Pat Corley (June 1, 1930 – September 11, 2006) was an American actor. He was known for his role as bar owner Phil on the CBS

sitcom A sitcom, a Portmanteau, portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troup ...

'' Murphy Brown'' from 1988 to 1996. He also had a recurring role as Chief Coroner Wally Nydorf on the television drama ''

Hill Street Blues ''Hill Street Blues'' is an American serial police procedural television series that aired on NBC in prime-time from January 15, 1981, to May 12, 1987, for 146 episodes. The show chronicles the lives of the staff of a single police station loca ...

'' (1981–87) and supporting roles in a number of

films A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmospher ...

, including '' Night Shift'' (1982), '' Against All Odds'' (1984), and '' Mr. Destiny'' (1990).

Early life

Corley was born Cleo Pat Corley in

Dallas Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

, the son of Ada Lee (

née A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth ...

Martin) and R.L. Corley. He got his start in the entertainment business as a teenage ballet dancer for the Stockton Ballet where he performed for three seasons. While serving in the U.S. Army during the

Korean War {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Korean War , partof = the Cold War and the Korean conflict , image = Korean War Montage 2.png , image_size = 300px , caption = Clockwise from top: ...

, Corley helped put on entertainment shows for the brass while stationed in France. After his honorable discharge, he entered Stockton College on the G.I. Bill where he met his future second wife, Iris Carter, a younger student, champion debater and a locally acclaimed actress.

Career

After moving to

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the U ...

he worked as a waiter, attended the

American Theatre Wing The American Theatre Wing (the Wing for short) is a New York City–based non-profit organization "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre", according to its mission statement. Originally known as the Stage Women's War Relief ...

, studied under

Uta Hagen Uta Thyra Hagen (12 June 1919 – 14 January 2004) was a German-American actress and theatre practitioner. She originated the role of Martha in the 1962 Broadway premiere of '' Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' by Edward Albee, who called her "a ...

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 the

Actors Studio The Actors Studio is a membership organization for professional actors, theatre directors and playwrights at 432 West 44th Street between Ninth and Tenth avenues in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. It was founde ...

, where Corley had been accepted as a member. Early in his career he shared the stage with future stars

Al Pacino Alfredo James Pacino (; ; born April 25, 1940) is an American actor. Considered one of the most influential actors of the 20th century, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Al Pacino, numerous accolades: including an Aca ...

and

James Earl Jones James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is an American actor. He has been described as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors for his performances in film, television, and theater, and "one of the greatest actors in America ...

in the

Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer th ...

play ''The Peace Creeps''. In the 1970s, Corley appeared in several Broadway productions including ''

Of Mice and Men ''Of Mice and Men'' is a novella written by John Steinbeck. Published in 1937, it narrates the experiences of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant ranch workers, who move from place to place in California in search of new job ...

'' with

and '' Sweet Bird of Youth'' with

Christopher Walken Christopher Walken (born Ronald Walken; March 31, 1943) is an American actor. Prolific in film, television and on stage, Walken is the recipient of numerous accolades including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Awa ...

. Corley's

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...

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 in

Gordon Parks Gordon Roger Alexander Buchanan Parks (November 30, 1912 – March 7, 2006) was an American photographer, composer, author, poet, and film director, who became prominent in U.S. documentary photojournalism in the 1940s through 1970s—particula ...

' '' The Super Cops'' and the comedy '' Law and Disorder'' with

Carroll O'Connor John Carroll O'Connor (August 2, 1924 – June 21, 2001) was an American actor, producer, and director whose television career spanned over four decades. He became a lifelong member of the Actors Studio in 1971. O'Connor found widespread fame a ...

and Ernest Borgnine. He also appeared in '' Coming Home'' and in an early

Oliver Stone William Oliver Stone (born September 15, 1946) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. Stone won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay as writer of '' Midnight Express'' (1978), and wrote the gangster film remake '' Sca ...

feature, '' The Hand'', with Michael Caine. Corley appeared on dozens of TV shows, among the earliest of which were: '' The Wackiest Ship in the Army'', '' Get Christie Love'' and '' Kojak.'' Other series on which Corley has guest-starred include ''

Starsky and Hutch ''Starsky & Hutch'' is an American action television series, which consisted of a 72-minute pilot movie (originally aired as a '' Movie of the Week'' entry) and 92 episodes of 50 minutes each. The show was created by William Blinn (inspired by ...

