Patrick Duffy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patrick Duffy
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Duffy in 2013
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| Born | March 17, 1949 Townsend, Montana, U.S.
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| Education | University of Washington (AB) |
| Occupation | Actor, director, television personality |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Known for | Bobby Ewing – Dallas |
| Spouse(s) |
Carlyn Rosser
(m. 1974; died 2017) |
| Partner(s) | Linda Purl (2020–present) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Barry Zito (nephew) |
Patrick Duffy (born March 17, 1949) is an American actor and director. He is famous for playing Bobby Ewing in the TV show Dallas from 1978 to 1991. He also returned to play Bobby in a new version of Dallas that aired from 2012 to 2014.
Patrick Duffy is also well-known for his role as Frank Lambert in the ABC sitcom Step by Step (1991–1998). More recently, he played Stephen Logan in the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful (2006–2011, 2022, 2023). In 2014, he was the lead character's father in the NBC sitcom Welcome to Sweden.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Patrick Duffy was born in Townsend, Montana, in 1949. His parents, Marie and Terence Duffy, owned a tavern. Patrick has Irish family roots.
When he was in high school, Duffy lived in Everett, Washington. He went to Cascade High School. There, he was active in the Drama Club and was a "Yell King" for the Pep Club.
In 1971, Duffy graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in drama. After college, he worked as an actor-in-residence. He helped interpret for ballet, opera, and orchestra groups in Washington. He also taught classes on mime and movement. His sister, who was a champion diver, helped him learn swimming techniques that were useful for his first big acting job.
Acting Career Highlights
Patrick Duffy started his acting career in the early 1970s. One of his first appearances was in a Taco Bell commercial. In 1977, he got the part of Mark Harris in the TV series Man from Atlantis. This show was about a man who could breathe underwater.
Starring in Dallas
After Man from Atlantis ended, Duffy got his big break in 1978. He was cast as Bobby Ewing in the prime-time soap opera Dallas. He starred alongside Barbara Bel Geddes and Larry Hagman. The show became very popular all over the world.
In 1985, Duffy decided to leave Dallas, and his character, Bobby, was written off the show. However, both the show's popularity and his own career started to slow down. So, in 1986, he returned to Dallas in a very famous scene. This scene showed that the entire 1985–1986 season had all been "just a dream." Duffy stayed with the series until it ended in 1991. He also appeared in a few episodes of the spin-off show Knots Landing. During his time on Dallas, Duffy also directed many episodes.
Music and Other TV Roles
Besides acting, Patrick Duffy also tried singing. In 1983, he had a hit song in Europe called Together We're Strong. It was a duet with French singer Mireille Mathieu. The song reached number 5 in the Netherlands.
After Dallas finished in 1991, Duffy started another TV role. He played Frank Lambert in the family sitcom Step by Step. He starred in this show with Suzanne Somers. The series ran until 1998, and Duffy also directed many episodes of it.
In the 1990s, he appeared in two Dallas reunion TV movies: J.R. Returns (1996) and War of the Ewings (1998). He helped produce both of these films. He has often reunited with his Dallas co-stars, including for a TV special called Dallas Reunion: Return to Southfork in 2004.
Duffy has also done guest appearances and voice acting. He appeared in an episode of Family Guy and lent his voice to shows like Justice League and Touched by an Angel. He also starred in TV movies such as Falling in Love With the Girl Next Door and Desolation Canyon.
From 2006, he had a regular role on the daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful as Stephen Logan. From 2008, he hosted Bingo America, a game show on GSN.
Patrick Duffy returned to play Bobby Ewing again in the new Dallas series on TNT. This show aired from 2012 to 2014.
Personal Life
Patrick Duffy married Carlyn Rosser, a professional ballerina, in 1974. She was 13 years older than him. Carlyn danced with the First Chamber Dance Company of New York. Her nephew is former Major League Baseball pitcher Barry Zito.
The Duffys lived near Eagle Point, Oregon, and had two sons, Padraic (born 1974) and Conor (born around 1980).
Patrick Duffy became a Buddhist after his wife introduced him to the religion. He and his family are members of the Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai International.
Patrick Duffy's wife, Carlyn Rosser, passed away in 2017. In 2020, he started a relationship with actress Linda Purl.
Images for kids
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Duffy in 2013
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Duffy as Mark Harris in Man from Atlantis
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Duffy at the 2009 Daytime Emmy Awards
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Duffy with Linda Gray at the 2013 Monte-Carlo Television Festival
See also
In Spanish: Patrick Duffy para niños
