He excelled in roles of beneficient men and he became famous for his portrayals of priests. In so many films O'Brien always played the quintessential American Irishman, a role that naturally fit him.
#Pat o brien and the priests of love movie
Both would be true to their faith until their deaths three years apart in the 80's, both would marry in the 30's and be loyal to their marriage vows until death and both would star in their final movie "Ragtime" in 1981 after 50 years in film, both having begun in 1930. It was one of nine films O'Brien would star in with fellow Irish-Catholic star Cagney who was the same age.
That was the same year he married Eloise Taylor a young beauty who would grow old with Pat as they stayed together through thick and thin until Pat's death in 1983.Īfter appearing in fifty-two films after "Front Page," he landed the prime role of Father Jerry Connelly in the 1938 hit "Angels with Dirty Faces" in which his character traveled the "good" route in life compared to "Rocky" played by James Cagney, whom O'Brien's character converted in the end. Pat spent his early twenties acting in summer stock and doing bit parts on Broadway, and scored his first film success playing the part of reporter Hildy Johnson in the 1931 production of "The Front Page" after appearing in three films prior to that. After high school he had ideas of entering the seminary to study for the priesthood, but God had other plans for young O'Brien and Tracy as well, both of whom would go on to become huge Hollywood Stars and always portray the Church in a favorable light, often times taking the role of good, caring priests. One of his classmates was Spencer Bonaventure Tracy. Raised a strict Catholic, he attended Catholic grade school and during his high school years the family relocated in Milwaukee where he attended Marquette Academy. Shortly after, his parents moved to the quiet, hilly community of Marquette, Wisconsin on Green Lake situated midway between the scenic tourist attraction of the Wisconsin Dells and Fond du Lac on the southern tip of massive Lake Winnebago. Just under two months before the twentieth century was to dawn, he was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on November 11, 1899. The voters chose as the 94th selection an Irish-American actor who personified the Church in film - William Joseph Patrick O'Brien better known to film buffs as Pat O'Brien, the rugged actor who starred in films from the thirties to the early eighties.
For more on the 94th selection, click on PAT O'BRIEN 94. From birth in 1899 to his death in 1983 he always exemplified the Catholic ideals. He is famous for his portrayal of priests, holding up the ideal of the priesthood and the values of the Church. NUMBER 94: Pat O'Brien Hollywood's role model for priests The voters selected Pat O'Brien, the consummate Irish-Catholic who was considered America's favorite Irishman throughout 50 years of filmdom in which he appeared in 110 movies. 143 To print out entire text of Today's issue, print this section as well as SECTION TWO Monday thru Friday at See why so many consider the