<P> The show centers on a Sacramento , California family with eight children ( from oldest to youngest : David , Mary , Joanie , Susan , Nancy , Elizabeth , Tommy , and Nicholas ) . The father , Tom Bradford ( Dick Van Patten ) , was a newspaper columnist for the fictional Sacramento Register . His wife Joan ( Diana Hyland ) took care of the children . Hyland was only in four episodes before falling ill . She died soon after , and her character 's death was written into the script . </P>
<P> The show centers on a Sacramento , California family with eight children ( from oldest to youngest : David , Mary , Joanie , Susan , Nancy , Elizabeth , Tommy , and Nicholas ) . The father , Tom Bradford ( Dick Van Patten ) , was a newspaper columnist for the fictional Sacramento Register . His wife Joan ( Diana Hyland ) took care of the children . Hyland was only in four episodes before falling ill . She died soon after , and her character 's death was written into the script . </P>
who played the father in eight is enough
who played the father in eight is enough
Dick Van Patten
Dick Van Patten