Pat O'Brien
Biography
Pat O'Brien, born William Joseph Patrick O'Brien, was an American actor who worked in stage, screen, radio, and television. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. His birth date is recorded as November 10, 1899, in some sources, and November 11, 1899, in others. He was a star during the first several years of his film career, achieving the height of his popularity during the 1930s and 1940s. As an actor, he amassed more than 100 screen credits, with a total of 159 known credits according to database records. Pat O'Brien passed away on October 15, 1983, at the age of 83.
Career overview
Pat O'Brien, born William Joseph Patrick O'Brien, was an American stage, screen, radio, and television actor. He was a star during the first several years of his film career, achieving the height of his popularity during the 1930s and 1940s. Throughout his career, he amassed more than one hundred screen credits, with his known credits totaling one hundred fifty-nine.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, on November 10, 1899, his life span is also recorded with a birth date of November 11, 1899. He passed away on October 15, 1983, at the age of eighty-three. His extensive body of work spanned across multiple mediums, establishing his presence as a prominent actor in American entertainment history through his numerous roles in film, television, radio, and on the stage.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
170 titles- Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored (2013) as Self (archive footage)
- You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story (2008) as Self (archive footage)
- Angels with Dirty Faces: Whaddya Hear? Whaddya Say? (2005) as Self (archive footage)
- Dill Scallion (1999) as Self
- The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies (1995) as Self (archive footage)
- Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Ragtime (1981) as Delmas
- James Cagney: That Yankee Doodle Dandy (1981) as Self
- Scout's Honor (1980) as Mr. Caboose
- WKRP in Cincinnati (1978)
- The End (1978) as Ben Lawson
- Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977) as President of the Senate
- Kiss Me... Kill Me (1976) as Jimmy, the morgue attendant
- The Sky's the Limit (1975) as Abner Therman
- Happy Days (1974)
- Amanda Fallon (1973) as Emory
- Banyon (1972)
- Welcome Home, Johnny Bristol (1972) as Sgt. McGll
- The Adventures of Nick Carter (1972) as Hallelujah Harry
- Alias Smith and Jones (1971)
- McCloud (1970)
- The Phynx (1970) as Pat O’Brien
- The Over the Hill Gang (1969) as Captain Oren Hayes
- Branded (1965)
- Town Tamer (1965) as Judge Murcott
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963)
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) as Lt. John Curwood
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) as Inspector Dan Zarilla
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Virginian (1962) as J. Jimerson Jones
- The Virginian (1962) as Doc Bigelow
- Going My Way (1962)
- The Road to Hong Kong (1962) as Chinese Restaurateur (uncredited)
- Babe Ruth Story: That Ever Livin' Babe (1962) as Narrator
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Co-Host
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Harrigan and Son (1960)
- The Best of the Post (1960) as Mike Breen
- Some Like It Hot (1959) as Detective Mulligan
- I Captured the King of the Leprechauns (1959) as Self
- Kraft Music Hall (1958) as Self
- The Last Hurrah (1958) as John Gorman
- Invitation to a Gunfighter (1957) as Sheriff Kyle Bickford
- Kill Me Tomorrow (1957) as Bart Crosbie
- Telephone Time (1956)
- Science Fiction Theatre (1955)
- Inside Detroit (1955) as Gus Linden
- Climax! (1954) as Police Lieutenant Moore
- Climax! (1954) as Ed Talbot
- Climax! (1954) as Police Lieutenant
- Ring of Fear (1954) as Frank Wallace
- Jubilee Trail (1954) as Ernest 'Texas' Conway
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Major Irish
- This Is Your Life (1952) as Self
- The Ford Television Theatre (1952) as Lt. V. Keever
- Okinawa (1952) as Lt. Cmdr. Hale
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951)
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as John Wentworth
- The People Against O'Hara (1951) as Det. Vincent Ricks
- Criminal Lawyer (1951) as James 'Jimmy' Regan
- The Hills of Ireland (1951) as Self - Narrator
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950) as Self
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Tim Larkin
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Captain Barnaby
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Joe Crandall
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as George Morrell
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Charley Hackett
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Eddie Gorman
- The Fireball (1950) as Father O'Hara
- Johnny One-Eye (1950) as Martin Martin
- A Dangerous Profession (1949) as Joe Farley
- Studio One (1948) as Mike Waterson
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Ford Theatre (1948)
- The Boy with Green Hair (1948) as Gramp Fry
- Fighting Father Dunne (1948) as Father Peter J. Dunne
- Riff-Raff (1947) as Dan Hammer
- Blow-Ups of 1947 (1947) as Self
- Crack-Up (1946) as George Steele
- Perilous Holiday (1946) as Patrick Nevil
- Having Wonderful Crime (1945) as Michael J. Malone
