Details of the Cause of Death Revealed for "Eight Is Enough" Child Star Adam Rich

It has been almost half a year since the passing of Adam Rich at the age of 54, and the reason for his death has finally been revealed.

The Los Angeles Medical Examiner's office recently released a report confirming that Rich died on January 7 as a result of the "effects of fentanyl." His death was declared accidental.

News of the former Eight Is Enough actor's death broke in January when he was discovered deceased at his home in Los Angeles.

Rich was best known for portraying the youngest sibling, Nicholas Bradford, on ABC's popular show Eight Is Enough, which ran for five seasons between 1977 and 1981. The sitcom follows the daily lives and adventures of the large Bradford family, also starring Dick Van Patten, Connie Needham, Grant Goodeve, Willie Aames, Lani O’Grady, and Laurie Walters.

"I think [Adam] was one of the reasons that the show was a big success," recalled Van Patten, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 86, in a throwback Archive of American Television interview. "People loved him. They named their child 'Nicholas' and everything because of him."

Van Patten continued, "He was like 7 years old [when we started the show], and he was cute and he was a good actor. He was very natural."

After Eight Is Enough, Rich continued acting and landed roles in popular TV shows such as The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, CHiPs, Silver Spoons, and Baywatch. In his final years, the Code Red star took a step back from the spotlight before his passing.

Following his death, many of Rich's former TV siblings paid tribute to his legacy. Aames, 62, wrote via Facebook in January, "This morning, [my wife] Winnie woke me with the heartbreaking news of Adam Rich’s passing. I'm gutted. Adam was more than a colleague. He was very much my only little brother. A lifelong friend."

He continued, "These last few years Adam had dreams of renewing his career. He was one of those kid actors that our generation will always remember."

Corey Feldman, who also rose to fame as a child actor, took to Twitter to honor Rich, writing, "Another brilliant light, another tortured soul, another child star who couldn't find his peace after what he endured. He was a friend, a comrade, and a talented person w a deep passion for helping others understand mental illness. I'll miss him!"

Subscribe to Us Weekly's free, daily newsletter to stay up-to-date with breaking news and exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows, and more! You can also access all of our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews by subscribing to our YouTube channel!