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

Height

5' 9½" (1.77 m)

Mini Biography

Although he came to be called "Hollywood's Irishman in Residence"--and, along with good friends James Cagney, Allen Jenkins, Frank McHugh and a few others were called "The Irish Mafia"--and he often played Irish immigrants, Pat O'Brien was US-born and -bred. As a young boy the devoutly Roman Catholic O'Brien considered entering the seminary to study for the priesthood, but although he often played a Father, Monsignor or Bishop, he never actually followed through and entered the seminary. And although never a policeman, in movies he often wore the cop's badge and, although in real life he had no discernible Irish accent, he could pour on the "brogue" when the role called for it.

Pat O'Brien excelled in roles as 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 Cagney, including his own screen swansong, Ragtime (1981).

IMDb Mini Biography By: Bill Takacs <kinephile@aol.com>

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.

He wore a toupee.

Pat was a great personal friend of fellow Irish-American actor James Cagney, from the early days of their career right up to Pat's death in 1983. They also starred in seven films together, Pat often playing the role of a Catholic priest.

Personal Quotes

[on Knute Rockne] He was not only a great coach but also an extraordinary human being, and I felt privileged, humble, trying to convey the glory and the humanness that was 'Rock'. And there were frightening moments when I briefly felt as if I were Knute Rockne.