Biography for
Pat O'Brien (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

11 November 1899, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Date of Death

15 October 1983, Santa Monica, California, USA (heart attack)

Birth Name

William Joseph Patrick O'Brien

Mini Biography

Brought forth in midland America, far away from any port of immigrant entry, the U.S.-born Pat O'Brien would yet one day come to be called Hollywood's "Irishman in Residence."

Deciding against entering seminary to study for the Roman Catholic priesthood, Pat O'Brien would not wear the clerical collar in real life. But he made up amply for that by performing memorably as priest in so many of his films. He appeared as Father Dunne, Father Duffy, Father Connolly, Father This, Father That. And although never a policeman, in movies he carried the cop's badge often enough. And often enough as well, one could discern in his delivery the affectation of an Irish brogue, which, although stereotypical, generally charmed his movie audiences. (His often simultaneous puffing on a tobacco pipe could not have but enhanced his Irishman's aura, at least amongst narrowbacks and non-Irish in the States and elsewhere.) Pat O'Brien excelled in roles of beneficent men but could also give convincing performances as wise guys or con artists. He was a most popular film star during the 1930s and 1940s. Over almost five decades, he co-starred in nine films with 'James Cagney', including his own screen swansong, "Ragtime", in 1981.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Bill Takacs

Spouse

Eloise Taylor

(23 January 1931 - 15 October 1983) (his death) 4 children (3 of them adopted)

Trivia

Films co-starring Pat O'Brien and James Cagney were these 9: Here Comes the Navy (1934), Ceiling Zero (1936), Torrid Zone (1940), Devil Dogs of the Air (1935), The Irish in Us (1935), Boy Meets Girl (1938), Angels with Dirty Faces (1938); The Fighting 69th (1940), as well as their finale together, four decades later, Ragtime (1981).

He and his wife had one biological child and 3 adopted children: Sean O'Brien, Terry O'Brien, Brigid O'Brien, and Mavourneen O'Brien.

Politically he was extremely right-wing, so much so that he was termed "a near-fascist", mainly because of his strong support of Generalissimo Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War.

Had been playing Walter Burns in "The Front Page" on Broadway before being tapped to appear in the 1931 film (The Front Page (1931)). The studio, confusing Burns with the other lead role, Hildy Johnson, offered O'Brien the latter role, assuming it was the one he had played onstage. He took the job, not informing them of their mistake.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 607-608. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.

His final acting role was as a guest star in an episode of "Happy Days" (1974). The show was set in Milwaukee, WI, which was O'Brien's home town.

Daughter Kathleen Brigid was born in June, 1946.

Browse biographies section by name

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z