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Pat O'Brien

Pat O'Brien

Actor · Died October 15, 1983, aged 83 · Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Pat O'Brien (born William Joseph Patrick O'Brien) was an American stage, screen, radio, and television actor. He was a star during the first several years of his film career, the height of his popularity being during the 1930s and 1940s.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 10, 1899
Died
October 15, 1983 (aged 83)
From
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
49 on MovieCove · 129 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Up 28% in 30 days

What are Pat O'Brien's films like?

Across their 44 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
39%
Bonds
23%
Self
18%
Power
11%
Society
5%
Survival
3%
Ideas
1%
Justice14 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception11 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 44 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 15 · Serious 19 · Dark 10

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 29 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 8 · Charged 28 · Intense 8

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 23 · Shifting 18 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 19 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 10

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 28 · Relentless 5

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 25 · Engaged 18 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 20 · Affecting 18 · Heavy 6

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 37 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

36 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 11 of 36 analyzed roles.

Hero
11 of 36
Mentor
11 of 36
Shadow
5 of 36
Ally
4 of 36
Trickster
2 of 36
Threshold guardian
2 of 36
Shapeshifter
1 of 36
Show the 36 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
30
Melancholic
18
Joyful
9
Warm
12
Absurd
9
Other
39

How their films linger

Feel-good18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy19
  • Bittersweet21
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Pat O'Brien's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 49 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Pat O'Brien's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

129 credits, 49 with a MovieCove page; 31 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The China Hustle(2017)

    as Actor in black & white film clip

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Ragtime(1981)

    as Delmas

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Scout's Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Mr. Caboose

  • WKRP in Cincinnati(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The End(1978)

    as Ben Lawson

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Billy Jack Goes to Washington(1977)

    as President of the Senate

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Kiss Me, Kill Me(1976)

    as Jimmy, the morgue attendant

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Sky's the Limit(1975)

    as Abner Therman

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Happy Days(1974)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Amanda Fallon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Emory

  • Banyon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Adventures of Nick Carter(1972)

    as Hallelujah Harry

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Welcome Home, Johnny Bristol(1972)

    as Sgt. McGll

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Alias Smith and Jones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Phynx(1970)

    as Pat O’Brien

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • McCloud(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Over-the-Hill Gang(1969)

    as Captain Oren Hayes

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Town Tamer(1965)

    as Judge Murcott

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Branded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Kraft Suspense Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Inspector Dan Zarilla · as Lt. John Curwood

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Going My Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Virginian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Doc Bigelow · as J. Jimerson Jones

  • The Road to Hong Kong(1962)

    as Chinese Restaurateur (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Babe Ruth Story: That Ever Livin' Babe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Narrator

  • The Best of the Post (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike Breen

  • Harrigan and Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 34 episodes · Actor

  • Some Like It Hot(1959)

    as Detective Mulligan

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Last Hurrah(1958)

    as John Gorman

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Kill Me Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Bart Crosbie

  • Invitation to a Gunfighter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Sheriff Kyle Bickford

  • Telephone Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Inside Detroit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Gus Linden

  • Science Fiction Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed Talbot · as Police Lieutenant · as Police Lieutenant Moore

  • Ring of Fear(1954)

    as Frank Wallace

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Jubilee Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Ernest 'Texas' Conway

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Major Irish

  • The Ford Television Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. V. Keever

  • Okinawa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Lt. Cmdr. Hale

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as John Wentworth

  • The People Against O'Hara(1951)

    as Det. Vincent Ricks

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Criminal Lawyer(1951)

    as James 'Jimmy' Regan

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Fireball (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Father O'Hara

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Barnaby · as Charley Hackett · as Eddie Gorman · as George Morrell · as Joe Crandall · as Tim Larkin

  • Johnny One-Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Martin Martin

  • A Dangerous Profession(1949)

    as Joe Farley

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Boy with Green Hair(1948)

    as Gramp Fry

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Mike Waterson

  • Ford Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Fighting Father Dunne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Father Peter J. Dunne

  • Riffraff(1947)

    as Dan Hammer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Crack-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as George Steele

  • Perilous Holiday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Patrick Nevil

  • Man Alive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Michael O'Flaherty 'Speed' McBride

  • Having Wonderful Crime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Michael J. Malone

  • Secret Command (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Sam Gallagher

  • Marine Raiders(1944)

    as Maj. Steve Lockhart

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • His Butler's Sister(1943)

    as Martin Murphy

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Iron Major (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Francis William 'Frank' / 'Cav' Cavanaugh

