Brandon Cruz
Encyclopedia
Brandon Edwin Cruz is an American former child actor
and currently a punk rock
musician
, and also works in drug
and alcohol rehabilitation. In the late 1960s, the freckled-faced Cruz came to prominence by playing Tom Corbett's (played by Bill Bixby
) charming and conniving son, Eddie Corbett, in the comedy-drama
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
. Cruz and Kristina Holland are the only remaining survivors of the series. After his role on "Courtship," Cruz also played the role of Joey Turner, the Yankees’ pitcher, in the 1976 movie The Bad News Bears. He also appeared on The Incredible Hulk as the young man who helped Bixby/The Hulk land a 747. The airplane footage was used from Airport 1975
.
. He moved to Silver Strand Beach in Ventura County, California, when he was two. When he was five years old, he started to take acting seriously, as he beat out 65 other child actor
s for the role of Bill Bixby
's son, Eddie Corbett in The Courtship of Eddie’s Father
. Bixby and Cruz spent a lot of time together, especially when the show was on hiatus. Cruz kept in contact with Bixby until his mentor’s death on November 21, 1993, several years after he was reunited with him on an episode of The Arsenio Hall Show
.
Cruz has been married since June 1994. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have a 16-year-old son and a 11-year-old daughter.
After Courtship, Cruz guest-starred in a few TV shows, including the first episode of Kung Fu (TV series)
, and appeared with Bixby on The Incredible Hulk. After his guest-starring roles, Cruz had retired from acting in 1980, at age 18, to focus on a music career and shed the Eddie image.
In the 1980s, Cruz fronted a hardcore punk
band from Oxnard, California
, called Dr. Know
, which released several records. He later joined the Dead Kennedys
as lead vocalist, replacing Jello Biafra
. He quit singing for the Dead Kennedys in 2003. Jeff Penalty
took his place, and Cruz rejoined Dr. Know, which continues to perform, and has recently finished a new CD, Killing For God (Unrest Records). Dr. Know dissolved on August 16th, 2010. Cruz has a new band called MDCN MN.
Cruz was interviewed in the documentary film
American Hardcore: The History of American Punk Rock, 1980-1986
.
Cruz has been a surfer all his life, growing up on the challenging beach break of Silver Strand Beach in Oxnard, California. His travels have included Puerto Rico, Brazil, Israel, Japan, India, China, Indonesia, the Mentawai Islands, the Canaries, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, the Andaman Islands, the Galapagos Islands, Sri Lanka, Alaska, Morocco, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Russia, Africa, South America, Central America, Hawaii, secret spots the world over, and Cuba. He still surfs whenever and wherever possible. Cruz is also a longtime member of Jaks Team, an international group of underground skateboarders, surfers, and punkers.
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
and currently a punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, and also works in drug
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
and alcohol rehabilitation. In the late 1960s, the freckled-faced Cruz came to prominence by playing Tom Corbett's (played by Bill Bixby
Bill Bixby
Wilfred Bailey Everett “Bill” Bixby III was an American film and television actor, director, and frequent game show panelist.His career spanned over three decades; he appeared on stage, in motion pictures and TV series...
) charming and conniving son, Eddie Corbett, in the comedy-drama
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
The Courtship of Eddie's Father is an American television sitcom based on the 1963 movie of the same name, which was based on the book written by Mark Toby...
. Cruz and Kristina Holland are the only remaining survivors of the series. After his role on "Courtship," Cruz also played the role of Joey Turner, the Yankees’ pitcher, in the 1976 movie The Bad News Bears. He also appeared on The Incredible Hulk as the young man who helped Bixby/The Hulk land a 747. The airplane footage was used from Airport 1975
Airport 1975
Airport 1975 is a 1974 disaster film and the first sequel to the successful 1970 film Airport. It stars Charlton Heston and Karen Black and is directed by Jack Smight....
.
Biography
Cruz was born in Bakersfield, CaliforniaBakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
. He moved to Silver Strand Beach in Ventura County, California, when he was two. When he was five years old, he started to take acting seriously, as he beat out 65 other child actor
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
s for the role of Bill Bixby
Bill Bixby
Wilfred Bailey Everett “Bill” Bixby III was an American film and television actor, director, and frequent game show panelist.His career spanned over three decades; he appeared on stage, in motion pictures and TV series...
's son, Eddie Corbett in The Courtship of Eddie’s Father
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
The Courtship of Eddie's Father is an American television sitcom based on the 1963 movie of the same name, which was based on the book written by Mark Toby...
. Bixby and Cruz spent a lot of time together, especially when the show was on hiatus. Cruz kept in contact with Bixby until his mentor’s death on November 21, 1993, several years after he was reunited with him on an episode of The Arsenio Hall Show
The Arsenio Hall Show
The Arsenio Hall Show is an American variety/talk show that aired late weeknights in syndication from January 3, 1989 to May 27, 1994. The show was created and hosted by comedian/actor Arsenio Hall.- Background :...
.
Cruz has been married since June 1994. He and his wife, Elizabeth, have a 16-year-old son and a 11-year-old daughter.
After Courtship, Cruz guest-starred in a few TV shows, including the first episode of Kung Fu (TV series)
Kung Fu (TV series)
Kung Fu is an American television series that starred David Carradine. It was created by Ed Spielman, directed and produced by Jerry Thorpe, and developed by Herman Miller, who was also a writer for, and co-producer of, the series...
, and appeared with Bixby on The Incredible Hulk. After his guest-starring roles, Cruz had retired from acting in 1980, at age 18, to focus on a music career and shed the Eddie image.
In the 1980s, Cruz fronted a hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band from Oxnard, California
Oxnard, California
Oxnard is the 113th largest city in the United States, 19th largest city in California and largest city in Ventura County, California, by way of population. It is located at the western edge of the fertile Oxnard Plain, and is an important agricultural center, with its distinction as the...
, called Dr. Know
Dr. Know (band)
Dr. Know is a punk band which began as a Nardcore band and now has roots in Los Angeles, CA.They are one of the founding figures of the "Nardcore" punk movement from Oxnard, CA. The band was started by Kyle Toucher, Ismael Hernandez, and Robin Cartwright in early 1981, and after auditioning a few...
, which released several records. He later joined the Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
as lead vocalist, replacing Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
. He quit singing for the Dead Kennedys in 2003. Jeff Penalty
Jeff Penalty
Jeff Penalty is a writer, filmmaker, and musician, known mainly for his documentary work and his position as a former lead singer of Dead Kennedys.- Early life :Penalty was born and raised in Broomall, Pennsylvania...
took his place, and Cruz rejoined Dr. Know, which continues to perform, and has recently finished a new CD, Killing For God (Unrest Records). Dr. Know dissolved on August 16th, 2010. Cruz has a new band called MDCN MN.
Cruz was interviewed in the documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
American Hardcore: The History of American Punk Rock, 1980-1986
American Hardcore (film)
American Hardcore is a documentary directed by Paul Rachman and written by Steven Blush. It is based on the book American Hardcore: A Tribal History also written by Blush. It was released on September 22, 2006 on a limited basis...
.
Cruz has been a surfer all his life, growing up on the challenging beach break of Silver Strand Beach in Oxnard, California. His travels have included Puerto Rico, Brazil, Israel, Japan, India, China, Indonesia, the Mentawai Islands, the Canaries, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, the Andaman Islands, the Galapagos Islands, Sri Lanka, Alaska, Morocco, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Russia, Africa, South America, Central America, Hawaii, secret spots the world over, and Cuba. He still surfs whenever and wherever possible. Cruz is also a longtime member of Jaks Team, an international group of underground skateboarders, surfers, and punkers.