- Pat Corley
Infobox actor
name = Pat Corley
caption =
birthdate =June 1 ,1930
location =Dallas, Texas
deathdate =September 11 ,2006
notable role = Phil onMurphy Brown Pat Corley (
June 1 ,1930 –September 11 ,2006 ) was an Americanactor . He was perhaps best known for his role as bar owner Phil on theCBS sitcom "Murphy Brown " from 1988-1996, where he served sage advice along with drinks. He also had a recurring role as Chief Coroner Wally Nydorf on the television drama "Hill Street Blues " (1981-1987). Additionally, he had supporting roles in a number of films, including "Night Shift" (1982), "Against All Odds " (1984), and "Mr. Destiny " (1990).Biography
Early life
Corley was born Cleo Pat Corley in
Dallas, Texas , the son of Ada Lee (née Martin) and Robert Lee Corley. [ [http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800148940/bio Pat Corley Biography - Yahoo! Movies ] ] [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/65/Pat-Corley.html Pat Corley Biography (1930-) ] ] He got his start in the entertainment business as a teenage ballet dancer for the Stockton Ballet where he performed for three seasons. After serving in the U.S. Army during theKorean War , he entered Stockton College on theG.I. Bill where he met his future 2nd wife, Iris Carter, a younger student, champion debater and a locally acclaimed actress.Career
After moving to
New York City he worked as a waiter, attended the esteemedAmerican Theatre Wing , studied underUta Hagen and auditioned for plays. Corley and his wife toured in summer stock in Indiana and New Jersey with his young daughter Troy in tow. His first Broadway appearance was in James Baldwin's "Blues for Mr. Charlie", a production by theActor's Studio , where Corley had been accepted as a member. Early in his career he shared the stage with future starsAl Pacino andJames Earl Jones in theOff-Broadway play "The Peace Creeps". In the 1970s Corley appeared in several Broadway productions including "Of Mice and Men " withJames Earl Jones and "Sweet Bird of Youth " withChristopher Walken .Corley's Hollywood career began in 1969 in TV with a small role in "
N.Y.P.D. " and a few television commercials. His first feature film roles were inGordon Parks ' "The Super Cops " and the comedy "Law and Disorder" withCarroll O'Connor andErnest Borgnine . He also appeared in "Coming Home " and inOliver Stone 's first feature, "The Hand", withMichael Caine .Corley appeared on dozens of TV shows, among the earliest of which were "
Get Christie Love " and "Kojak ." Other series on which Corley has guest-starred include "Starsky and Hutch ", "Barnaby Jones ", "Hart to Hart ", "St. Elsewhere ", "Simon & Simon ", "Murder, She Wrote ", "Magnum, P.I. ", "Cagney & Lacey ", "Night Court ", "Moonlighting" and "L.A. Law ". Corley also had a role in the ground-breaking TV series "Roots" and the mini-series "Fresno".Death
Corley died of congestive heart failure at age 76 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in
Los Angeles, California . He is survived by daughtersTroy Corley and Christina Pratt and sons Kevin and Jerry from his marriage to Iris Carter, and daughter Vicki Restani from his first marriage to Rose Valentine. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren, a sister, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. His wife, Iris, died in 2005. His youngest daughter, Michelle, died in Dec 1996, according to her sister, Troy Corley.Filmography
* "
The Super Cops " (1974) as Captain Bush
* "Law and Disorder" (1974) as Ken
* "Audrey Rose" (1977) as Dr. Webster
* "The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training " (1977) as Morrie Slaytor
* "Coming Home " (1978) as Harris
* "The Onion Field" (1979) as Jimmy's Lawyer #2
* "The Rose" (1979) as Police Chief Morrison
* "The Black Marble " (1980) as Itchy Mitch
* "The Hand" (1981) as Sheriff
* "True Confessions" (1981) as Sonny McDonough
* "Hanky Panky" (1982) as Pilot
* "Night Shift" (1982) as Edward Koogle
* "Curse of the Pink Panther " (1983) as Lt. Palmyra
* "Against All Odds " (1984) as Ed Phillips
* "Mr. Destiny " (1990) as Harry BurrowsReferences
External links
*imdb name|0179976|Pat Corley
* [http://www.abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=2447885 Obituary at ABC News]
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