Brandon Cruz

Brandon Cruz
Brandon Cruz, circa 1969.
Born	Brandon Edwin Cruz (1962-05-28) May 28, 1962 (age 54) Bakersfield, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, musician, recovery specialist
Years active	1969–present
Known for	The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth ( née Finkelstein) (1994-present)

Brandon Edwin Cruz (born May 28, 1962) is an American actor best known for his role as Eddie Corbett, son of widower Tom Corbett (played by Bill Bixby) on the comedy-drama The Courtship of Eddie's Father. Cruz is also a punk rock musician, and works in drug and alcohol rehabilitation as a recovery specialist.

Cruz was born in Bakersfield, California, and moved to Silver Strand Beach in Ventura County, California, with his family at the age of 2 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."

Cruz continued as a child actor for several years following the demise 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.

Cruz turned his attention to music in the 1980s, performing with the hardcore punk band Dr. Know. The group released several records before dissolving in 2012. Cruz also served as lead vocalist with Dead Kennedys from 2001 until 2003. 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."