guest appearance during season 2.) Regular writers included Peter Lefcourt, the writing teams of Gwen Bagni and Paul Dubov, Rod Peterson and Claire Whittaker, Bill Nuss and Dusty Kay, Nick Thiel and David Braff, J. Miyoko Hensley and Steven Hensley, Bruce Shelly, Sandra Kay Siegel, Gil Grant, Karen I. Hall, and