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 CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...

sitcom ''

Murphy Brown ''Murphy Brown'' is an American television sitcom created by Diane English that premiered on November 14, 1988, on CBS. The series stars Candice Bergen as the eponymous Murphy Brown, a famous investigative journalist and news anchor for ''FYI'' ...

'' from 1988 to 1996. He also had a recurring role as Chief Coroner Wally Nydorf on the television drama '' Hill Street Blues'' (1981–87) and supporting roles in a number of films, including '' Night Shift'' (1982), '' Against All Odds'' (1984), and '' Mr. Destiny'' (1990).

Early life

Corley was born Cleo Pat Corley in Dallas, Texas, 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 re ...

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 The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, ...

during the Korean War, 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 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 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 Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

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 founded ...

, 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 numerous accolades: including an Academy Award, two Tony Awards, and two Primetime Emmy A ...

and James Earl Jones in the Off-Broadway play ''The Peace Creeps''. In the 1970s, Corley appeared in several Broadway productions including '' Of Mice and Men'' with James Earl Jones 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 Award ...

. 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 ''The Super Cops'' is a 1974 action adventure film directed by Gordon Parks and starring Ron Leibman and David Selby. The film is based on the book ''The Super Cops: The True Story of the Cops Called Batman and Robin'' by L. H. Whittemore. The ...

'' 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 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 ''Get Christie Love!'' is an American crime drama TV series starring Teresa Graves as an undercover African-American female detective which originally aired on ABC from January 22, 1974, until April 5, 1975. The starring television role made Gra ...

'' 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 th ...

'', ''

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 o ...

'', '' Hill Street Blues'', '' Hart to Hart'', '' St. Elsewhere'', ''

Simon & Simon ''Simon & Simon'' is an American crime drama television series that originally ran from November 24, 1981, to September 16, 1989. The series was broadcast on CBS, and starred Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker as two disparate brothers who operat ...

'', ''

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 seri ...

'', '' 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'', '' Moonlighting'', ''

L.A. Law ''L.A. Law'' is an American legal drama television series that ran for eight seasons on NBC, from September 15, 1986, to May 19, 1994. Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it centers on the partners, associates and staff of a Los ...

'', and ''

Hey Arnold! ''Hey Arnold!'' is an American animated comedy television series created by Craig Bartlett. It originally aired on Nickelodeon from October 7, 1996, to June 8, 2004. The show centers on fourth grader Arnold Shortman, who lives with his grandpar ...

''. Corley also had roles in two mini-series, ''

Roots A root is the part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors the plant body, and absorbs and stores water and nutrients. Root or roots may also refer to: Art, entertainment, and media * ''The Root'' (magazine), an online magazine focusing ...

'' and '' Fresno''. He provided the voice of Sheriff McGee in ''

Tom Sawyer Thomas Sawyer () is the titular character of the Mark Twain novel ''The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'' (1876). He appears in three other novels by Twain: ''Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' (1884), ''Tom Sawyer Abroad'' (1894), and ''Tom Sawyer, Dete ...

'' (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, an ...

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 ...

in Los Angeles, California. His wife, actress Iris Corley, had died the year prior.

Filmography

* ''

'' (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 * ''

'' (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 ''The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training'' is a 1977 American sports comedy-drama film and a sequel to the 1976 feature film '' The Bad News Bears''. Plot This film picks up the Bears' career a year after their infamous second-place finish i ...

'' (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 ''A Death in Canaan'' is a 1978 American made-for-television drama film directed by Tony Richardson and starring Stefanie Powers, Paul Clemens, and Brian Dennehy.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 th ...

'' (1978, TV Series, Episode: "Moonshine") as Ben Meadows * '' The Paper Chase'' (1978, TV Series, Episode: "The Seating Chart") as Plumber * '' The Amazing Spider-Man'' (1978, TV Series, Episode: "The Con Caper") as IFMM receptionist * '' And I Alone Survived'' (1978, TV Movie) as Kaminsky * '' Family'' (1979, TV Series) as "Driver" / "Umpire" * ''

The Best Place To Be ''The Best Place to Be'' is a 1979 American TV film produced by Ross Hunter. It marked Donna Reed's return to acting after 13 years. Hunter planned a sequel but this did not eventuate. Plot A widowed mother has an affair with a younger man. Cas ...

'' (1979, TV Movie) * ''

Nightwing Nightwing is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character has appeared in various incarnations; the identity was adopted by Dick Grayson when he left his role as Batman's vigilante partner Robin. Although ...

'' (1979) as Vet * ''

The Onion Field ''The Onion Field'' is a 1973 nonfiction book by Joseph Wambaugh, a sergeant for the Los Angeles Police Department, chronicling the kidnapping of two plainclothes LAPD officers by a pair of criminals during a traffic stop and the subsequent m ...

'' (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 ''The Two Worlds of Jennie Logan'' is a 1979 American made-for-television drama film adapted from David L. Williams' 1978 novel ''Second Sight''. The film stars Lindsay Wagner in the title role. It also stars Marc Singer, Linda Gray, Alan Feins ...

'' (1979, TV Movie) as Realtor * '' The Rose'' (1979) as Police Chief Morrison * '' The Gift'' (1979, TV Movie) * '' The Waltons'' (1980, TV Series, Episode: "The Idol") as The Bartender * '' Lou Grant'' (1979-1980, TV Series) as Organizer * ''

The Black Marble ''The Black Marble'' is a 1980 mystery/romantic comedy film directed by Harold Becker and starring Robert Foxworth, Paula Prentiss and Harry Dean Stanton. It is based on the 1978 novel by Joseph Wambaugh. Plot Pragmatic Sgt. Natalie Zimmerman ...

'' (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 feels d ...

'' (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 ''Mr. Merlin'' is an American sitcom that ran for one season, from 1981 to 1982, about Merlin the wizard (played by Barnard Hughes), who is immortal, living in modern-day San Francisco, and disguised as Max Merlin, a mechanic. ''Mr. Merlin'' was ...

'' (1981, TV Series, Episode: "The Cloning of The Green") as Roy Oakland * '' Of Mice and Men'' (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 ''McClain's Law'' is an American crime drama television series that aired on NBC during the 1981–1982 season. New episodes ended on March 20, and rebroadcasts continued until August 24, 1982. Summary The series starred former ''Gunsmoke'' lea ...

'' (1982, TV Series, Episode: "What Patrick Doesn’t Know") * ''

House Calls A house call is medical consultation performed by a doctor or other healthcare professionals visiting the home of a patient or client, instead of the patient visiting the doctor's clinic or hospital. In some locations, families used to pay du ...

'' (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 ''The Executioner's Song'' (1979) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning true crime novel by Norman Mailer that depicts the events related to the execution of Gary Gilmore for murder by the state of Utah. The title of the book may be a play on "The Lord H ...

'' (1982, TV Movie) as Val Conlan * ''

'' (1982-1988, TV Series) as Sheriff Craddock / Tom * '' Hill Street Blues'' (1982–1986, TV Series) as Coroner Wally Nydorf * ''

The Powers of Matthew Star ''The Powers of Matthew Star'' is an American sci-fi television series that aired on NBC on Friday evenings from September 17, 1982 until April 8, 1983. It starred Peter Barton as the title character, the alien prince Matthew "E'Hawke" Star of ...

'' (1983, TV Series, Episode: "Matthew Star D.O.A") as Donzelli * '' St. Elsewhere'' (1983, TV Series, Episode: "Release") as Norman Wyler * ''

The Fall Guy ''The Fall Guy'' is an American action/adventure television series produced for ABC and originally broadcast from November 4, 1981, to May 2, 1986. It starred Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, and Heather Thomas as Hollywood stunt performers who moon ...

'' (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 ''Curse of the Pink Panther'' is a 1983 comedy film and a continuation of ''The Pink Panther'' series of films created by Blake Edwards in the early 1960s. The film was one of two produced concurrently following the death of the series' star Pe ...

'' (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 episode ...

'' (1983-1984, TV Series) as Ray Holtz * '' Against All Odds'' (1984) as Ed Phillips * ''

Calendar Girl Murders ''Calendar Girl Murders'' is a 1984 television movie directed by William A. Graham and starred Tom Skerritt and Sharon Stone, who played the part of photographer Cassie Bascomb. Plot Millionaire publisher Richard Trainor (Robert Culp) is celebra ...

'' (1984, TV Movie) as Lt. Tony * ''

Domestic Life Domestic may refer to: In the home * Anything relating to the human home or family ** A domestic animal, one that has undergone domestication ** A domestic appliance, or home appliance ** A domestic partnership ** Domestic science, sometimes cal ...

