He was born John Patrick Goggin in Louisville, Kentucky. His parents soon abandoned him, and he spent a delinquent youth in foster homes and boarding schools. At age 19, he secured a job as an announcer at KPO Radio in San Francisco, California, marrying Mildred Legaye in 1925. He wrote over one thousand scripts for the Cecil and Sally radio program (originally titled "The Funniest Things"), broadcast between 1928 and 1933. The show's sole actors were Patrick and Helen Troy. In 1937, Patrick wrote adaptations for NBC's Streamlined Shakespeare series, guest-starring Helen Hayes.
Produced on a tight budget, his first play, Hell Freezes Over, directed by Joshua Logan, had a brief run on Broadway in 1935. However, the credit opened the door for him as a Hollywood scriptwriter.
In 1942, a second play, The Willow and I, was produced with Martha Scott and Gregory Peck in the starring roles. Before its first night, Patrick had volunteered for the American Field Service providing medical services in support of the British Army fighting World War II. He served with Montgomery's Eighth Army in Egypt and subsequently saw action in India and Burma where the ideas for his next play The Hasty Heart were germinated. Patrick completed the play on the ship that returned him to the US after the war, and it proved a great commercial success, being adapted for the screen in 1949, with Ronald Reagan as the star, and for TV in 1983.
His next two plays, The Curious Savage (1950) and Lo and Behold (1951), fared less well, but it was his 1953 stage adaptation of Vern J. Sneider's novel The Teahouse of the August Moon that marked the height of his fame, winning both the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for drama. He adapted the play for the screen in 1956 and for the musical stage, under the title Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen, in 1970. In 1954 he was wrote the screenplay for the movie "Three Coins in the Fountain," and in 1955, he adapted a well-known autobiographical book, A Many-Splendoured Thing by Han Suyin, for the movie Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing.
His next play, Good as Gold (1957), was less well received, and most of the rest of his career was dedicated to a series of successful screenwriting assignments. Following his success with The Hasty Heart, Patrick bought the 65 acres (26 ha) estate, Hasty Hill at Suffern, New York. He later moved to Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands.
On November 7, 1995, the 90-year-old playwright was found dead in his room with a plastic bag over his head. His death was ruled a suicide. Patrick is now best remembered for his screen work though his plays remain popular with community theatres.
The John Patrick Collection, including the playwright's books, letters, and manuscripts is held at the Rare Book Department of Boston University.
Hell Freezes Over, 28 December 1935, Ritz Theatre, New York, NYThe Willow and I, 10 December 1942, Windsor Theatre, New York, NYThe Hasty Heart, 3 January 1945, Hudson Theatre, New York, NYThe Story of Mary Surratt, 8 February 1947, Henry Miller's Theatre, New York, NYThe Curious Savage, 24 October 1950, Martin Beck Theatre, New York, NYLo and Behold!, 12 December 1951, Booth Theatre, New York, NYThe Teahouse of the August Moon, adapted from Vern Sneider's novel, 15 October 1953, Martin Beck Theatre, New York, NYGood as Gold, 7 March 1957, Belasco Theatre, New York, NYJuniper and the Pagans, 10 December 1959, Colonial Theatre, Boston, MAEverybody Loves Opal, 11 October 1961, Longacre Theatre, New York, NYIt's Been Wonderful, September 1966, Albuquerque Little Theatre, Albuquerque, NMScandal Point, September 1967, Albuquerque Little Theatre, Albuquerque, NMEverybody's Girl, September 1968, Albuquerque Little Theatre, Albuquerque, NMLove Is a Time of Day, 22 December 1969, Music Box Theatre, New York, NYA Barrel Full of Pennies, 12 May 1970, Playhouse on the Mall, Paramus, NJLovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen, 28 December 1970, Majestic Theatre, New York, NYOpal Is a Diamond, 27 July 1971, Flat Rock Playhouse, Flat Rock, NCThe Savage Dilemma, 19 May 1972, Long Beach Community Theatre, Long Beach, CAThe Dancing Mice, June 1972, Berea Summer Theatre, Berea, OHMacbeth Did It, July 1972, Flat Rock Playhouse, Flat Rock, NCThe Enigma, 12 June 1973, Berea Summer Theatre, Berea, OHOpal's Baby, 26 June 1973, Flat Rock Playhouse, Flat Rock, NCRoman Conquest, 25 July 1973, Berea Summer Theatre, Berea, OHA Bad Year for Tomatoes, 1974, John Patrick Dinner Theatre at the You Are Cabaret Dinner Theatre, North Royalston, OHDivorce, Anyone?, 1975, John Patrick Dinner Theatre at the You Are Cabaret Dinner Theatre, North Royalston, OHOpal's Husband, 1975, Flat Rock Playhouse, Flat Rock, NCNoah's Animals, 1975, Berea Summer Theatre, Berea, OHSuicide, Anyone?, 1976, Fortuna Theatre