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]

This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (February 2020)

Patrick Cranshaw
Patrick Cranshaw in The Amazing Transparent Man 1960
Born	(1919-06-17)June 17, 1919 Bartlesville, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	December 28, 2005(2005-12-28) (aged 86) Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Actor

Early life

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

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]

This section does not cite any sources. (July 2020)

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), and Old School (2003). He appeared in more than 50 television series, including Alice and After MASH.^{[citation needed]}

Death

Cranshaw died of pneumonia at his Fort Worth, Texas home, aged 86.[5]

Selected filmography

References

External links

• Patrick Cranshaw at IMDb
• Patrick Cranshaw at Find a Grave