Pat O'Brien Overview:

Legendary actor, Pat O'Brien, was born William Joseph Patrick O'Brien on Nov 11, 1899 in Milwaukee, WI. O'Brien died at the age of 83 on Oct 15, 1983 in Santa Monica, CA and was laid to rest in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, Los Angeles County, CA.

MINI BIO:

Round-faced, dark-haired, solidly-built Hollywood star of the thirties and forties. Pat O'Brien was so Irish that one could hardly believe he actually spoke with an American accent, even if there was a hint of soft Irishness in it. A boyhood friend of Spencer Tracy, he chose acting in preference to the priesthood, but made up for it at Warners by playing priests several times, when he wasn't being fast-talking reporters or happy-go-lucky adventurers. He seemed heavy by the mid-forties and his standing gradually declined, but he kept acting, latterly in character roles. Died from a heart attack.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Film Stars).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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He was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the categories of Motion Pictures and Television. O'Brien was never nominated for an Academy Award.

BlogHub Articles:

James Cagney and in Angels with Dirty Faces

By Amanda Garrett on Nov 19, 2016 From Old Hollywood Films

Today, I'm writing about the friendship of Rocky Sullivan (James Cagney) and Jerry Conolly () in Angels with Dirty Faces (1938), This article is part of the You Gotta Have Friends Blogathon hosted by Moon in Gemini. A gentle reminder that this article contains spoilers for a 78-year... Read full article


James Cagney and

By Amanda Garrett on Mar 16, 2015 From Old Hollywood Films

Today, we're participating in the Luck of the Irish Blog O'Thon with a feature on two of old Hollywood's legendary Irish Americans, James Cagney and . Here's Cagney (front row, left) and O'Brien (front row, right) at the races with their fellow "Irish mafia" members Frank McHugh (back row... Read full article


TV Tuesday: James Cagney and

By KC on Jul 28, 2009 From Classic Movies

In this excerpt from a 1981 interview on the BBC talk show Parkinson, is moved to tears as he discusses his 55-year friendship with James Cagney. I love how O'Brien holds Cagney's hand. The obviously deep affection between the two is incredibly moving.... Read full article


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Pat O'Brien Quotes:

Father Duffy: [praying] Almighty God, in Thine infinite mercy grant me, thy servant, the wisdom to guide my young flock through the trials of war. Oh, Father, they're so young. So young and they know so little of life and nothing at all of that terrible and bloody altar towards which they move, carrying so eagerly the bright sacrifice of their youth. Their need will be great, O Lord, and I am weak. Therefore, I beseech thee through Thy Son, Christ, our Lord, grant me the strength to keep them steadfast in the faith, in decency and courage to the glory of God, their country, and their regiment in the bad times to come. And if in battle you see fit to gather them to your protecting arms, thy will be done, but let them die like men, valiant and unafraid.


Knute Rockne: Now I'm going to tell you something I've kept to myself for years. None of you ever knew George Gipp. He was long before your time, but you all know what a tradition he is at Notre Dame. And the last thing he said to me, "Rock," he said, "sometime when the team is up against it and the breaks are beating the boys, tell them to go out there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then, Rock," he said, "but I'll know about it and I'll be happy."


Jerry Connolly: It's true, boys. Every word of it. He died like they said. All right, fellas. Let's go and say a prayer for a boy who couldn't run as fast as I could.


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

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.

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).

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