Rant #783: Happy Birthday, Eddie ... Err, Butch

Today is Butch Patrick's 59th birthday.

And if you don't know who Butch Patrick is, well, shame on you.

Butch Patrick is an icon to many baby boomers simply because of the two years he spent as the star of one of the most popular TV shows ever.

Patrick was Eddie Wolfgang Munster, the son of Herman and Lillie, on CBS's "The Munsters" TV show. Although he wasn't the first choice for this role, Patrick made the role his own, so much so that I doubt many people actually knew what he really looked like without all the makeup as a kid.

Eddie was the offspring of a Frankenstein monster and a vampire-like creatures, but the show taught us one thing: never judge a book by its cover.

The Munsters were one big happy family, no different from your family or your next door neighbor's family. They had hopes and dreams and goals, just like everyone else.

The difference was the way they looked--even cousin Marilyn looked odd in her own eyes.

And then there was Grandpa, the grandfather that everyone wanted, even if he was a little odd.

The show was actually a goof on creators Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher's previous "Leave It To Beaver," where the Cleavers were your typical All-American family.

The Munsters were too, just coming in odd packaging.

And Eddie was the next generation, carrying his "Wolfie" doll and feeding Spot, the family's pet dinosaur.

But Eddie was like every other boy his age, and was very like I was at that age.

He was shy, unconfident; he loved sports, including baseball, football and basketball; and his father was his hero.

And his favorite rock act was the Standells.

There was nothing different about Eddie, except the skin that he was in.

And I think that show taught us a lot about judging people from the outside rather than judging them from the inside.

Patrick appeared on numerous other shows, including H.R. Pufnstuf and a memorable guest appearance on "The Monkees" where he played a spoiled kid who was taught the meaning of Christmas by the Pre-Fab Four.

But Patrick will always be remembered for being Eddie, and even though he is 59 today, I guess he will always be Eddie to us.

So happy birthday, Butch. May you feed Spot for many, many more years.