'', ''

Barnaby Jones ''Barnaby Jones'' is an American detective television series starring Buddy Ebsen as a formerly retired investigator and Lee Meriwether as his widowed daughter-in-law, who run a private detective firm in Los Angeles, California. The show was or ...

'', ''

'', '' Hart to Hart'', ''

St. Elsewhere ''St. Elsewhere'' was an American medical drama television series created by Joshua Brand and John Falsey, that originally ran on NBC from October 26, 1982, to May 25, 1988. The series stars Ed Flanders, Norman Lloyd, and William Daniels as ...

'', '' Simon & Simon'', ''

Murder, She Wrote ''Murder, She Wrote'' is an American crime drama television series, created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William Link, starring Angela Lansbury, and produced and distributed by Universal Television for the CBS network. The ser ...

'', '' Magnum, P.I.'', ''

Cagney & Lacey ''Cagney & Lacey'' is an American police procedural drama television series that aired on the CBS television network for seven seasons from March 25, 1982, to May 16, 1988. The show is about two New York City police detectives who lead very di ...

'', ''

Night Court ''Night Court'' is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from January 4, 1984 to May 31, 1992. The setting was the night shift of a Manhattan municipal court presided over by a young, unorthodox judge, Harold "Harry" T. Stone (portra ...

'', '' Moonlighting'', '' L.A. Law'', and '' Hey Arnold!''. Corley also had roles in two mini-series, '' Roots'' and ''

Fresno Fresno () is a major city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley region. It covers about and had a population of 542,107 in 2020, maki ...

''. He provided the voice of Sheriff McGee in '' Tom Sawyer'' (2000).

Death

Corley died of

congestive heart failure Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a syndrome, a group of signs and symptoms caused by an impairment of the heart's blood pumping function. Symptoms typically include shortness of breath, excessive fatigue, ...

in September 2006 at age 76 at

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a nonprofit, tertiary, 886-bed teaching hospital and multi-specialty academic health science center located in Los Angeles, California. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over 2, ...

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wor ...

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...

. His wife, actress Iris Corley, had died the year prior.

Filmography

* '' The Super Cops'' (1974) as Captain Bush * '' Law and Disorder'' (1974) as Ken * '' Get Christie Love!'' (1974, TV Series, Episode: Highway to Murder) * '' Kojak'' (1974, TV Series, Episode: "Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die") as Mr. Miller * '' Delvecchio'' (1976, TV Series, episode "Numbers") as Manny * '' The Blue Knight'' (1974, TV Series, episode: "Throwaway") as The Man * '' Roots'' (1977, TV Mini-Series) as Referee * '' Audrey Rose'' (1977) as Dr. Webster * '' Martinelli, Outside Man'' (1977, TV Movie) as Sally * '' Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn'' (1977, TV Movie) as Marty * '' The Quinns'' (1977, TV Movie) as Eugene Carmody * '' The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training'' (1977) as Morrie Slaytor * '' The Betty White Show'' (1977, TV Series, Episode: "Mitzi's Cousin") as TV Repairman * '' The Night They Took Miss Beautiful'' (1977, TV Movie) as Roman * ''

'' (1977-1980, TV Series) as Sid Markham / Sam Powell * '' Coming Home'' (1978) as Harris * '' A Death in Canaan'' (1978, TV Series) as Judge Vincent * ''

'' (1978, TV Series, Episode: "Moonshine") as Ben Meadows * ''

The Paper Chase The Paper Chase (stylized as "the pAper chAse") was an American alternative rock band formed in 1998 by producer/engineer John Congleton in Dallas, Texas, who were signed to Kill Rock Stars and Southern Records. Their albums ''God Bless Your Blac ...

