James Van Patten

James Van Patten
Born
James Van Patten

1956 (age 69–70)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • screenwriter
  • producer
Years active1972–present
Parents
Relatives

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

James Van Patten was born in 1956 in Brooklyn, New York. He comes from a family in the entertainment industry:

Career

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 1989, he wrote and starred in the sports comedy short Dirty Tennis alongside his father Dick Van Patten, Caitlyn 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 as a screenwriter and producer, co-writing and producing films such as 7 Days to Vegas (2019).

Personal life

He was married to Shana Hiatt.

In the 1980s, con artist James B. Turner impersonated Van Patten to exploit fans of his father, Dick Van Patten.

Selected filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Refs.
1976 Lifeguard Surfer
1976 Freaky Friday Cashier As Jimmy Van Patten
1978 Hot Lead and Cold Feet Jake
1979 California Dreaming Rick As Jimmy Van Patten
1979 The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again First soldier
1979 Roller Boogie Hoppy As Jimmy Van Patten
1981 Lunch Wagon Biff
1983 Young Warriors Kevin Carrigan
1987 The Underachievers Todd As Jimmy Van Patten
1989 Dirty Tennis Jimmy Also writer
1991 Life Stinks Wheelchair attendant
1993 Robin Hood: Men in Tights Villager
1996 Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood Harvard man
1996 Backyard Dogs Tyler Mann
2004 Quiet Kill Jackson As Jimmy Van Patton [sic]
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

Year Title Role Notes Refs.
1972 The Odd Couple Mike 1 episode
1972 Bonanza Corky Sibley 1 episode
1975 Three for the Road 1 episode
1977 Emergency! Mark 1 episode
1977 Happy Days Sandy 3 episodes
1980 Lou Grant Daniels 1 episode
1986 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Tony Maskeli 1 episode
1987 The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission David Webber Television film
1997 Pacific Blue Gordon De Ville 1 episode

Stage

Year Production Theater Role Notes Refs.
2002 The Sunshine Boys The Falcon Theatre Ben

Notes

  1. ↑ Credited as "Bruce Jenner"; she transitioned in 2015.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 "James Van Patten", Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television, vol. 73, Gale, 2007, Gale K1609021393
  2. ↑ Buzz Bissinger (June 1, 2015). "Introducing Caitlyn Jenner". Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Miska, Brad (2009-04-19). "New Confirmed 'Saw VI' Casting". Bloody Disgusting.
  4. 1 2 Gerle, Jörg (November 25, 2010), "Saw 3D - Vollendung", Film-Dienst, vol. 63, no. 24, p. 51, ISSN 0720-0781, ProQuest 822910050
  5. 1 2 Roeper, Richard (2019-09-19). "'7 Days to Vegas': In both poker and comedy, gambling romp knows its stuff". Chicago Sun-Times.
  6. 1 2 Linden, Sheri (February 1, 2019), "'Walk to Vegas': Film Review", The Hollywood Reporter
  7. ↑ Carlton, Jim (May 8, 1988), "Impostor Stole Hearts, Money as Celebrities' 'Sons'", Los Angeles Times
  8. ↑ Kaufman, Ed (May 8, 2002), "The Sunshine Boys", The Hollywood Reporter, vol. 373, no. 18, p. 9, ISSN 0018-3660, Gale A86205622
  9. ↑ Heffley, Lynne (May 16, 2002), "'Sunshine Boys' a Laugh Expedition", Los Angeles Times