// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs James Van Patten a good actor? Patten down the critics.
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James Van Patten | |
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| Born | James Van Patten Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1972–present |
| Parents |
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| Relatives |
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James Van Patten is an American actor, screenwriter, and film producer. He is best known for his role as Dr. Adam Heffner in the Saw film series, as well as his roles in television and film during a career spanning several decades.
Early life and family
[edit]James Van Patten was born in Brooklyn, New York. He comes from a family in the entertainment industry:
- He is the son of actor Dick Van Patten and former dancer Patricia Poole.
- He is the brother of actor and former professional tennis player Vincent Van Patten and actor Nels Van Patten.
- He is the nephew of actress Joyce Van Patten and director/actor Timothy Van Patten, as well as the cousin of actress Talia Balsam.
Career
[edit]Van Patten began his acting career in the early 1970s, making guest appearances on popular television series such as The Odd Couple and Happy Days.
Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, he appeared in film productions including Freaky Friday (1976), Hot Lead and Cold Feet (1978), California Dreaming (1979), and Roller Boogie (1979). In 1988, he starred alongside his brother Vincent in the TV movie The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission.
In 1989, he wrote and starred in the sports comedy short Dirty Tennis alongside his father Dick Van Patten, Bruce Jenner, and Nicollette Sheridan.
In the 2000s, Van Patten gained broader recognition among horror film fans for playing the recurring role of Dr. Adam Heffner (the coroner) in the Saw franchise, appearing in Saw IV (2007), Saw VI (2009), and Saw 3D (2010).
He has also worked behind the camera as a screenwriter and producer, co-writing and producing films such as 7 Days to Vegas (2019).
Selected filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Freaky Friday | Cashier | Uncredited |
| 1978 | Hot Lead and Cold Feet | Jake | |
| 1979 | California Dreaming | Rick | |
| 1979 | Roller Boogie | Hoppy | |
| 1983 | Young Warriors | Fred | |
| 1989 | Dirty Tennis | Jimmy | Also writer |
| 1993 | Robin Hood: Men in Tights | Villager | |
| 2007 | Saw IV | Dr. Adam Heffner | |
| 2008 | Saw V | Dr. Adam Heffner | Cameo / Uncredited |
| 2009 | Saw VI | Dr. Adam Heffner | |
| 2010 | Saw 3D | Dr. Adam Heffner | |
| 2011 | A Thousand Cuts | Frank | Also producer |
| 2017 | Inconceivable | Dr. Weisman | |
| 2019 | 7 Days to Vegas | Carl | Also co-writer and producer |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | The Odd Couple | Young Felix | 1 episode |
| 1977 | Happy Days | Mark | 3 episodes |
| 1988 | The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission | David Webber | Television film |
References
[edit]External links
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