'' (1978, TV Series, Episode: "The Seating Chart") as Plumber * ''

The Amazing Spider-Man ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' is an ongoing American comic book series featuring the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man as its main protagonist. Being in the Earth 616, mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a bim ...

'' (1978, TV Series, Episode: "The Con Caper") as IFMM receptionist * '' And I Alone Survived'' (1978, TV Movie) as Kaminsky * ''

Family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

'' (1979, TV Series) as "Driver" / "Umpire" * '' The Best Place To Be'' (1979, TV Movie) * '' Nightwing'' (1979) as Vet * '' The Onion Field'' (1979) as Jimmy's Lawyer #2 * '' Diary of A Teenage Hitchhiker'' (1979, TV Movie) * ''Flesh and Blood'' (1979, TV Movie) * ''The Last Word'' (1979) as Chief Norris * '' The Two Worlds of Jennie Logan'' (1979, TV Movie) as Realtor * ''

The Rose A rose is a perennial plant of the genus ''Rosa'', or the flower it bears. Rose may also refer to: Colors * Rose (color) ** RAL 3017 Rose * Rose (heraldic tincture) Arts, entertainment and media Film * ''Rose'' (2011 film), a Polish film ...

'' (1979) as Police Chief Morrison * '' The Gift'' (1979, TV Movie) * ''

The Waltons ''The Waltons'' is an American historical drama television series about a family in rural Virginia during the Great Depression and World War II. It was created by Earl Hamner Jr., based on his 1961 book '' Spencer's Mountain'' and the 1963 fil ...

'' (1980, TV Series, Episode: "The Idol") as The Bartender * '' Lou Grant'' (1979-1980, TV Series) as Organizer * '' The Black Marble'' (1980) as Itchy Mitch * '' City In Fear'' (1980, TV Movie) as Supermarket Manager * ''

On the Nickel ''On the Nickel'' is a 1980 feature film written, produced by, and starring Ralph Waite. It features five original songs composed for the movie by Tom Waits. The film presents the story of Sam ( Donald Moffat), a recovering alcoholic who feel ...

'' (1980) * '' Loving Couples'' (1980) as Delmonico Clerk * '' Act of Love'' (1980, TV Movie) as Sgt. Waterson * '' Mark, I Love You'' (1980, TV Movie) as Bucky Sims * '' The Hand'' (1981) as Sheriff * '' The Best Little Girl in the World'' (1981, TV Movie) as Store Manager * '' True Confessions'' (1981) as Sonny McDonough * ''

Callie and Son Callie is a given name, nickname and surname. It is an English feminine given name that is a form of Carrie and a diminutive of Caroline. Notable people who are known by this name include the following: People Given name * Callie Brownson (born ...

'' (1981, TV Movie) as Deputy Sheriff * '' Mr. Merlin'' (1981, TV Series, Episode: "The Cloning of The Green") as Roy Oakland * ''

'' (1981, TV Movie) as Carlson * '' Darkroom'' (1981, TV Series, Episode: "Siege of 31 August") as Colonel / Sheriff * '' Hart To Hart'' (1981, TV Series, Episode "The Hartbreak Kid") as Monty * '' Flamingo Road'' (1982, TV Series, Episode: "Old Friends") * '' McClain's Law'' (1982, TV Series, Episode: "What Patrick Doesn’t Know") * '' House Calls'' (1982, TV Series, Episode: "Ducks of Hazzard") * '' Hanky Panky'' (1982) as Pilot * '' Kiss My Grits'' (1982) as Sheriff Joe Cozy * '' Night Shift'' (1982) as Edward Koogle * '' The Executioner's Song'' (1982, TV Movie) as Val Conlan * ''

'' (1982-1988, TV Series) as Sheriff Craddock / Tom * ''

'' (1982–1986, TV Series) as Coroner Wally Nydorf * '' The Powers of Matthew Star'' (1983, TV Series, Episode: "Matthew Star D.O.A") as Donzelli * ''

'' (1983, TV Series, Episode: "Release") as Norman Wyler * '' The Fall Guy'' (1983, TV Series, Episode: "Spaced out") as Sheriff Nick Baker * '' Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land'' (1983, TV Movie) as Joe Pedowski * '' I Want To Live'' (1983, TV Movie) as Bartender * '' Curse of the Pink Panther'' (1983) as Lt. Palmyra * ''

Bay City Blues ''Bay City Blues'' is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on NBC from October 25 to November 15, 1983. The series stars Michael Nouri, Dennis Franz, and Pat Corley, and was created and produced by Steven Bochco. Eight epis ...

'' (1983-1984, TV Series) as Ray Holtz * '' Against All Odds'' (1984) as Ed Phillips * '' Calendar Girl Murders'' (1984, TV Movie) as Lt. Tony * '' Domestic Life'' (1984, TV Movie) as Coach * ''

Scorned And Swindled ''Scorned and Swindled'' is a 1984 American TV film directed by Paul Wendkos. The film score was composed by Billy Goldenberg. The film was based on a true story. Cast * Tuesday Weld * Peter Coyote * Keith Carradine * Sheree North * Fionnula Fla ...

'' (1984, TV Movie) as Ty Jenkins * ''

Hawaiian Heat ''Hawaiian Heat'' is an American drama television series. It starred Robert Ginty and Jeff McCracken. The series aired on ABC from September 14 to December 21, 1984. Overview It starred Robert Ginty and Jeff McCracken as two Chicago cops who ...

'' (1984, TV Series, Episode: "Missing In Hawaii") as Charlie * '' Simon & Simon'' (1984-1987) as Sheriff Brian McKenzie / Don Burton / Mayor K.K. Drinkman * ''

Robert Kennedy & His Times ''Robert Kennedy and His Times'' is a 1985 American television miniseries directed by Marvin J. Chomsky, based on the 1978 Robert F. Kennedy biography of the same name by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. Cast Awards and nominations See also * Cul ...

'' (1985, TV Mini-Series) as Andy McLaughlin * '' Scarecrow and Mrs. King'' (1985, TV Series, Episode "A Little Sex, A Little Scandal") as Detective Tuggey * '' Moonlighting'' (1985, TV Series) as Farley Wrye / Frankie Tate * '' Stormin' Home'' (1985, TV Movie) as Broker * '' Stark'' (1985, TV Movie) as Wichita Police Chief Waldron * '' Hardcastle and McCormick'' (1985, TV Series, Episode: "She Ain't Deep But She Sure Runs Fast") as Buzz Bird * '' Silent Witness'' (1985, TV Movie) as Brad Huffman * ''

'' (1986, TV Series, Episode: "Powder Keg") as Frank Kelso * '' Magnum, P.I.'' (1986, TV Series, Episode: "A Little Bit of Luck...A Little Bit of Grief") as Dennis Mackenzie * '' Joe Bash'' (1986, TV Series, Episode: "Tour of Duty") as Ernest Janowitz * '' Stark: Mirror Image'' (1986, TV Movie) as Wichita Police Chief Waldron * ''

Falcon Crest ''Falcon Crest'' is an American prime time television soap opera that aired for nine seasons on CBS from December 4, 1981, to May 17, 1990. The series revolves around the feuding factions of the wealthy Gioberti/Channing family in the California ...

'' (1986, TV Series, Episode: "The Stranger Within") as James Saunders * ''

'' (1986, TV Mini-Series) as Earl Duke * ''

A Year in the Life ''A Year in the Life'' is an American dramatic series that ran on NBC from September 16, 1987 to April 13, 1988, during the 1987–1988 television season, created by Joshua Brand and John Falsey. The series began as a three-part miniseries whi ...