Club, St. Thomas, Virgin IslandsPeople!, October 1976, John Patrick Dinner Theatre at the You Are Cabaret Dinner Theatre, North Royalston, OHOpal's Million Dollar Duck, 1979, School of Performing Arts, St Thomas, Virgin IslandsGirls of the Garden Club, July 1979, Berea Summer Theatre, Berea, OHThat's Not My Father, 1979, Fortuna Theatre Club, St Thomas, Virgin IslandsCharlie Chan at the Race Track, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1936Educating Father, Twentieth Century-Fox, 193636 Hours to Kill, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1936High Tension, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1936Midnight Taxi, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1937Dangerously Yours, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1937The Holy Terror, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1937Time Out For Romance, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1937Sing and Be Happy, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1937Born Reckless, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1937One Mile From Heaven, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1937Big Town Girl, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1937Up the River Heaven, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1937Look Out, Mr. Moto, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1938Five of a Kind, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1938International Settlement, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1938Battle of Broadway, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1938Mr. Moto Takes a Chance, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1938High Society, adapted from Philip Barry's play, The Philadelphia Story, MGM, 1956Teahouse of the August Moon, MGM, 1956Les Girls, adapted from Vera Caspary's novel, MGM, 1957Some Came Running, adapted from James Jones's novel, MGM, 1958The World of Suzie Wong, adapted from Paul Osborn's play and Richard Mason's novel, Paramount, 1960Parrish, adapted from Mildred Savage's novel, for Warner Brothers, 1961Gigot, adapted from Jackie Gleason's story, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1962The Main Attraction, MGM-Seven Arts, 1963The Shoes of the Fisherman, adapted from Morris West's novel, MGM, 1968"Teahouse of the August Moon," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1962"The Small Miracle," adapted from Paul Gallico's short story, Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1973The Willow and I (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1943)The Hasty Heart (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1945)The Story of Mary Surratt (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1947)The Curious Savage (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1951)Lo and Behold!; A New Comedy in Three Acts (New York: S. French, 1952)The Teahouse of the August Moon (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1957)Everybody Loves Opal (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1962)It's Been Wonderful (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1966)Everybody's Girl; a Comedy in Three Acts, (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1968)Scandal Point; a Play in Three Acts, (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1969)Love Is a Time of Day (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1970)A Barrel Full of Pennies: A Comedy in Two Acts (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1971)Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen (New York: S. French, 1971)Anybody Out There (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1972)Divorce--Anyone?: Three One Act Plays (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1976)Noah's Animals: A Musical Allegory in Three Acts (New York: S. French, 1976)Suicide--Anyone?: Three One Act Plays (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1976)The Girls of the Garden Club: A Comedy in Three Acts (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1980)Opal's Million Dollar Duck (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1980)People!: Three One Act Plays (New York: S. French, 1980)That's Not My Mother: Three One Act Plays (New York: S. French, 1980)The Magenta Moth: A Play in Three Acts (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1983)The Reluctant Rogue, or, Mother's Day: A Play (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1984)Cheating Cheaters: A Comedy (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1985)The Gay Deceiver: A Play in Three Acts (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1988)The Doctor Will See You Now: Four One-Act Plays (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1991)Dirty Ditties (New York: Penguin, 1996)A Bad Year For Tomatoes (New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1975)