Classic Rant #374 (November 12, 2010): Munster, Go To Rehab

Well, another former child star is in the news, and it's not for something good (it never is, is it?).

Butch Patrick, who played Eddie Munster in the classic "The Munsters" TV show, checked into a rehab clinic in New Jersey yesterday. Evidently, he has finally chosen to battle what has been called his life-long addictions.

The Eddie Munster character became a career-defining role for Patrick, but nobody knew it then. He was all over the screen for years, even at this young age, and as a teenager, after the show ended its run, he continued to gain roles.

And then everything pretty much stopped.

He did pop up from time to time, like when he had a band, Eddie and the Monsters, and they performed on some TV shows.

But Patrick, like so many kid stars, pretty much faded away.

Before this latest episode, the last I heard of him was when he was offering himself for parties dressed as Eddie Munster. I mean, this guy is in his 50s, and he was so desperate that he was dressing up like little Eddie! It's a wonder he could even get into his costume at this point.

And he offered one of the dolls his character carried around for several thousand dollars.

But I guess when you get desperate, you will do just about anything for a buck.

From what I hear, Patrick had a relationship with a woman decades ago, lost track of her, but they joined up again a few years back, and he moved to Pennsylvania to be with her.

Unfortunately, once Patrick entered rehab, the woman announced that the relationship was over.

How sad.

But at least Patrick has acknowledged his problems, although as we know with Lindsay Lohan, being in rehab doesn't necessarily mean you acknowledge much of anything.

So let's hope Patrick gets through this, and is a better person for it.

Herman and Lily, and Grandpa and Marilyn, would be so proud of him if he did.