Patricia Breslin

Patricia Breslin
Breslin in a 1951 headshot
Born Patricia Rose Breslin
(1925-03-17)March 17, 1925
New York City, U.S.
Died October 12, 2011(2011-10-12) (aged 86)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Alma mater College of New Rochelle
Occupation Actress
Years active 1949–1969
Spouse(s)
David Orrick McDearmon
(m. 1953; div. 1969)

Art Modell
(m. 1969; her death 2011)
Children 2

Patricia Rose Breslin (March 17, 1925 – 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 York State.[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, 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 was also in the 1963 Twilight Zone episode "No Time Like the Past", in which she portrayed Abigail Sloan.

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 later worked 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 primetime soap opera Peyton Place. She also played the role of Meg Baldwin in the ABC soap opera General Hospital from 1966 to 1969.

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, 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, and 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.[7] They also donated $3.5 million to help restore the Lyric Opera House, and Breslin served on the boards of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and 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.[7]

Death

Breslin died on October 12, 2011,[8] at the age of 86 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. Her husband Art had been a major contributor to the restoration of the basilica.[9]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1952Faith Is a Nine-Letter WordTelevision film
1953Man Against PainTelevision film
1954Go, Man, Go!Sylvia Franklin Saperstein
1958Andy Hardy Comes HomeJane Hardy
1961HomicidalMiriam Webster
1965I Saw What You DidEllie Mannering

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1952Broadway Television TheatreRebecca1 episode
1953The GoldbergsDora Barnett1 episode
1954Armstrong Circle TheatreJeannie McTavish2 episodes
1954The Telltale Clue Sally Bell1 episode
1955The Best of BroadwayElaine Harper1 episode
1955Appointment with AdventureSally1 episode
1955–58The People's ChoiceAmanda 'Mandy' Peoples Miller104 episodes
1958Schlitz Playhouse of StarsJulia Heyton1 episode
1958Alcoa TheatreJune Dunlap1 episode
1959MaverickAlice Appleton / Abigail Allen1 episode
1959The MillionaireSusan Ballard1 episode
1960Hotel de PareeEllie Graham1 episode
1960TateJessica Jackson1 episode
1960OutlawsJulie Kittrick1 episode
1960The DetectivesJean Graham1 episode
1961The RiflemanCora Seevers1 episode
1961The DuPont Show with June AllysonAnne Mitchell1 episode
1961The RebelElizabeth Purdy1 episode
1961The New BreedRuth Wollock1 episode
1961Tales of Wells FargoTheresa Coburn1 episode
1962The Donna Reed ShowMillie1 episode
1962Adventures in ParadiseLorraine Maybery1 episode
1958–1962Alfred Hitchcock Presents3 episodes
1962ThrillerDinah Duffay1 episode
1962BonanzaSusan Blanchard1 episode
1962Stoney BurkeLee Anne Hewitt1 episode
1962Saints and SinnersNancy Rogers1 episode
1960–63Perry MasonLaura Hewes / Karen Ross / Karen Lewis3 episodes
1960–63The Twilight ZoneAbigail Sloan / Pat Carter2 episodes
1963The Dick Powell TheatreSusan Baird1 episode
1963Arrest and TrialElizabeth Forellen1 episode
1963Dr. KildareMarion French1 episode
1964InsightMaria1 episode
1964The Greatest Show on EarthLisa1 episode
1962–64The Alfred Hitchcock HourDoris Parkerson / Linda Mallory2 episodes
1964The VirginianMary Ann Martin1 episode
1964Death Valley DaysNancy1 episode
1964–65Peyton PlaceLaura Harrington Brooks30 episodes
1966–69General HospitalMeg Bentley, R.N.Contract role

References

  1. 1 2 Gary Mihoces (December 25, 2003). "Pioneer, pariah Modell nears end". USA Today. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  2. 1 2 Baltimore Sun: "Supporting Role - Pat Modell, wife of the Ravens owner, gave up an acting career for love -- and never looked back" By Elizabeth Large April 08, 2001
  3. 1 2 3 "Pat Modell, actress and wife of former owner Art Modell, dies". NFL.com. October 12, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Patricia Rose Breslin in the 1940 Census". Acrhives.org. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Justice". The Classic TV Archive. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  6. ↑ Crowther, Bosley (March 10, 1954). "THE SCREEN IN REVIEW; Harlem Globetrotters Perform in a Sports Romance, 'Go, Man, Go!' at the Globe". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Smith, Tim (October 12, 2011). "Patricia Modell, actress and philanthropist, dies at 80". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  8. ↑ Associated Press (October 13, 2011). "Patricia Breslin, Actress and Wife of Former Ravens Owner, Dies at 80". The New York Times.
  9. ↑ The Catholic Review: "Remembering Art Modell, champion of Catholic education" by George P. Matysek, Jr. September 6, 2012
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