Youngest of 2 children, and only son born to Terrence and Marie Duffy. He is NOT related to Julia Duffy, of Newhart fame. Patrick was born in Montana, where his parents owned local taverns, and raised in Seattle since age 12. He wanted to become a professional athlete, and became a certified scuba diver while in his teens. However, his involvement in his high school's drama department led him to apply to the Professional Actors Training Program at the University of Washington, Seattle. He was one of 12 people accepted, from over 1,200 applicants. He ruptured both of his vocal cords during his senior year of college, but he created the position of actor-in-residence, where he worked as an interpreter for ballet, opera, and orchestra companies in Washington. He also taught mime and movement classes. Around this time, he met his wife, Carlyn, a ballet dancer with the First Chamber Dance Company of New York. Carlyn introduced Patrick to Buddhism, which he has practiced for the past 30 years. The couple married in a Buddhist temple in 1974. They then moved to New York, where Patrick appeared in Off-Broadway plays, and supported himself and his wife by working as a carpenter. The couple then moved to Hollywood, where he drove a florist's delivery truck, and landed small roles in film and television. His son, Padraic Duffy, was born in 1974/5. In 1976, Patrick was working as a house painter when he landed the role of "Mark Harris" in the TV series The Man from Atlantis. Two years later, he won the role of "Bobby Ewing" on Dallas. His second son, Conor Duffy, was born in 1979/80. In 1986, his parents were murdered by 2 teenagers who raided their tavern in Montana. Patrick has continued to work, however, starring in a variety of TV movies, and as "Frank Lambert" on his third TV series, Step by Step. Since SBS was canceled in 1997, Patrick has continued to pursue his TV career, which includes 2 Dallas reunion movies. He and his wife live in the Los Angeles area, and also own a home in southern Oregon.


Named 1 of the 100 Alumni of the Century by the University of Washington. Stated on "Politically Incorrect" (1994) that he has been a Buddhist for the past 30 years. [August 1999] Loves golf and has played in celebrity tournaments. Graduated from Cascade High School in Everett, Washington in 1967. Patrick could hold his breath underwater for 3 minutes during his "Man from Atlantis" (1977) days. Two sons Padraic Duffy (b. 1974) and Conor Duffy (b. 1979). Patrick's wife is the one who suggested the "dream season" to explain Bobby Ewing's return from the dead on "Dallas" (1978). Earned $75,000 per episode of "Dallas" (1978), plus $1 million signing bonus (1986-91). He and his wife first met on a bus. Son, Padraic Duffy, graduated from Princeton University in 1996. On November 18, 1986, teenagers Kenneth Miller and Sean Wentz murdered Patrick's parents, Terrence and Marie Duffy, during a robbery at the couple's Boulder Bar in Montana. Wentz and Miller each named the other as the one who fired the shots that killed the Duffys, but both men were convicted of double murder and were each sentenced to 180 years in prison. Later, Wentz recanted his testimony and told prosecutors he was the one who murdered the couple, but Miller's November 2000 appeal of clemency was denied. Patrick's nephew is San Francisco Giant's Cy Young winning pitcher Barry Zito. Patrick's wife is the sister of Barry's mother. Father-in-law of Emily Cutler. Best known by the public for his role as Bobby James Ewing on "Dallas" (1978). Stated that he was unhappy with the final episode of "Dallas" (1978) because it broke away from the format that defined the show.