'' (1984, TV Movie) as Coach * '' Scorned And Swindled'' (1984, TV Movie) as Ty Jenkins * '' Hawaiian Heat'' (1984, TV Series, Episode: "Missing In Hawaii") as Charlie * ''

'' (1984-1987) as Sheriff Brian McKenzie / Don Burton / Mayor K.K. Drinkman * '' Robert Kennedy & His Times'' (1985, TV Mini-Series) as Andy McLaughlin * ''

Scarecrow and Mrs. King ''Scarecrow and Mrs. King'' is an American television series that aired from October 3, 1983, to September 10, 1987, on CBS. The show starred Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner, as divorced housewife Amanda King and top-level "Agency" operative ...

'' (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 ''Silent Witness'' is a British crime drama television series produced by the BBC, which focuses on a team of forensic pathology experts and their investigations into various crimes. First broadcast in 1996, the series was created by Nigel M ...

'' (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 ''Joe Bash'' is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on ABC from March 28 to May 10, 1986. Starring Peter Boyle as a weary and embittered New York City Police Department beat cop, it was created by Danny Arnold following his sitcom ...

'' (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 * '' Fresno'' (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 wh ...

'' (1986, TV Mini-Series) as George Bilzarian * '' The Christmas Gift'' (1986, TV Movie) as Bud Sawyer * ''

He's the Mayor ''He's the Mayor'' is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from January 10 to March 21, 1986. It stars Kevin Hooks as a 25-year-old man who is elected mayor of his hometown. Cast and characters *Kevin Hooks as Mayor Carl Burke *Al Fann as Alvin ...

'' (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 Barbara ...

'' (1987, TV Movie) as Sheriff Weston * ''

'' (1987, TV Series, Episode: "Pigmallion") as Uncle Willard Sabrett * '' Poker Alice'' (1987, TV Movie) as Mccarthy * ''

CBS Summer Playhouse ''CBS Summer Playhouse'' is an American anthology series that ran from June 12, 1987 to August 22, 1989 on CBS. It aired unsold television pilots during the summer season. Overview Tim Reid and Daphne Maxwell Reid acted as hosts during the first ...

'' (1987, TV Series, Episode: "Day to Day") as Bob * ''

Mr. Belvedere ''Mr. Belvedere'' is an American sitcom that originally aired on ABC from March 15, 1985, to July 8, 1990. The series is based on the Lynn Aloysius Belvedere character created by Gwen Davenport for her 1947 novel ''Belvedere'', which was later ...

'' (1988, TV Series, Episode: "Commentary") as Mr. Franklin * '' J.J. Starbuck'' (1988, TV Series, Episode: "Cactus Jack’s Last Call") as Cactus Jack * '' Night Court'' (1988, TV Series, Episode "Another Day in the Life") as Otis Edwards * ''

'' (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 ''All Dogs Go to Heaven 2'' is a 1996 American animated musical fantasy adventure film, and a sequel to Goldcrest Films' animated film ''All Dogs Go to Heaven'' (1989). Produced by MGM/UA Family Entertainment and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Animation ...

'' (1996) as Officer McDowell (voice) * '' Coach'' (1997, TV Series, Episode: "It’s a Swamp Thing") as Jeb * '' When Time Expires'' (1997, TV Movie) as TV car salesman, Becks Interface * ''

Walking Across Egypt ''Walking Across Egypt'' is a 1999 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman and written by Paul Tamasy, based on Clyde Edgerton's novel of the same name. The film stars Ellen Burstyn, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Mar ...

'' (1999) as Sheriff Tillman * ''

'' (2000) as Sheriff McGee (voice) * ''

'' (2002, TV Series, Episode: On the Lam/Family Man) as Mr. Camacho (voice) * '' Purgatory Flats'' (2003) as Roy * ''

Come Early Morning ''Come Early Morning'' is a 2006 American film starring Ashley Judd and Jeffrey Donovan. It marked the directorial debut of Joey Lauren Adams. The film was shot throughout the metropolitan Little Rock, Arkansas area including Pulaski Heights, and ...

'' (2006) as Papa (final film role)

References

External links

* *
Pat Corley
at the University of Wisconsin'
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