Often confused with the Britishborn comic actor J Pat OMalley who is the better remembered silent dramatic film star Pat OMalley had an enduring career that stands on its own He was of solid IrishAmerican stock born in Forest City Pennsylvania in 1890 A onetime railroad switchman he also had circus experience by the time he discovered an interest in movie making He began with the Kalem Studio in 1913 and appeared in a few Irish films before signing on with Thomas Edisons company in 1914 The following year he married actress Lillian Wilkes and three of their children Eileen Mary Katherine and Sheila would become actors as well His brother Charles OMalley was a sometime actor appearing in westerns on occasion His first identifiable film is The Alien 1913 He began freelancing in 1916 and from then on appeared in scores of silents as both a rugged and romantic lead some classic films being The Heart of Humanity 1918 My Wild Irish Rose 1922 and The Virginian 1923 He did not age well come sound pictures and he was quickly relegated to supporting parts He appeared in hundreds upon hundreds of bits mostly unbilled until 1956 when he retired He died a decade later
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