Patricia Breslin

Patricia Breslin

Breslin in a 1951 headshot
Born Patricia Rose Breslin
(1931-03-17)March 17, 1931
New York City, New York, U.S.
Died October 12, 2011(2011-10-12) (aged 80)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Cause of death Complications from pancreatitis
Alma mater College of New Rochelle
Occupation Actress
Years active 1949–1969
Spouse(s) David Orrick McDearmon (m. 1953–69)
Art Modell (m. 1969–2011)
Children 2

Patricia Rose Breslin (March 17, 1931 – October 12, 2011) was an American actress and philanthropist. She had a prominent career in television, which included recurring roles as Amanda Miller on The People's Choice (1955–58), and as Laura Harrington Brooks on Peyton Place (1964–65).[1] She also appeared in Go, Man, Go! (1954), and the William Castle horror films Homicidal (1961) and I Saw What You Did (1964).

In 1969, Breslin married NFL mogul Art Modell, and became a well-known philanthropist while living in both Cleveland, Ohio and Baltimore, Maryland, donating millions of dollars to various educational, health, and art organizations, including the SEED Foundation of Maryland and the Baltimore Museum of Art. She also helped open the Hospice of the Western Reserve at the Cleveland Clinic.

Early life

Patricia Rose Breslin was born in New York City, one of three children born to Edward (a judge) and Marjorie Breslin.[2][3] Her father was a Catholic of Irish descent and her mother was of Scottish descent.[2] Breslin was raised in the Parkchester neighborhood of the Southeast Bronx.[4] She graduated from the Academy of Mount St. Ursula High School in the Bronx before attending the College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, New York.[3]

Career

In 1954, she guest-starred with Peter Mark Richman in an episode of NBC's legal drama, Justice, as a woman threatened by hoodlums.[5] The same year, she appeared in a supporting role as Sylvia Franklin Saperstein in the sports film Go, Man, Go! (1954), opposite Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier, and the Harlem Globetrotters.[6]

The following year, in 1955, Breslin was cast in an episode of the CBS anthology series Appointment with Adventure, a series with neither a host nor a regular star. From 1955 to 1958, Breslin co-starred with Jackie Cooper as his girlfriend and then wife in the NBC sitcom, The People's Choice.

Between 1960 and 1963 Breslin made three guest appearances on CBS's Perry Mason, and was cast as the defendant in all three episodes. In 1960 she played Karen Lewis in "The Case of the Lavender Lipstick." In 1962 she played Karen Ross in "The Case of the Poison Pen-Pal," and in 1963 as Laura Hewes in "The Case of the Prankish Professor."

In 1960, she played the newlywed wife of William Shatner's character in CBS's The Twilight Zone episode "Nick of Time" and also in the 1963 Twilight Zone episode "No Time Like the Past", in which she portrayed Abigail Sloan.[7]

In 1960, she guest starred on the short-lived David McLean western series, Tate, which aired on NBC. She appeared on Nick Adams' ABC western, The Rebel and with Jack Lord in his ABC adventure series, Stoney Burke. Thereafter, Breslin played the role of Anne Mitchell, along with co-stars Ralph Bellamy and Paul Fix, in the 1961 episode "The Haven" of CBS's anthology series, The DuPont Show with June Allyson.

She returned to film in 1961, starring in William Castle's horror film Homicidal, and would later work with him again on the thriller I Saw What You Did (1964). In 1964, she was cast in the role of Laura Brooks on the ABC prime time soap opera Peyton Place. She also played the role of Meg Baldwin in the ABC soap opera General Hospital from 1966 to 1969.[7]

Personal life

Breslin married former Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens NFL team owner and advertising and business executive Art Modell in 1969.[1] Breslin had two sons from her first marriage to character actor David Orrick McDearmon (1914–1979),[7] sons John and David. Shortly after their marriage, Modell legally adopted Patricia's sons and they took his surname. The family lived in Waite Hill, Ohio, then later Owings Mills, Maryland with a total of six grandchildren between them.

