Actor. His career spanned nearly 60 years and 400 films. Brawny and athletic, he was at his peak during the silent era as a leading man in romantic melodramas or playing rugged Irish heroes in outdoor films. His biggest hits were "The Heart of Humanity" (1919), "My Wild Irish Rose" (1922), "The Virginian" (1923), and "The Eternal Struggle" (1923). Patrick O'Malley was born in Forest City, Pennsylvania. Entering films in 1908 after some youthful experience as a circus performer, he became a star at the Kalem studio and was later a top matinee idol for Universal. He married actress Lillian Wilkes in 1915. With the arrival of talkies he was demoted to character parts and then unbilled bits, though he continued to work steadily until his death. Among his many other credits are "The Papered Door" (1911), "Sherry" (1920), "Alibi" (1929), "The Mystery of the Wax Museum" (1933), "The Man on the Flying Trapeze" (1935), "Lassie Come Home" (1943), "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956), "Days of Wine and Roses" (1962), "Apache Rifles" (1964), and episodes of the TV series "Thriller" and "The Twilight Zone". He is not to be confused with British-born comic actor J. Pat O'Malley.
Actor. His career spanned nearly 60 years and 400 films. Brawny and athletic, he was at his peak during the silent era as a leading man in romantic melodramas or playing rugged Irish heroes in outdoor films. His biggest hits were "The Heart of Humanity" (1919), "My Wild Irish Rose" (1922), "The Virginian" (1923), and "The Eternal Struggle" (1923). Patrick O'Malley was born in Forest City, Pennsylvania. Entering films in 1908 after some youthful experience as a circus performer, he became a star at the Kalem studio and was later a top matinee idol for Universal. He married actress Lillian Wilkes in 1915. With the arrival of talkies he was demoted to character parts and then unbilled bits, though he continued to work steadily until his death. Among his many other credits are "The Papered Door" (1911), "Sherry" (1920), "Alibi" (1929), "The Mystery of the Wax Museum" (1933), "The Man on the Flying Trapeze" (1935), "Lassie Come Home" (1943), "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers" (1956), "Days of Wine and Roses" (1962), "Apache Rifles" (1964), and episodes of the TV series "Thriller" and "The Twilight Zone". He is not to be confused with British-born comic actor J. Pat O'Malley.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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