Patrick Duffy

Summary

Patrick Duffy (born March 17, 1949)[1] is an American actor and director widely known for his role on the CBS primetime soap opera Dallas, where he played Bobby Ewing, the youngest son of Miss Ellie, and the brother of J.R. Ewing (played by Barbara Bel Geddes and Larry Hagman respectively) from 1978 to 1985 and from 1986 to 1991. Duffy returned to reprise his role as Bobby in a continuation of Dallas, which aired on TNT from 2012 to 2014. He is also well known for his role on the ABC sitcom Step by Step as Frank Lambert from 1991 to 1998, and for his role as Stephen Logan on the CBS daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful (2006–2011, 2022, 2023). Duffy played the lead character's father in the 2014 NBC sitcom Welcome to Sweden.

Patrick Duffy
Duffy in 2013
Born (1949-03-17) March 17, 1949 (age 75)
EducationUniversity of Washington (AB)
Occupation(s)Actor, director, television personality
Years active1974–present
Known forBobby Ewing – Dallas (1978 TV series)
Spouse
Carlyn Rosser
(m. 1974; died 2017)
Partner(s)Linda Purl
(2020–present)
Children2
RelativesBarry Zito (nephew)
Websitewww.patrickduffy.org

Early life edit

Duffy was born in Townsend, Montana, in 1949, the son of tavern owners Terence and Marie Duffy.[1][2] Duffy is of Irish ancestry.[3] During high school, Duffy was living in Everett, Washington, and attended Cascade High School. At Cascade, he participated in the Drama Club and the Pep Club, for which he was a Yell King.[2][4] Academically, Duffy graduated from the University of Washington in 1971 with a degree in drama.[5] He ruptured both his vocal cords during his senior year of college, but was hired as actor-in-residence, where he worked as an interpreter for ballet, opera, and orchestra companies in Washington. He also taught mime and movement classes during this period.[6] In a 2021 interview with David A. Weiner, Duffy credits his sister, an international champion diver, with teaching him the necessary swimming techniques for his first career break.[7] She became a police officer in Seattle.[8]

Career edit

 
Duffy as Mark Harris in Man from Atlantis

Duffy appeared in a Taco Bell commercial in the early 1970s, playing an employee describing an Enchirito.[9] In 1977, he landed the role of Mark Harris in the short-lived television series Man from Atlantis. Following the series' cancellation in early 1978, he got his big break in the role of Bobby Ewing, opposite Barbara Bel Geddes and Larry Hagman, on the prime-time soap opera Dallas.[5] The show became a worldwide success. Despite its success, Duffy opted to leave the series in 1985 with his character being killed off onscreen. However, with both the show and his career on the decline, he returned in 1986 in the infamous shower scene that rendered the entire 1985–1986 season "just a dream." Duffy then remained with the series until its cancellation in 1991. He also appeared in several episodes of the spin-off series Knots Landing between 1979 and 1982. Throughout the 13-year run of Dallas, Duffy directed several episodes of the series. Along with Dallas fame, Duffy has also tried his hand at singing, and in 1983, he had a hit in Europe with "Together We're Strong", a duet with French female singer Mireille Mathieu.[5] The single reached No. 5 in the Netherlands in April 1983.[10]

At the end of Dallas' run in 1991, Duffy began another television role, as Frank Lambert on the family sitcom, Step by Step in which he co-starred with Suzanne Somers. The series ran until 1998, and Duffy also directed numerous episodes. Also in the 1990s, he appeared in two Dallas reunion television films; J.R. Returns (1996) and War of the Ewings (1998), both of which he also co-produced. He has reunited on several occasions with many of his Dallas co-stars both onscreen and off, most notably for the non-fiction television special Dallas Reunion: Return to Southfork in 2004. Duffy later continued to act in occasional guest or voice acting appearances, including the series Family Guy (in which he appeared in a live action scene with Victoria Principal as they spoofed the Dallas shower scene), as well as Justice League and Touched by an Angel. Duffy starred in the television films Falling in Love With the Girl Next Door and Desolation Canyon. In 2006, he began a recurring role on the daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful as Stephen Logan. From April to July 2008, he hosted Bingo America, a partially interactive game show on GSN.

