Sunday, October 20, 2024

Horror Hunks: Vincent Van Patten in Hell Night

'Four college fraternity and sorority pledges spend the night in a deserted old mansion as part of a hazing ritual during hell night, where they are stalked by the only survivor of a family massacre from the mansion's sordid past.'


This post didn't begin with a spotlight on Hell Night, it began after catching a few minutes of  Roller Boogie which recently aired again on TCM.  I saw the 1979 disco roller skating move when it aired on TCM back in 2015, and did a small piece, (HERE:) on actor Christopher S. Nelson, who had a nude scene in the film.


Although iconic scream queen Linda Blair, (The Exorcist)  in both films, she wasn't the actor who inspired the post.  I was inspired by Roller Boogie's beach work out scene which featured a hot, sweaty and shirtless James Van Patten.  I started searching for images of James, (Jimmy) but began to notice most of the images I was saving were of his brother Vincent.  


I get the Van Patten brothers a little confused.  Actor Dick Van Patten had three sons, oldest s on Nels, middle brother James and youngest son Vincent.  Although Vincent is the baby, the brothers are all just one year apart in age.  I also previously featured actor Tim Van Patten, (HERE:) who is Dick's half-brother and the uncle of the three Van Patten sons. 


I think one of the reasons I collected so many shots of Vincent Van Patten was because the Internet also confuses the three sibling, and certain images I found were identified as one brother, yet further research indicated it was another.  Although all three have the quintessential California look, Vincent, especially when young with his sun-bleached blond hair, really looks like your typical 70's California surfer hunk.


What I didn't initially know however, was that Vincent was a big teel idol in the 1970's and early 80's.  I knew he used to act, but today, most know him as a poker player and as Eileen Davidson's husband and his appearances on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.  Vincent's acting career actually began in the early 1970's with appearances on many of the biggest shows of the decade.

(l-r) Nels, Vincent & Jimmy

Although Vincent's acting career slowed down the 80's, he had a few memorable roles including his turn as Seth in 1981's slasher flick Hell Night.  I don't think I'd heard much about Hell Night, but in addition to Van Patten and Linda Blair, it also featured fellow 70's teen idols Peter Barton and Kevin Brophy. 

On the set of Hell Night

I actually really enjoyed Hell Night, not because it was so good, but because it was so 80's bad.  Vincent was also incredibly adorable in the film.  Although I did a deep dive, I don't think Vincent ever did a nude scene, however he was shirtless and in boxers during most of his scenes in Hell Night.

I don't think uncle Timothy did any nudity, he is now mostly directing, including shows like Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones.  In fact, I think the only brother who had any nude scenes was Nels, who had roles in a series of  softcore films in the 1990's.  You can check those out on the NEXT PAGE HERE:

No comments: