Pat O'Brien
ActingAbout Pat O'Brien
Pat O'Brien (born William Joseph Patrick O'Brien) was an American stage, screen, radio, and television actor. He was a star during the first several years of his film career, the height of his popularity being during the 1930s and 1940s.
Pat O'Brien Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Pat O'Brien reflects a strong mix of popular and critically appreciated roles. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Pat O'Brien's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 64% of Pat O'Brien's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains James Cagney: That Yankee Doodle Dandy, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Pat O'Brien Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Pat O'Brien's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Pat O'Brien has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2005 | Angels with Dirty Faces: Whaddya Hear? Whaddya Say? | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1983 | Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | James Cagney: That Yankee Doodle Dandy | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | Ragtime | Delmas | Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | Scout's Honor | Mr. Caboose | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Billy Jack Goes to Washington | President of the Senate | Average | Similar → |
| 1976 | Kiss Me... Kill Me | Jimmy, the morgue attendant | Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | Welcome Home, Johnny Bristol | Sgt. McGll | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | Town Tamer | Judge Murcott | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | I Captured the King of the Leprechauns | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Some Like It Hot | Detective Mulligan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | The Last Hurrah | John Gorman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Criminal Lawyer | James 'Jimmy' Regan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | The Boy with Green Hair | Gramp Fry | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | Blow-Ups of 1947 | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | Riff-Raff | Dan Hammer | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | Having Wonderful Crime | Michael J. Malone | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Secret Command | Sam Gallagher | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Marine Raiders | Maj. Steve Lockhart | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | His Butler's Sister | Martin Murphy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Flight Lieutenant | Samuel J. 'Sam' Doyle | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | Breakdowns of 1941 | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Knute Rockne All American | Knute Rockne | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Flowing Gold | Ian 'Hap' O'Connor | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Torrid Zone | Steve Case | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | 'Til We Meet Again | Steve Burke | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Castle on the Hudson | Warden Walter Long | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Breakdowns of 1939 | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Angels with Dirty Faces | Jerry Connolly | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Garden of the Moon | John Quinn | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | Boy Meets Girl | J. Carlyle 'J.C.' Benson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Out Where the Stars Begin | Pat O'Brien | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Slim | Red Blayd | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | San Quentin | Capt. Stephen Jameson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | The Great O'Malley | James Aloysius 'Jim' / 'Jimmy' O'Malley | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Page Miss Glory | Click Wiley | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | The Irish in Us | Pat O'Hara | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Oil for the Lamps of China | Stephen Chase | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | In Caliente | Larry MacArthur | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | Devil Dogs of the Air | Lieut. Brannigan | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Gambling Lady | Charlie Lang | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | I've Got Your Number | Terry Riley | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Bombshell | Jim Brogan | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | Virtue | Jimmy Doyle | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | American Madness | Matt Brown | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | Scandal for Sale | Waddell | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | Consolation Marriage | Steve Porter | Average | Similar → |
| 1931 | The Front Page | Hildy Johnson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1930 | Compliments of the Season | Police Detective (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
Pat O'Brien - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Pat O'Brien?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Pat O'Brien is "James Cagney: That Yankee Doodle Dandy" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Pat O'Brien acted in?
Pat O'Brien has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Pat O'Brien?
Other notable films include "I Captured the King of the Leprechauns", "You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story", and "Angels with Dirty Faces: Whaddya Hear? Whaddya Say?".