 
Duffy at 2009 Daytime Emmy Award

Duffy reprised his role as Bobby Ewing in TNT's continuation series of Dallas. The series aired from 2012 to 2014.

Duffy played a surreal double of Bobby Ewing in the experimental documentary Hotel Dallas, directed by artist duo Ungur & Huang. The film premiered at the 2016 Berlin International Film Festival.[11]

On August 8, 2005, Barbara Bel Geddes died of lung cancer. Duffy had met Bel Geddes through his future father-in-law when he was a boy. At the time of his TV mother's death, he said:

When Barbara joined the cast of "Dallas," as Miss Ellie, I considered her to be like Helen Hayes, Katherine Cornell, and Ethel Barrymore — a real "name" in American theater. But you'd never have known it. She exhibited no large ego because of her history. She'd schlepp in and drop your jaw with every performance — whether it was drinking a cup of coffee, having a mastectomy, or losing Jock Ewing. It was remarkable, her ordinariness despite that pedigree. We called Barbara "BBG" on the set. She was the mama figure. Larry Hagman was obviously the prow of the boat, but he couldn't have functioned without a strong mother, and I don't think there's been a mother like her on dramatic television since then. People related to her because she was the epitome of compassion despite her own pain. Off screen, she was a pistol. She cussed like a mule skinner, and she really liked to have her drinks. But she also had an endless capacity to include everybody that she loved, and that was the entire cast.[12]

 
Duffy with Linda Gray at the 2013 Monte-Carlo Television Festival

Then, 7 years after his TV mother’s death, at the revival of Dallas, he said: "Barbara is a big piece of our history, and it's important to me to honor her. To come back with Linda Gray as Sue Ellen and Larry Hagman in his J.R. hat, and then see the words Ellie Southworth Ewing Farlow on the gravestone made me think, 'Oh, that's right -- she's gone.'" The last thing he said about the revived series, without Bel Geddes as one of the stars: "Through the whole first season, I don't think an episode goes by that Mama is not mentioned in reference to Southfork and the land."[13]

Personal life edit

Duffy married Carlyn Rosser, a professional ballerina 13 years his senior, in 1974. She danced with the First Chamber Dance Company of New York.[14] Her nephew is former Major League Baseball pitcher Barry Zito.[15] The Duffys lived near Eagle Point, Oregon, with their sons Padraic (b. 1974)[14] and Conor (born c. 1980).[16]

Introduced to Buddhism by his wife, Duffy converted to Nichiren Buddhism and began chanting Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō. He and his family are longtime members of the Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai International.[17][18]

On November 18, 1986, Duffy's parents were murdered at their tavern in Boulder, Montana by two young men, Kenneth Miller and Sean Wentz, during an armed robbery. Wentz and Miller, who were teenagers at the time, were convicted of the murders and sentenced to 75 years in prison. In 2001, Miller appeared before the Montana Parole board after Sean Wentz recanted his original story and admitted that he, Wentz, was the sole gunman. Miller was denied clemency in 2001 but was released on parole in December 2007.[19] Sean Wentz was granted parole in 2015.[20]

Duffy's wife Carlyn Rosser died in 2017.[6][21] In 2020, he entered into a relationship with actress Linda Purl.[22][23]