'' (1986, TV Mini-Series) as George Bilzarian * ''

The Christmas Gift ''The Christmas Gift'' is a 1986 American made-for-television drama film starring John Denver. It was produced by Norman Rosemont, and was Denver's first acting role since '' Oh, God!'' (1977). Denver said he took the role "because it was the per ...

'' (1986, TV Movie) as Bud Sawyer * '' He's the Mayor'' (1986, TV Series) as Chief Walter Padget * ''

The Stepford Children ''The Stepford Children'' is a 1987 American made-for-television horror science fiction thriller film inspired by the Ira Levin novel '' The Stepford Wives''. It was directed by Alan J. Levi with a screenplay by Bill Bleich and starring Barb ...

'' (1987, TV Movie) as Sheriff Weston * '' L.A. Law'' (1987, TV Series, Episode: "Pigmallion") as Uncle Willard Sabrett * '' Poker Alice'' (1987, TV Movie) as Mccarthy * '' CBS Summer Playhouse'' (1987, TV Series, Episode: "Day to Day") as Bob * '' Mr. Belvedere'' (1988, TV Series, Episode: "Commentary") as Mr. Franklin * ''

J.J. Starbuck ''J.J. Starbuck'' is an American crime drama television series that aired on NBC from September 26, 1987, to June 28, 1988. The series follows cornpone-spouting Jerome Jeremiah "J.J." Starbuck, a billionaire Texan who wears ten-gallon hats, cowbo ...

'' (1988, TV Series, Episode: "Cactus Jack’s Last Call") as Cactus Jack * ''

'' (1988, TV Series, Episode "Another Day in the Life") as Otis Edwards * '' Murphy Brown'' (1988-1998, TV Series) as Phil the Bartender * '' Mr. Destiny'' (1990) as Harry Burrows * '' In Defense of a Married Man'' (1990, TV Movie) as Det. Brendan Bradley * '' Carol Leifer: Gaudy, Bawdy, and Blue'' (1992, TV Movie) as Lucky Herb * '' Saved By The Bell: Wedding In Las Vegas'' (1994, TV Movie) as Sheriff Myron Thorpe * '' Murder One'' (1995, TV Movie, Episode: "Chapter Four") as Marvin Siegalstein * '' All Dogs Go to Heaven 2'' (1996) as Officer McDowell (voice) * ''

Coach Coach may refer to: Guidance/instruction * Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities * Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process ** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers Transportation * Co ...

'' (1997, TV Series, Episode: "It’s a Swamp Thing") as Jeb * ''

When Time Expires When may refer to: * When?, one of the Five Ws, questions used in journalism * WHEN (AM), an Urban Adult Contemporary radio station in Syracuse, New York * WHEN-TV, the former call letters of TV station WTVH in Syracuse, New York Music * When ( ...

'' (1997, TV Movie) as TV car salesman, Becks Interface * '' Walking Across Egypt'' (1999) as Sheriff Tillman * '' Tom Sawyer'' (2000) as Sheriff McGee (voice) * '' Hey Arnold!'' (2002, TV Series, Episode: On the Lam/Family Man) as Mr. Camacho (voice) * ''

Purgatory Flats Purgatory (, borrowed into English via Anglo-Norman and Old French) is, according to the belief of some Christian denominations (mostly Catholic), an intermediate state after physical death for expiatory purification. The process of purgatory ...

'' (2003) as Roy * '' Come Early Morning'' (2006) as Papa (final film role)

References

External links

* *
Pat Corley
at the

University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase ''universitas magistrorum et scholarium'', which ...

'
Actors Studio audio collectionObituary at ABC News
{{DEFAULTSORT:Corley, Pat 1930 births 2006 deaths American male film actors American male voice actors American male television actors Male actors from Dallas 20th-century American male actors