"From Philadelphia to 'Dallas': Easton woman recalls the life of her brother, actor Dennis Patrick"
(Taken from "The Morning Call" Lehigh Valley newspaper, October 16, 2002)
By Garrett Therolf Of The Morning Call:
Joan McNally remembers escaping to her big brother's home in the Hollywood Hills and
the film and television actor's own retreats to her home on Easton's College Hill, where she remembered him saying, "This is so real."
Dennis Patrick, an actor whose five-decade career included roles in many television
shows and films such as "Dallas," "The Twilight Zone" and "Dark Shadows," died Sunday in a fire at his home above Mulholland Drive. Investigators have not announced the cause of the fire.
Patrick, 84, who had been suffering from liver failure, was "not a movie star," McNally
said. But in a business that went from contract to contract, he found work steadily after moving to Hollywood in the 1950s, choosing to play dignified villains who spoke sinisterly. Only once did one of Patrick's characters turn violent on screen.
"It was so depressing," McNally said, referring to Patrick's role in the movie "Joe." "There was this critic on [NBC's] Today Show that loved it, wanted it to win the Academy Award and everything else, but we wouldn't talk about. Even my brother would rather not mention it."
Patrick, who was born in Philadelphia, played businessman Vaughn Leland, a competitor of
the Ewing family, on Dallas 1979-84. He also had roles in the 1994 film, "The Air Up There," and 1989's, "Chances Are." Patrick's early career featured television roles in "Gunsmoke" and "Perry Mason."
In a large photograph above McNally's television, Patrick grins widely with his
wife, actress Barbara Cason, who appeared in "The Exorcist II." She died in
1990.
The family often reunited for trips to museums and the beach in Los Angeles and
large home-cooked meals in Easton, McNally said. She just returned from a visit
to her brother's home two weeks ago.
"Even though I hate to fly, I loved to visit," she said, looking at photographs of her
brother's graduation.
"Our father just eked by financially … It was the Depression," McNally said. "So when
Dennis graduated, he swore he would not be without money -- and he wasn't."
Services for Patrick have not been planned.
"Typical Hollywood, they're going to spread his ashes over the sea from his attorney's
boat," McNally said, tilting her face to the ceiling and dramatically outstretching her arms.
By Garrett Therolf Of The Morning Call:
Joan McNally remembers escaping to her big brother's home in the Hollywood Hills and
the film and television actor's own retreats to her home on Easton's College Hill, where she remembered him saying, "This is so real."
Dennis Patrick, an actor whose five-decade career included roles in many television
shows and films such as "Dallas," "The Twilight Zone" and "Dark Shadows," died Sunday in a fire at his home above Mulholland Drive. Investigators have not announced the cause of the fire.
Patrick, 84, who had been suffering from liver failure, was "not a movie star," McNally
said. But in a business that went from contract to contract, he found work steadily after moving to Hollywood in the 1950s, choosing to play dignified villains who spoke sinisterly. Only once did one of Patrick's characters turn violent on screen.
"It was so depressing," McNally said, referring to Patrick's role in the movie "Joe." "There was this critic on [NBC's] Today Show that loved it, wanted it to win the Academy Award and everything else, but we wouldn't talk about. Even my brother would rather not mention it."
Patrick, who was born in Philadelphia, played businessman Vaughn Leland, a competitor of
the Ewing family, on Dallas 1979-84. He also had roles in the 1994 film, "The Air Up There," and 1989's, "Chances Are." Patrick's early career featured television roles in "Gunsmoke" and "Perry Mason."
In a large photograph above McNally's television, Patrick grins widely with his
wife, actress Barbara Cason, who appeared in "The Exorcist II." She died in
1990.
The family often reunited for trips to museums and the beach in Los Angeles and
large home-cooked meals in Easton, McNally said. She just returned from a visit
to her brother's home two weeks ago.
"Even though I hate to fly, I loved to visit," she said, looking at photographs of her
brother's graduation.
"Our father just eked by financially … It was the Depression," McNally said. "So when
Dennis graduated, he swore he would not be without money -- and he wasn't."
Services for Patrick have not been planned.
"Typical Hollywood, they're going to spread his ashes over the sea from his attorney's
boat," McNally said, tilting her face to the ceiling and dramatically outstretching her arms.
Keep checking back... More photos to come!