California Racing Community Mourns Deaths of Shulman, Van Patten

The Southern California racing community lost two of its most devoted and treasured members recently with the passing of actor Dick Van Patten and former trainer Sandy Shulman.

Van Patten, whose career on stage and screen spanned close to eighty years, died Tuesday morning in Santa Monica.  He was 86.

Former trainer Shulman, a native of Pittsburgh, PA, saddled more than 800 winners in a career that began in 1981. He died on Father’s Day, June 21, at the age of 78.

A top athlete, Shulman held multiple track and field records at Fairfax High School. He is survived by his son, Leonard Shulman; daughter Eileen Daley; grandchildren Shaylynn, Tyson, Tyler, McKenzie and Kennedy, along with two great grandchildren, Hudson and Aiden.

According to a report in Variety, Van Patten died at Saint John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, Calif., due to complications from diabetes.

Van Patten began his career on the Broadway stage as a child in 1937, and appeared in such films “Freaky Friday” as well as several Mel Brooks comedies such as “High Anxiety,” and “Robin Hood:Men in Tights.”

It was on television during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s when Van Patten really made his mark, starring as Tom Bradford on the long-running hit, “Eight is Enough.

Van Patten also was a longtime racing fan and horse owner, and as this New York Times article pointed out in 2013, he first began going to tracks in New York as a kid. He made Hollywood Park a favorite stop when he moved to Los Angeles in the early 1970’s. Even in his 80’s, Van Patten could always been found at Hollywood Park, Del Mar and Santa Anita, very often in the company of the likes of actor/producer/director Mel Brooks.

“I’ve used Dick in more of my movies than any other actor,” said Brooks several years ago in the Santa Anita Winner’s Circle.  “He was the most talented and he was a pleasure to be around on the set…He’s the greatest horseplayer I’ve ever met in my life.”

Van Patten is survived by his wife Pat; three sons, actors Nels Van Patten, James Van Patten and Vincent Van Patten; a sister, actress Joyce Van Patten; and a younger half-brother, director-producer Timothy Van Patten.

Services for Shulman will be held at Mt. Sinai, 5950 Forest Lawn Dr. in Los Angeles tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. For further details, contact Mt. Sinai at www.mountsinaiparks.org. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, www.pcrf-kids.org, or the Downtown Dog Rescue, www.downtowndogresue.org.