- Man Alive (1945) as Michael O'Flaherty 'Speed' McBride
- Secret Command (1944) as Sam Gallagher
- Marine Raiders (1944) as Maj. Steve Lockhart
- The Iron Major (1943) as Francis William 'Frank' / 'Cav' Cavanaugh
- Bombardier (1943) as Chick Davis
- His Butler's Sister (1943) as Martin Murphy
- The Navy Comes Through (1942) as Chief Michael 'Mike' Mallory
- Broadway (1942) as Dan McCorn
- Two Yanks in Trinidad (1942) as Tim Reardon
- Flight Lieutenant (1942) as Samuel J. 'Sam' Doyle
- Breakdowns of 1941 (1941) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Knute Rockne All American (1940) as Knute Rockne
- Castle on the Hudson (1940) as Warden Walter Long
- 'Til We Meet Again (1940) as Steve Burke
- The Fighting 69th (1940) as Father Duffy
- Torrid Zone (1940) as Steve Case
- Flowing Gold (1940) as Ian 'Hap' O'Connor
- Escape to Glory (1940) as Mike Farrough
- Breakdowns of 1940 (1940) as Self
- Slightly Honorable (1939) as John Webb
- Indianapolis Speedway (1939) as Joe Greer
- Off the Record (1939) as Thomas "Breezy" Elliott
- The Kid from Kokomo (1939) as William Jennings 'Billy / 'Square Shooting Murph' Murphy
- The Night of Nights (1939) as Dan O'Farrell
- Breakdowns of 1939 (1939) as Self
- Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) as Jerry Connolly
- Out Where the Stars Begin (1938) as Pat O'Brien
- Breakdowns of 1938 (1938) as Pat O'Brien (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Boy Meets Girl (1938) as J. Carlyle 'J.C.' Benson
- Cowboy from Brooklyn (1938) as Roy Chadwick
- Garden of the Moon (1938) as John Quinn
- Women Are Like That (1938) as Bill Landin
- Swingtime in the Movies (1938) as Himself (uncredited)
- Slim (1937) as Red Blayd
- San Quentin (1937) as Capt. Stephen Jameson
- Breakdowns of 1937 (1937) as Self
- The Great O'Malley (1937) as James Aloysius 'Jim' / 'Jimmy' O'Malley
- Submarine D-1 (1937) as Butch Rogers
- Back in Circulation (1937) as Bill Morgan
- China Clipper (1936) as Dave Logan
- Ceiling Zero (1936) as Jake L. Lee
- Breakdowns of 1936 (1936) as Self
- I Married a Doctor (1936) as Dr. William P. Kennicott
- Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1) (1936) as Self
- Public Enemy's Wife (1936) as Lee Laird
- In Caliente (1935) as Larry MacArthur
- Devil Dogs of the Air (1935) as Lieut. Brannigan
- Stars Over Broadway (1935) as Al McGillevray
- Oil for the Lamps of China (1935) as Stephen Chase
- Page Miss Glory (1935) as Click Wiley
- The Irish in Us (1935) as Pat O'Hara
- Things You Never See on the Screen (1935) as Self
- A Dream Comes True (1935) as Himself (uncredited)
- A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio (1935) as Himself (uncredited)
- Studio Highlights (1934) as Self (archive footage)
- Flirtation Walk (1934) as "Scrapper" Thornhhill
- Gambling Lady (1934) as Charlie Lang
- Twenty Million Sweethearts (1934) as Rush Blake
- Here Comes the Navy (1934) as Biff Martin
- I've Got Your Number (1934) as Terry Riley
- The Personality Kid (1934) as Ritzy
- Screen Snapshots No. 11 (1934) as Himself
- I Sell Anything (1934) as "Spot Cash" Cutler
- Bureau of Missing Persons (1933) as Detective Butch Saunders
- Bombshell (1933) as Jim Brogan
- College Coach (1933) as Coach Gore
- Laughter in Hell (1933) as Barney Slaney
- Destination Unknown (1933) as Matt Brennan
- The World Gone Mad (1933) as Andy Terrell
- American Madness (1932) as Matt Brown
- Virtue (1932) as Jimmy Doyle
- Air Mail (1932) as Duke Talbot
- The Strange Case of Clara Deane (1932) as Frank Deane
- Scandal for Sale (1932) as Waddell
- Flaming Gold (1932) as Ben Lear
- Hell's House (1932) as Matt Kelly
- The Final Edition (1932) as Sam Bradshaw
- Hollywood Speaks (1932) as Jimmy Reed
- The Front Page (1931) as Hildy Johnson
- Honor Among Lovers (1931) as Conroy (uncredited)
- Flying High (1931) as Sport Wardell
- Consolation Marriage (1931) as Steve Porter
- Personal Maid (1931) as Peter Shea
- Crimes Square (1931) as Marty
- The Voice of Hollywood (1930) as Self/Host
- My Mistake (1930)
- Compliments of the Season (1930) as Police Detective (uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Pat O'Brien best known for?
Pat O'Brien is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Ragtime (1981), WKRP in Cincinnati (1978), The End (1978), Happy Days (1974).
When and where was Pat O'Brien born?
Pat O'Brien was born on November 10, 1899 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. They passed away on October 15, 1983.
How many credits does Pat O'Brien have?
Pat O'Brien has accumulated over 170 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1930 to 2013.
What is Pat O'Brien's background in cinema and television?
Pat O'Brien, born William Joseph Patrick O'Brien, was an American actor who worked in stage, screen, radio, and television. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. His birth date is recorded as November 10, 1899, in some sources, and November 11, 1899, in others. He was a star during the first several years...
Pat O'Brien by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Some Like It Hot (1959) as Detective Mulligan — aged about 59
- Banyon (1972) — aged about 72
- The Ford Television Theatre (1952) as Lt. V. Keever — aged about 52
- WKRP in Cincinnati (1978) — aged about 78
- Happy Days (1974) — aged about 74
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self — aged about 62
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