  • Bombardier(1943)

    as Chick Davis

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Navy Comes Through (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Chief Michael 'Mike' Mallory

  • Flight Lieutenant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Samuel J. 'Sam' Doyle

  • Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Dan McCorn

  • Two Yanks in Trinidad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Tim Reardon

  • Knute Rockne All American(1940)

    as Knute Rockne

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Flowing Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Ian 'Hap' O'Connor

  • Escape to Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mike Farrough

  • Torrid Zone(1940)

    as Steve Case

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • 'Til We Meet Again(1940)

    as Steve Burke

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Castle on the Hudson(1940)

    as Warden Walter Long

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Fighting 69th(1940)

    as Father Duffy

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Slightly Honorable(1939)

    as John Webb

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Night of Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Dan O'Farrell

  • Indianapolis Speedway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Joe Greer

  • The Kid from Kokomo(1939)

    as William Jennings 'Billy / 'Square Shooting Murph' Murphy

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Off the Record (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Thomas "Breezy" Elliott

  • Breakdowns of 1938 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Pat O'Brien (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • Angels with Dirty Faces(1938)

    as Jerry Connolly

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Garden of the Moon(1938)

    as John Quinn

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Boy Meets Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as J. Carlyle 'J.C.' Benson

  • Cowboy from Brooklyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Roy Chadwick

  • Out Where the Stars Begin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Pat O'Brien

  • Women Are Like That (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Bill Landin

  • Submarine D-1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Butch Rogers

  • Back in Circulation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Bill Morgan

  • Slim(1937)

    as Red Blayd

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • San Quentin(1937)

    as Capt. Stephen Jameson

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Great O'Malley(1937)

    as James Aloysius 'Jim' / 'Jimmy' O'Malley

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • China Clipper(1936)

    as Dave Logan

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Public Enemy's Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Lee Laird

  • I Married a Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Dr. William P. Kennicott

  • Ceiling Zero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Jake L. Lee

  • Stars Over Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Al McGillevray

  • Page Miss Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Click Wiley

  • The Irish in Us(1935)

    as Pat O'Hara

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Oil for the Lamps of China(1935)

    as Stephen Chase

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • In Caliente(1935)

    as Larry MacArthur

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Devil Dogs of the Air (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Lieut. Brannigan

  • Flirtation Walk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as "Scrapper" Thornhhill

  • I Sell Anything (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as "Spot Cash" Cutler

  • Here Comes the Navy(1934)

    as Biff Martin

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Personality Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Ritzy

  • Twenty Million Sweethearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Rush Blake

  • Gambling Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Charlie Lang

  • I've Got Your Number (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Terry Riley

  • College Coach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Coach Gore

  • Bombshell(1933)

    as Jim Brogan

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Bureau of Missing Persons(1933)

    as Detective Butch Saunders

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The World Gone Mad(1933)

    as Andy Terrell

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Destination Unknown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Matt Brennan

  • Laughter in Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Barney Slaney

  • Air Mail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Duke Talbot

  • Virtue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Jimmy Doyle

  • Flaming Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Ben Lear

  • American Madness(1932)

    as Matt Brown

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Hollywood Speaks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Jimmy Reed

  • The Strange Case of Clara Deane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Frank Deane

  • Scandal for Sale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Waddell

  • The Final Edition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Sam Bradshaw

  • Hell's House(1932)

    as Matt Kelly

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Consolation Marriage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Steve Porter

  • Flying High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Sport Wardell

  • Personal Maid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Peter Shea

  • The Front Page(1931)

    as Hildy Johnson

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Crimes Square (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Marty

  • Honor Among Lovers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Conroy (uncredited)

  • Compliments of the Season (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Police Detective (uncredited)

  • My Mistake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 128 titles from 1930 to 1981; peak year 1981.

Biggest box office

The End (1978)

$45M worldwide

Highest rated

Some Like It Hot (1959)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19301981

Peak 1981 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 9 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting128 of 128: 128 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

1930s57 · acting1940s26 · acting1950s19 · acting1960s11 · acting1970s13 · acting1980s2 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 24% of 17 roles
313651

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Pat O'Brien's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 46; across their 44 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 62nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Approval · how many liked their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Reach · how many have seen their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 44

Midcredits score across 49 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th20
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

28 of their 49 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser28
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977)

79th percentile spread · 47% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Some Like It Hot (1959)

Midcredits 99th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 43 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Pat O'Brien's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 42 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 53 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Pat O'Brien work with?

People who share at least 2 of Pat O'Brien's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Hal B. Wallis shares the most, 9.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles