Patrick Barry Sullivan was born on August 29, 1912, in New York City. Despite never achieving major stardom, he established himself as a well-known and highly regarded character lead and second lead in motion pictures and television over a 50-year career. Legend has it that Sullivan was advised to consider a life in the theater due to his height (6'3") and good looks.
Sullivan began his acting career as a theater usher and department store employee, making his Broadway debut in "I Want a Policeman" at the Lyceum Theatre in January 1936. Unfortunately, the show only lasted 47 performances. In 1936, he appeared in three other plays on the Great White Way, including the dramas "St. Helena" and the comedies "All That Glitters" and "Eye On the Sparrow." All three were flops.
Sullivan finally found success in 1941 when he transferred into the role of Bert Jefferson in The Man Who Came to Dinner, a hit play by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman. However, the 1941-42 season brought three more flops, including "Mr. Big," "Ring Around Elizabeth," and "Johnny 2 X 4." Wisely, he stayed away from Broadway for a decade, reappearing in the hit play "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial" in 1954, taking over the role of Barney Greenwald from Henry Fonda.
Sullivan's talent was meant for the screen, and he began to focus on film acting in the late 1930s, gaining experience in two-reel comedies produced by the Manhattan-based Educational Studios. After giving up on his Broadway career, Sullivan moved to Hollywood and appeared in an uncredited bit part in "The Green Hornet Strikes Again!" (1940) at Universal before making his official film debut in the Chester Morris B-picture "High Explosive" (1943) at Paramount.
Sullivan never broke through to become a major star, but he established himself firmly in character lead and second lead roles, exceling at roles that showcased his centered masculinity. His most notable roles in the early part of his movie career included "The Gangster" (1947),Tom Buchanan in the Alan Ladd version of "The Great Gatsby" (1949),and as the movie director in "The Bad and the Beautiful" (1952).
Sullivan had his own TV series, "Harbourmaster" (1957),and "The Tall Man" (1960),and continued acting in movies until 1977, rounding off a near 40-year movie career with an appearance in "Oh, God!" (1977). He continued to appear periodically on television until retiring in 1980.
Sullivan was married three times and fathered three children, including Johnny and Jenny Sullivan by his first wife, and Patsy Sullivan-Webb by his second wife, Gita Hall. The Sullivan talent has run into three generations, with Jenny Sullivan becoming an actress and a playwright, and Patsy Sullivan-Webb becoming a successful model.
Sullivan died of a respiratory ailment on June 6, 1994, in Sherman Oaks, California, at the age of 81.
