Joseph Patrick Cranshaw (June 17, 1919 – December 28, 2005) was an American character actor known for his distinctive look and deadpan humor. He is best known for one of his last roles, that of Joseph "Blue" Pulaski, a fraternity brother, in the 2003 hit comedy Old School. Some sources state that this role gave him "pop-culture status".[1][2]

Patrick Cranshaw
Cranshaw in The Amazing Transparent Man (1960)
Born
Joseph Patrick Cranshaw

(1919-06-17)June 17, 1919
DiedDecember 28, 2005(2005-12-28) (aged 86)
Resting placeRestland Memorial Park, Dallas County, Texas
OccupationActor
Years active1950–2005

Early life

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Cranshaw was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and became interested in acting while entertaining American troops as a member of the Army Air Forces before World War II.[1][3]

Career

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Cranshaw began his screen acting career in 1955 when he was 36 in the uncredited role of a bar tender at a dance in the western Texas Lady.[4]

Despite an acting span of more than 40 years and some 102 appearances, Cranshaw's first credited film role came at the age of 41, in The Amazing Transparent Man (1960). Cranshaw's mild-mannered and gentlemanly demeanor led him to a number of roles as bank tellers, store managers, and grandfathers. His major credits include Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Bandelero! (1968) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985), Moving (1988), The Hudsucker Proxy (1994), Everyone Says I Love You (1996), Nothing to Lose (1997), Almost Heroes (1998), Broken Vessels (1998), Best in Show (2000), Bubble Boy (2001), Old School (2003), My Boss's Daughter (2003), and Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005).

He also appeared in more than 50 television series, including Sanford and Son, Alice, After MASH, Little House on the Prairie, Mork & Mindy, The Dukes of Hazard, Night Court, Growing Pains, Married... with Children, Coach, The Drew Carey Show, and Just Shoot Me!.

Death

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Cranshaw died of pneumonia at his Fort Worth, Texas home, aged 86. He is interred at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas County, Texas.[5]

Selected filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b December 31, 2005 LA Times Obituary of Cranshaw
  2. ^ CBS obituary for Cranshaw
  3. ^ New York Times obituary for Cranshaw
  4. ^ Los Angeles Times obituary
  5. ^ Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
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