Patrick Cranshaw

Patrick Cranshaw
Cranshaw in The Amazing Transparent Man (1960)
Born	Joseph Patrick Cranshaw (1919-06-17)June 17, 1919 Bartlesville, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	December 28, 2005(2005-12-28) (aged 86) Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Resting place	Restland Memorial Park, Dallas County, Texas
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1950–2005

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]

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You should all be very proud of yourselves. Each and every one of you has been hand-picked To represent our inaugural pledge class. Over the next 21 days, You're all going to experience Intense mental and physical strain. Ahhh!! [men whimpering] Just pace yourself. Copy that. Just got a little overexcited. Sorry. At this point you may be asking yourself, "why am I holding "this 30 pound cinderblock in my hands?" You might also ask yourself, "why does this cinderblock "have a long piece of string "tied to it?" And finally, "why's the other end of this string "tied securely to your penis?" And the answer, ladies... Is trust. This is your first test. Spanish! Do you trust that we've provided you With enough slack so your block will land safely on the lawn? Sir, yes, sir. And blue! Yes, sir? Do you trust That I do not want to see you die tonight? Sir, yes, sir. Blue, you're my boy! Thank you, sir. [ frank: ] about face. [drum cadence] Step to the edge! Pledges, prepare to release! One... Two... Three! Release! [all yelling] Aahh! [ unison: ] oh...! [girlish squeals] [ frank: ] wasn't meant to happen like that, weensie! [ beanie: ] walk it off, big guy. We're coming down.

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]

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. He is interred at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas County, Texas.^[5]

Selected filmography

The Amazing Transparent Man (1960) - Security Guard
The Yesterday Machine (1963)
Under Age (1964) - W.J. Earnhardt
Bonnie and Clyde (1967) - Bank Teller (uncredited)
Bandolero! (1968) - Bank Clerk
Adam-12 (1974) - Jealous Husband
Nightmare Honeymoon (1974) - Old Bail Boy
Slumber Party '57 (1976) - Store Owner
Thunder and Lightning (1977) - Taylor
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) - Western Union Messenger
The New Adventures of Wonder Woman (1979) - Codger
The Dukes of Hazard (1979-80) - Doc Petticord
The Private Eyes (1980) - Roy
The Gong Show Movie (1980) - Man Dying In Elevator
CHiPs (1980) Kidnap - Carpenter
Yes, Giorgio (1982) - Man on Gurney
Diff’rent Strokes (1983) - Old Man as Arnold Jackson
After M*A*S*H (1983) - Veteran Bob Scannell
Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) - Hobo
The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) - Reverend Mason
The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) - Ancient Sorter
Everyone Says I Love You (1996) - Grandpa
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

^ ^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.