Pat Flaherty's remarkable life journey began with his military service during the Mexican border campaign in 1916, followed by a stint as a flying officer for the Signal Corps in World War I. After his military service, he pursued a career in professional sports, playing baseball in the minor leagues for various teams in Des Moines, San Francisco, Shreveport, Indianapolis, Akron, and other cities.
As his sports career progressed, he made a successful transition to professional football, playing for the Chicago Bears in 1923. However, after his sports career came to an end, he ventured to New York, where he found immense success with the DeSylva-Brown music publishing company. It was during this time that he married Dorothea X. Fugazy, the daughter of a renowned boxing promoter.
The couple's life took a dramatic turn when Pat moved to Hollywood in 1930 to work as a producer for Joseph P. Kennedy at Fox Films. Unfortunately, the Great Depression led to his position being eliminated, and he turned his attention to acting. His breakthrough role came in 1937 when he played a plainclothes detective in the film A Day at the Races, alongside the legendary comedian Groucho Marx.
Pat's distinctive clipped East Coast accent and gruff demeanor often led to him being cast in roles such as tough cops, prison guards, foremen, or other authority figures. In addition to his acting career, he also worked as a technical advisor on baseball pictures, famously teaching Gary Cooper how to pitch for his role in The Pride of the Yankees (1942).
During World War II, Pat received a commission in the Marine Corps and served with distinction. He also saw action in the Korean War, ultimately being discharged with the rank of major. Throughout his life, Pat Flaherty's versatility, determination, and impressive career trajectory made him a remarkable individual with a rich and storied past.