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
1974 The Stranger Who Looks Like Me Adoptee #3 Television film
1974 Hurricane Jim Television film
1976 Switch Sgt. Musial Episode: "The Walking Bomb"
1976 The Last of Mrs. Lincoln Lewis Baker Television film
1977 Man from Atlantis Mark Harris Television film
1977 Man from Atlantis: The Death Scouts Mark Harris Television film
1977 Man from Atlantis: Killer Spores Mark Harris Television film
1977 Man from Atlantis: The Disappearances Mark Harris Television film
1977–78 Man from Atlantis Mark Harris Series regular (17 episodes)
1978–85;
1986–91
Dallas Bobby Ewing Series regular (326 episodes) Director (29 episodes)
Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Actor in a Prime Time Serial (1985)
Special Bambi Award (Shared with Dallas co-stars) (1987)
TV Land Pop Culture Award (Shared with Dallas co-stars) (2006)
Nominated - Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Actor in a Prime Time (1988, 1990, 1992)
Nominated - Soap Opera Digest Award for Favorite Super Couple: Prime Time (Shared with Victoria Principal) (1988)
1979–82 Knots Landing 3 episodes
1980 Charlie's Angels William Cord Episode: "One Love...Two Angels"
1980 Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb Colonel Paul Tibbets Television film
1981 The Love Boat Ralph Sutton Episode: "The Expedition"
1982 Cry for the Strangers Dr. Brad Russell Television film
1984 Vamping Harry Baranski
1985 From Here to Maternity Henderson Television film
1985 Hotel Richard Martin Episode: "Missing Pieces"
1985 George Burns Comedy Week Episode: "Dream, Dream, Dream"
1985 Alice in Wonderland The Goat Television film
1986 Strong Medicine Dr. Andrew Jordan Television film
1987 Our House Johnny Witherspoon Episode: "Candles and Shadows"
1988 14 Going on 30 Actor in Black and White Movie Television film
1988 Unholy Matrimony John Dillman Television film
1988 Too Good to Be True Richard Harland Television film
1990 Murder C.O.D. Steve Murtaugh Television film
1990 Children of the Bride John Hix Television film
1990 Newhart Patrick Duffy Episode: "Lights! Camera! Contractions!"; uncredited
1991 Daddy Oliver Watson Television film
1991–98 Step by Step Frank Lambert Series regular (160 episodes) Director (49 episodes)
1992 Goof Troop Harold Hatchback Voice, episode: "Buddy Building"
1994 Texas Stephen Austin Television film
1996 Dallas: J.R. Returns Bobby Ewing Television film
1997 Heart of Fire Max Tucker Television film
1998 Dallas: War of the Ewings Bobby Ewing Television film
1998 Rusty: A Dog's Tale Cap the Dog Voice
1998 Diagnosis: Murder Wayde Garrett Episode: "Till Death Do Us Part"
1999 Dead Man's Gun Lyman Gage Episode: "The Womanizer"
1999 Don't Look Behind You [it] Jeff Corrigan Television film
1999 Twice in a Lifetime Peter Hogan Episode: "A Match Made in Heaven"
1999–2001 Family Guy Bobby Ewing, Jack, Salesman, Teacher Voice, 2 episodes
2000 The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne Duke Angelo Rimini Episode: "Rockets of the Dead"
2000 Perfect Game Coach Bobby Geiser Television film
2002 Justice League Steve Trevor Voice, episode: "The Savage Time"
2003 Touched by an Angel Mike Episode: "I Will Walk with You"
2004 Reba Dr. Joe Baker Episode: "Couples' Therapy"
2004 Dallas Reunion: The Return to Southfork Himself / Bobby Ewing TV special
2006 Desolation Canyon Sheriff Tomas 'Swede' Lundstrom Television film
2006 Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door James Connolly Television film
2006–11;
2022–23
The Bold and the Beautiful Stephen Logan Series regular (155 episodes)
2007 Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Himself Uncredited cameo (unrated version)
2008 He's Such a Girl Whitney's Father
2009 Love Takes Wing Mayor Evans Television film
2010 Healing Hands Uncle Norman Television film
2010 You Again Ritchie Phillips
2010 Pony Exce$$ Narrator Television documentary
2010 Party Down Himself Episode: "Constance Carmell Wedding"
2010 Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Himself
2012–14 Dallas Bobby Ewing Series regular (40 episodes) Director (1 episode)
2012 Lovin' Lakin Himself Episode: "Lakin Visits Her Dad"
2014–15 Welcome to Sweden Wayne Evans Recurring (4 episodes)
2015 The Fosters Robert Quinn Sr. Episode: "The End of the Beginning"
2017 The Christmas Cure Bruce Turner Television film
2017 Trafficked Christian
2018 Christmas with a View Frank Haven Television film
2018 American Housewife Marty Episode: "Saving Christmas"
2019 The Cool Kids Gene Episode: "Margaret Ups Her Game"
2019 Station 19 Terry Episode: "Into the Wildfire"
2019 The Mistletoe Secret Mack Eubanks Television film
2019 Random Acts of Christmas Howard Television film
2019 April, May and June April's Father
2020 All Rise Ed Parker Episode: "What the Constitution Greens to Me"
2020 NCIS Ret. Lieutenant Commander Jack Briggs Episode: "Flight Plan"
2020 Once Upon a Main Street Elder Dubois Television film
2020 Alley of Brandt Master of Time Short film
2021 Lady of the Manor Grayson Wadsworth
2021 Doomsday Mom Larry Woodcock Television film
2021 On the Verge Gene Episodes: "Viva Italia!", "Lip Wax"
2021 The Christmas Promise Pops Television film

