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Brian Patrick Clarke as Merle "The Pearl" Stockwell in "Eight is Enough". Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0569517/ (May be subject to copyright) |
He broke a little kid’s heart. Merle “The Pearl” Stockwell was the ace pitcher for a baseball team in Sacramento. One day, he meets Nicholas Bradford, who is a big fan, and makes the boy’s day.
At the next game, Merle is just roughed up and chased from the game by the other team. As he walks off the field after the game, Nicholas goes up to say hi. When asked if he knows the kid, Merle says, “I’ve never seen him before.”
Nicholas is heartbroken.
His older sister Susan finds out and, in a rage, takes off to confront Merle, who she calls “Merle 'The Squirrel'”.
It is one of my favourite episodes of “Eight is Enough”, primarily because it has sports in it.
Brian Patrick Clarke played Merle Stockwell, and a host of other characters in the ‘80s and beyond.
When I saw it was his birthday today, I was reminded of the day Merle “The Pearl” became a “Squirrel”, how that eventually turned out, and some of the other roles he played.
The years before
Brian Patrick Clarke got his start in 1977 in an episode of “The Fantastic Journey”, a little know science fiction series I recall loving.
Brian Patrick Clarke got his start in 1977 in an episode of “The Fantastic Journey”, a little know science fiction series I recall loving.
He also had a part in the TV movie “Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years”; and played the yuppie antagonist Greg Marmalard for 13 episodes of “Delta House”, a TV spin-off of the smash motion picture “Animal House”.
The ‘80s
His career really got rolling in the ‘80s starting with a part in the TV movie “Trouble in High Timber Country”, followed by roles in “CHiPs”; and “One Day at Time”.
His career really got rolling in the ‘80s starting with a part in the TV movie “Trouble in High Timber Country”, followed by roles in “CHiPs”; and “One Day at Time”.
Eight is Enough
His biggest role to that point came in “Eight is Enough” where he played pitcher Merle Stockwell. After he broke young Nicholas Bradford’s heart and was bawled out by Nicholas’ older sister Susan, things changed dramatically. Merle apologized and asked Susan out. They started to date, and eventually were married. Brian Patrick Clarke appeared in a total of 21 episodes of “Eight is Enough”, starting in 1979 and going through 1981 when the show ended. He actually became one of my favourite characters on that show.
His biggest role to that point came in “Eight is Enough” where he played pitcher Merle Stockwell. After he broke young Nicholas Bradford’s heart and was bawled out by Nicholas’ older sister Susan, things changed dramatically. Merle apologized and asked Susan out. They started to date, and eventually were married. Brian Patrick Clarke appeared in a total of 21 episodes of “Eight is Enough”, starting in 1979 and going through 1981 when the show ended. He actually became one of my favourite characters on that show.
Interestingly, I have been watching old episodes of “One Day at a Time”, and saw the episode in which Brian Ptrick Clarke appeared. He looked so young, but I recognized him instantly. Coincidentally, Susan Richardson, who played Susan Bradford in “Eight is Enough”, was also in an old episode of “One Day at a Time” I watched the other night. It is from the same year she was in “Eight is Enough”.
Clarke would reprise the role of Merle Stockwell in “Eight is Enough: A Family Reunion” in 1987.
General Hospital
The next time I saw Brian Patrick Clarke was during summer holidays in 1983 on “General Hospital”. He played Grant Putnam, who was trying to get some technology from an aging scientist named Hector Gerrold by becoming his friend. I cannot recall the entire plot, just that Grant Putnam was quite duplicitous.
The next time I saw Brian Patrick Clarke was during summer holidays in 1983 on “General Hospital”. He played Grant Putnam, who was trying to get some technology from an aging scientist named Hector Gerrold by becoming his friend. I cannot recall the entire plot, just that Grant Putnam was quite duplicitous.
The Internet Movie Data Base reveals Brian Patrick Clarke was in 263 episodes of “General Hospiotal” from 1983 to 1988, playing Grant Putnam, Grant Andrews and Grant Quartermaine.
The rest of the decade
Clarke would also have guest roles in “King’s Crossing”, “T.J. Hooker”, and “Fame” in 1982; the TV movie “Grace Kelly” in 1983, based on the life of the actress who became Princess of Monaco; and “Simon and Simon” in 1989.
Clarke would also have guest roles in “King’s Crossing”, “T.J. Hooker”, and “Fame” in 1982; the TV movie “Grace Kelly” in 1983, based on the life of the actress who became Princess of Monaco; and “Simon and Simon” in 1989.
The years after
Brian Patrick Clarke just kept on working. He appeared in “Paradise” in 1990; 91 episodes of the daytime soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful” from 1990 to 1991; “Baywatch” in 1992; the TV movie “Hart to Hart: Home is Where the Heart is” in 1994; “Baywatch Nights” in 1996; “Diagnosis Murder” in 1997; four episodes of “Sunset Beach” in 1998; two episodes of “Touched by an Angel” in 1995 and 1999; “ER” in 1999; five episodes of the daytime soap opera “The Young and the Restless” in 2000; “Party of Five” in 2000; “Judging Amy” in 2001; “The Division” in 2002; “CSI: Miami” in 2004; “One Tree Hill” in 2009; four episodes of “The Inbetweeners” in 2012; four episodes of “Drop Dead Diva” from 2009 to 2023; and several movies along the way.
Brian Patrick Clarke just kept on working. He appeared in “Paradise” in 1990; 91 episodes of the daytime soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful” from 1990 to 1991; “Baywatch” in 1992; the TV movie “Hart to Hart: Home is Where the Heart is” in 1994; “Baywatch Nights” in 1996; “Diagnosis Murder” in 1997; four episodes of “Sunset Beach” in 1998; two episodes of “Touched by an Angel” in 1995 and 1999; “ER” in 1999; five episodes of the daytime soap opera “The Young and the Restless” in 2000; “Party of Five” in 2000; “Judging Amy” in 2001; “The Division” in 2002; “CSI: Miami” in 2004; “One Tree Hill” in 2009; four episodes of “The Inbetweeners” in 2012; four episodes of “Drop Dead Diva” from 2009 to 2023; and several movies along the way.
Parting thoughts
Although he is one of those actors who kept appearing in different shows in the ‘80s, Brian Patrick Clarke will always be Merle Stockwell to me.
Although he is one of those actors who kept appearing in different shows in the ‘80s, Brian Patrick Clarke will always be Merle Stockwell to me.
He was awesome. One minute he was a young boy’s hero, then a goat just as quickly. It took the strong hand of an older sister not only to set him straight, but capture his heart.
It was quite a ride for the Merle “The Pearl”.
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