Wyncote’s Eddie Applegate, famous for his role as Patty Lane’s committed high school sweetheart on “The Patty Duke Show,” died on Monday in Los Angeles aged 81, writes Daniel E. Slotnik for The New York Times.

His son Michael said his father had been living in a care facility after suffering a stroke three years ago.

Applegate was cast as Richard Harrison, Patty’s hapless but devoted boyfriend in 88 episodes of “The Patty Duke Show” after the producers saw him in a touring production of “Bye Bye Birdie.”

He is survived by his sister, Judy, two sons, Michael and John, daughter, Heather, and six grandchildren.

Read more about Applegate’s life at The New York Times by clicking here.