Who is Patrick Duffy? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Age: 75 Years, 75 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Carlyn Rosser (m. 1974; d. 2017)

father: Terence Duffy

mother: Marie Duffy

children: Conor Duffy, Padraic Terrence Duffy

Actors American Men

Height: 6'2" (188 cm), 6'2" Males

U.S. State: Montana

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1

Is Patrick Duffy still acting?

Yes, Patrick Duffy is still active in the entertainment industry and continues to appear in various film and television projects.
2

What is Patrick Duffy known for?

Patrick Duffy is best known for his role as Bobby Ewing on the popular TV series "Dallas" and as Frank Lambert on the sitcom "Step by Step."
3

Has Patrick Duffy written any books?

Yes, Patrick Duffy has authored a book titled "Man from Atlantis," which explores his experiences in the entertainment industry and personal anecdotes.
4

Does Patrick Duffy have any upcoming projects?

As of the latest information available, Patrick Duffy is working on various projects, including guest appearances on television shows and potential film roles.
5

Has Patrick Duffy ever performed on Broadway?

Yes, Patrick Duffy has showcased his talents on Broadway in productions such as "The Boys in Autumn" and "Love Letters."

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Childhood & Early Life

Patrick Duffy was born on March 17, 1949, in Townsend, Montana to Marie and Terence Duffy. He was the second child and only son of his parents. His family ran a local tavern so he had a very humble upbringing.

At the age of 12, Duffy moved to Everett, Washington where he studied at the Cascade High School.

Being a member of the Drama Club and the Pep Club, he participated in several school dramas. His passion for acting took him to the Professional Actors Training Program at the University of Washington, Seattle where he was one of the few people selected from over 1200 applicants. He graduated with a degree in drama in 1971.

In his senior year of college, Duffy ruptured both his vocal cords so he started working as an ‘Artist-in-Residence’ for the state of Washington. Additionally he also took mime and movement classes. It was during this time he first met his wife, Carlyn Rosser, a ballet dancer, who then worked with the First Chamber Dance Company of New York.

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Career

On his wife’s insistence, Patrick Duffy moved to New York, where he worked on several Broadway plays while also working as a carpenter to earn a decent living. He worked on an Off-Broadway production of William Inge's play ‘Natural Affection’.

Duffy and his wife then moved to Los Angeles, California following Duffy’s agent’s suggestion. He continued to struggle as an actor, taking up small roles in films and TV shows while working as a florist delivery truck driver.

In 1977, Duffy finally got his breakthrough with the TV series ‘Man from Atlantis’ in which he played the role of Mark Harris, a creature from the lost island of Atlantis who is discovered by a scientist. However, the show was cancelled the following year after which he bagged his career-defining role in the soap opera ‘Dallas’.

‘Dallas’ came out in early 1978 in which Duffy played the role of the good guy, Bobby Ewing and shared screen-space with Barbara Bel Geddes and Larry Hagman. The show went on to become a phenomenal success. Duffy remained with the show till 1985 after which he decided to quit. He stated that he was bored of playing the ‘good guy’ and wanted to explore interesting options. His character was supposedly killed off to mark his end on the show.

In the subsequent year, Duffy was requested to re-join the cast of ‘Dallas’ as his exit caused a decline in the show’s ratings. His character made a comeback in the famous ‘shower scene’ where his demise was said to be a mere dream. He went on to play the role till the show finally ended in 1991.

In 1991, Duffy was cast as Frank Lambert in the comedy-drama series ‘Step by Step’ opposite Suzanne Somers. In the show, both the Duffy and Somers characters are single parents each with three kids. The two characters, being totally opposite in nature, became a minefield of punchlines which greatly appealed to the audience and the show went on for seven years.

Duffy featured in two of ‘Dallas’ reunion television movies: ‘J.R. Returns’ that came out in 1996 and ‘War of the Ewings’ which released in 1998. He was also the co-producer of both the films.

Thereafter, Duffy made short appearances in several TV shows, including ‘Touched by an Angel’ and ‘Reba’. He also lent his voice to TV series such as ‘Justice League’ and ‘Family Guy’.

Patrick Duffy joined the cast of the daytime TV drama ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ in 2006 where he played the role of Stephen Logan.

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In 2012, Duffy and his ‘Dallas’ co-stars Linda Gray and Larry Hagman reunited for a reboot of the show. In this latest version of ‘Dallas’, Duffy’s character Ewing was married to a new wife played by Brenda Strong and had a son played by Jesse Metcalfe. His sibling rivalry with evil brother J.R., played by Larry Hagman continued in this show too. Tragically, just months after the new show went on floors, Larry Hagman passed away after suffering from cancer.

He once again reprised his role of Bobby Ewing in the documentary ‘Hotel Dallas’. The movie premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2016.

Personal Life & Legacy

Patrick Duffy married Carlyn Rosser in a Buddhist ceremony on February 15, 1974. Carlyn was ten years senior to him. Together the couple has two children, Padraic and Conor.

Rosser introduced him to Buddhism and he has been practising the same for the past three decades. She passed away on January 23, 2017.

In 1986, Duffy suffered a tragedy wherein his parents were murdered by two teenaged thieves in an incident of armed theft in Boulder, Montana. The two murderers were captured and brought to trial and were sentenced to 75 years of imprisonment.

Facts About Patrick Duffy

Patrick Duffy is an accomplished handball player and even competed in the sport at a national level before pursuing his acting career.

He holds a degree in drama from the University of Washington and has a passion for the performing arts that extends beyond his television roles.

In addition to his acting talents, Duffy is known for his philanthropic work, supporting various charitable causes throughout his career.

He is an avid environmentalist and has been involved in initiatives to promote sustainability and protect the planet.

Despite his iconic role as Bobby Ewing on "Dallas," Patrick Duffy is also recognized for his diverse range of acting roles in both television and film.

Patrick Duffy Biography

You wanted to know

Is Patrick Duffy still acting?

What is Patrick Duffy known for?

Has Patrick Duffy written any books?

Does Patrick Duffy have any upcoming projects?

Has Patrick Duffy ever performed on Broadway?