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 June 17, 1919 Bartlesville, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | December 28, 2005 (aged 86) Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Resting place | Restland Memorial Park, Dallas County, Texas |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1950–2005 |
Early life
editCranshaw 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
editCranshaw 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 Hazzard, Night Court, Growing Pains, Married... with Children, Coach, The Drew Carey Show, and Just Shoot Me!.
Death
editCranshaw 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
edit- The Amazing Transparent Man (1960) – Security Guard
- The Yesterday Machine (1963) – Confederate Soldier
- Under Age (1964) – W.J. Earnhardt
- Bonnie and Clyde (1967) – Bank Teller (uncredited)[citation needed]
- Bandolero! (1968) – Bank Clerk
- Adam-12 (1974) – Mr. Ferguson
- Nightmare Honeymoon (1974) – Old Bail Boy
- Sanford and Son (1976) – Bank Guard
- Slumber Party '57 (1976) – Store Owner
- Alice (1976–78) – Andy
- Thunder and Lightning (1977) – Taylor
- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) – Western Union Messenger
- Little House on the Prairie (1978–80) – Manuel Barton, Spokes
- Mork & Mindy (1978–82) – The Man in the Store, The Old Man, Jake Loomis
- The New Adventures of Wonder Woman (1979) – Codger
- The Dukes of Hazzard (1979–80) – Doctor, Doc Petticord
- The Private Eyes (1980) – Roy
- The Gong Show Movie (1980) – Man Dying in Elevator
- CHiPs (1980) – Carpenter
- Yes, Giorgio (1982) – Man on Gurney
- Diff'rent Strokes (1983–84) – Mr. Clemens, Old Man
- After M*A*S*H (1983) – Bob Scannell
- Highway to Heaven (1984) – Clark
- Night Court (1984–85) – Mr. MacNulty, Mr. Shelton
- Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) – Hobo
- Perfect Strangers (1986) – Street Person
- Growing Pains (1989) – Reverend Chuck MacGregor
- Married... with Children (1991) – Young Kit
- The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) – Reverend Mason
- The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) – Ancient Sorter
- Coach (1994) – Mr. Knickerbocker
- Everyone Says I Love You (1996) – Grandpa
- The Drew Carey Show (1997) – Gerald Thompson
- Nothing to Lose (1997) – Henry
- Broken Vessels (1998) – Gramps
- Almost Heroes (1998) – Jackson
- Just Shoot Me! (1998) – Cowboy Pete
- MVP: Most Valuable Primate (2000) – Ron
- Best in Show (2000) – Leslie Ward Cabot
- Bubble Boy (2001) – Pappy / Pippy
- MVP: Most Vertical Primate (2001) – Ron
- Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch (2002) – Sheriff Bob
- Frank McKlusky, C.I. (2002) – The Old Man
- Old School (2003) – Blue
- Air Bud: Spikes Back (2003) – Sheriff Bob
- My Boss's Daughter (2003) – Old Man
- Breakin' All the Rules (2004) – Mr. Lynch
- Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005) – Jimmy D.
- Air Buddies (2006) – Sheriff Bob (final film role, posthumous release)
References
edit- ^ a b December 31, 2005 LA Times Obituary of Cranshaw
- ^ CBS obituary for Cranshaw
- ^ New York Times obituary for Cranshaw
- ^ Los Angeles Times obituary
- ^ 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.
External links
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