Dennis Patrick

Summary

Dennis Patrick (born Dennis Patrick Harrison;[1] March 14, 1918 – October 13, 2002) was an American character actor, primarily in television.

Dennis Patrick
Patrick in an episode of One Step Beyond (1960)
Born(1918-03-14)March 14, 1918
DiedOctober 13, 2002(2002-10-13) (aged 84)
Other namesDennis Harrison
OccupationCharacter actor
Years active1949 – 1994
Known forSee Career
Children2

Early years edit

Patrick was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[2]

Career edit

Patrick is known for his work in television shows. He portrayed Patrick Chase in the syndicated drama Rituals (1984),[3]: 897  Vaughn Leland in CBS's Dallas,[3]: 229  Jack Breen in the ABC crime drama Bert D'Angelo/Superstar (1976),[3] and Sergeant Pat O'Dennis in the syndicated comedy The Cliffwood Avenue Kids (1977).[3]: 194 

He made four guest appearances on Perry Mason, three of them as the murder victim: Martin Selkirk in the 1959 episode, "The Case of the Deadly Toy"; Martin Somers in the 1962 episode, "The Case of the Tarnished Trademark"; and golf pro Chick Farley in the 1966 episode, "The Case of the Golfer's Gambit". He also appeared as Prosecutor Darryl Teshman in the 1960 episode "The Case of the Prudent Prosecutor".

Among his other television appearances were the roles of Jason McGuire and Paul Stoddard in Dark Shadows, Mac in Somerset, and in such films as The Time Travelers (1964), Daddy's Gone A-Hunting (1969), Joe (1970), Dear Dead Delilah, (1972) and Nightmare Honeymoon (1974). He also was a stage actor, having won the Theater World Award for his starring role in The Wayward Saint.[4] He also portrayed Jean Paul Marat on Broadway in Marat/Sade.[5]

Patrick appeared in more than 1,800 guest roles on television programs during his four-decade career, including stints on Tales of Tomorrow (1952), Kraft Theatre (1949–57), Gunsmoke (1958), Playhouse 90 (1958), Sugarfoot (1959), Buckskin (1959), Peter Gunn (1959), U.S. Marshal (1959-1960), 77 Sunset Strip (1960), Bonanza (1960, as Sam Bord in the episode "The Hopefuls"), Wanted: Dead or Alive (1960), Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1960–61); Hawaiian Eye (1962), The Virginian (episode "Big Day, Great Day" 1962), Laramie (1960-1963), Perry Mason (1959-1966), Empire (as Hoot Hinkley in "The Tiger Inside", 1963), The Dakotas (1963), Lost in Space (1966, as Keema "The Golden Man"), The Big Valley (1969, as Ed Crawford in "The Battle of Mineral Springs"), Dark Shadows (1967-1970), Emergency! (three episodes, 1972-1975), and Dallas (1979-1984). Dennis Patrick also appeared in a Barnaby Jones episode titled "Dangerous Summer" (02/11/1975); in Quincy, M.E. (three episodes, 1979–82); and in The Incredible Hulk (as Buck Hendricks, a big game hunter looking to help news reporter Jack McGee capture "The Jolly Green Giant").[citation needed] He also appeared as Walter Hart in The Rockford Files, season 2, episode 6: "The Great Blue Lake Land and Development Company".

Patrick played Sheriff George Patterson in the film House of Dark Shadows (1970). He was television's first vampire (as Dennis Harrison) in a 1950 episode of Stage 13 (1950).[citation needed]

Personal life edit

On October 13, 2002, Patrick died next to his pet poodle as fire swept his four-story home in Hollywood Hills, California. He was 84. Patrick was suffering from cancer, needed kidney dialysis, and rarely left the house.[6][7]

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
1949 C-Man Uncredited
1950 Guilty Bystander Mace
1950 The Strip Tease Murder Case Johnny
1958 Gunsmoke Trumbell Season 4 Episode 9 "Land Deal"
1960 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Mr. Rose Season 5 Episode 20: "The Day of the Bullet"
1960 Wanted Dead or Alive (TV series) Eli Season 3 Episode 4 (The Looters)
1961 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Harry Miller Season 6 Episode 17: "The Last Escape"
1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Frenchy La Font Season 2 Episode 3: "Terror at Northfield"
1964 The Time Travelers Councilman Willard
1965 Major Dundee Uncredited
1969 Daddy's Gone A-Hunting Dr. Parkington
1970 Tiger by the Tail Frank Michaelis
1970 Joe Bill Compton
1970 House of Dark Shadows Sheriff George Patterson
1974 Nightmare Honeymoon John Kenmore
1978 The Eddie Capra Mysteries Barry Norcross Episode: "How Do I Kill Thee?"
1980 The Secret of Nikola Tesla Thomas Alva Edison
1981 Choices Dr. Bowers
1984 Murder, She Wrote Dexter Baxendale Episode: "The Murder of Sherlock Holmes"
1985 Heated Vengeance Pope
1989 Chances Are Archibald Blair
1994 The Air Up There Father O'Hara (final film role)

References edit

  1. ^ "He's working both side of soap scene". Indiana Gazette. Indiana, Pennsylvania. Newspaper Enterprise Association. July 1, 1980. p. 40. Retrieved June 30, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Therolf, Garrett (October 16, 2002). "Actor who died in house fire recalled by sister in Easton". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. p. 17. Retrieved July 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. pp. 90–91. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  4. ^ "Theatre World Award Recipients". Theatre World Awards. Archived from the original on January 13, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  5. ^ Dennis Patrick at the Internet Broadway Database
  6. ^ "Dennis Patrick, 84, veteran actor who played J.R. Ewing's banker". The News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. Associated Press. October 15, 2002. p. 15. Retrieved July 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Marosi, Richard (October 14, 2002). "'Dallas' Actor Killed in Hollywood Hills Fire". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2021.

External links edit