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Patrick Duffy Biography (1949–)". FilmReference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Maves, Norm Jr. (May 7, 1990). "Quiet On The Set". The Oregonian. Portland. p. C01.
  3. ^ "Patrick is very proud of his Irish heritage. "With a name like Duffy I could not be anything else but of Irish descent and I'm proud of that, I like Ireland and the Irish people," he said". The Sunday Post. Dundee. August 8, 2018.
  4. ^ 1967 Vista, Cascade High School yearbook
  5. ^ a b c "Patrick Duffy Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Patrick Duffy Biography". Biography. Archived from the original on September 7, 2011. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
  7. ^ Weiner, David (March 4, 2021). "Patrick Duffy Resurfaces 'Man From Atlantis'". It Came From... Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  8. ^ Marmor, Jon (September 1, 1997). "Patrick Duffy, '71, spent more time on stage than in class". University of Washington Magazine. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  9. ^ Strutner, Suzy (May 9, 2016). "Whatever Happened To The Taco Bell Enchirito?". HuffPost UK.
  10. ^ "Dutch Single Top 100". Dutch Charts. September 4, 1983. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  11. ^ Meza, Ed (February 17, 2016). "Berlin: 'Hotel Dallas' Enlisted Duffy for Surreal Twist". Variety. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  12. ^ Duffy, Patrick (December 23, 2005). "Patrick Duffy Remembers Barbara Bel Geddes". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  13. ^ "The Late Miss Ellie Will Be a Part of New 'Dallas'". TV Week. April 3, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Patrick Duffy Biography". Archived from the original on January 9, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2007. Ten years his senior, Carlyn was a ballet dancer with the First Chamber Dance Company. She was also a Buddhist, and introduced Duffy to the faith, which he still strictly follows to this day. The couple were married in a Buddhist temple in 1974 and in the same year their first of two children, Padraic, was born.
  15. ^ "Ten burning questions for baseball's offseason". USA Today. November 1, 2006. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  16. ^ Das, Lina (October 28, 2011). "Who drank shots with JR?". Independent Online. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2013. The couple have a ranch in Oregon, two sons, Padraic, 37, and Conor, 31...
  17. ^ "Patrick Duffy: 'I only converted to Buddhism because I wanted to sleep with the woman who became my wife'". Irish Independent. Dublin. September 4, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  18. ^ "Soka Gakkai International Musicians Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter Join Carlos Santana to Headline Emissaries of Peace Tour" (Press release). Soka Gakkai International. July 18, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2023 – via GlobeNewswire.
  19. ^ "Sean Wentz and Kenneth Miller convicted and sentenced to prison". Bonnie's Blog of Crime. January 31, 2006. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  20. ^ "Making It Part 3: A man moves out on his own after 30 years in prison for double homicide". Billings Gazette. December 14, 2017.
  21. ^ Duffy, confusingly, said on June 23, 2017, that Rosser had died six months previous, which would be December 23, 2016: @therealpduffy (June 23, 2017). "On this day 6 months ago my heart stopped yet I live on as she wishes We will be together eternally" (Tweet). Retrieved January 2, 2018 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ Strohm, Emily (November 5, 2020). "Dallas' Patrick Duffy Is Dating Happy Days' Linda Purl: 'I Never Thought I'd Feel This Way Again'". People. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  23. ^ Laudadio, Marisa (January 30, 2022) McCarthy, Anne (January 28, 2022). "'Dallas' Star Patrick Duffy, 72, Finds Love Again With 'Happy Days' Actress After Grief; He Lost Wife to Cancer in 2017". SurvivorNet. Retrieved July 17, 2023.

External links edit

  •   Media related to Patrick Duffy at Wikimedia Commons
  • Patrick Duffy at IMDb
  • Patrick Duffy discography at Discogs
  • Patrick Duffy is the leg of Scuzzlebutt on the South Park episode 'Volcano'