Philanthropy

Breslin became a well-known philanthropist in both Cleveland, Ohio, as well as Baltimore, Maryland after relocating to the city in 1995. She and husband Modell donated $5 million to the SEED School of Maryland, a public boarding school for disadvantaged junior high and high school students from around the state.[8] They also donated $3.5 million to help restore the Lyric Opera House, and Breslin served on the boards of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Walters Art Museum, and also donated to the Baltimore Museum of Art.

In Cleveland, she helped start the Hospice of the Western Reserve at the Cleveland Clinic, and supported the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. She was also active in the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Cleveland Musical Arts Association, the Cleveland Ballet, the Playhouse Square Foundation, and the Cerebral Palsy Association.[8]

Death

Breslin died on October 12, 2011,[9] at the age of eighty after a lengthy hospitalization with pancreatitis.[3] Her funeral was offered at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore, Maryland. Her husband, Art Modell had been a major contributor to the restoration of the basilica.[10] Breslin died five months after the passing of her The People's Choice co-star, Jackie Cooper.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1952 Faith Is a Nine-Letter Word Television film
1953 Man Against Pain Television film
1954 Go, Man, Go! Sylvia Franklin Saperstein
1958 Andy Hardy Comes Home Jane Hardy
1961 Homicidal Miriam Webster
1964 I Saw What You Did Ellie Mannering

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1952 Broadway Television Theatre Rebecca 1 episode
1953 The Goldbergs Dora Barnett 1 episode
1954 Armstrong Circle Theatre Jeannie McTavish 2 episodes
1954 The Telltale Clue Sally Bell 1 episode
1955 The Best of Broadway Elaine Harper 1 episode
1955 Appointment with Adventure Sally 1 episode
1955–58 The People's Choice Amanda 'Mandy' Peoples Miller 104 episodes
1958 Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Julia Heyton 1 episode
1958 Alcoa Theatre June Dunlap 1 episode
1959 Maverick Alice Appleton / Abigail Allen 1 episode
1959 The Millionaire Susan Ballard 1 episode
1960 Hotel de Paree Ellie Graham 1 episode
1960 Tate Jessica Jackson 1 episode
1960 Outlaws Julie Kittrick 1 episode
1960 The Detectives Jean Graham 1 episode
1961 The Rifleman Cora Seevers 1 episode
1961 The DuPont Show with June Allyson Anne Mitchell 1 episode
1961 The Rebel Elizabeth Purdy 1 episode
1961 The New Breed Ruth Wollock 1 episode
1961 Tales of Wells Fargo Theresa Coburn 1 episode
1962 The Donna Reed Show Millie 1 episode
1962 Adventures in Paradise Lorraine Maybery 1 episode
1958–1962 Alfred Hitchcock Presents 3 episodes
1962 Thriller Dinah Duffay 1 episode
1962 Bonanza Susan Blanchard 1 episode
1962 Stoney Burke Lee Anne Hewitt 1 episode
1962 Saints and Sinners Nancy Rogers 1 episode
1960–63Perry Mason Laura Hewes / Karen Ross / Karen Lewis 3 episodes
1960–63 The Twilight Zone Abigail Sloan / Pat Carter 2 episodes
1963 The Dick Powell Theatre Susan Baird 1 episode
1963 Arrest and Trial Elizabeth Forellen 1 episode
1963 Dr. Kildare Marion French 1 episode
1964 Insight Maria 1 episode
1964 The Greatest Show on Earth Lisa 1 episode
1962–64The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Doris Parkerson / Linda Mallory 2 episodes
1964 The Virginian Mary Ann Martin 1 episode
1964 Death Valley Days Nancy 1 episode
1964–65 Peyton Place Laura Harrington Brooks 30 episodes
1966 General Hospital Meg Bentley, R.N. 2 episodes

References

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