Pat Corley (June 1, 1930 – September 11, 2006) was an American actor. He was known for his role as bar owner Phil on the CBS sitcom Murphy Brown from 1988–1996. He also had a recurring role as Chief Coroner Wally Nydorf on the television drama Hill Street Blues (1981–1987). Additionally, he had supporting roles in a number of films, including Night Shift (1982), Against All Odds (1984), and Mr. Destiny (1990).
Corley was born Cleo Pat Corley in Dallas, Texas, the son of Ada Lee (née Martin) and R.L. Corley. He got his start in the entertainment business as a teenage ballet dancer for the Stockton Ballet where he performed for three seasons. While serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Corley helped put on entertainment shows for the brass while stationed in France. After his honorable discharge, he entered Stockton College on the G.I. Bill where he met his future second wife, Iris Carter, a younger student, champion debater and a locally acclaimed actress.
After moving to New York City he worked as a waiter, attended the esteemed American Theatre Wing, studied under Uta Hagen and auditioned for plays. Corley and his wife toured in summer stock in Indiana and New Jersey with his young daughter Troy in tow. His first Broadway appearance was in James Baldwin's Blues for Mr. Charlie, a production by the Actors Studio, where Corley had been accepted as a member. Early in his career he shared the stage with future stars Al Pacino and James Earl Jones in the Off-Broadway play The Peace Creeps. In the 1970s Corley appeared in several Broadway productions including Of Mice and Men with James Earl Jones and Sweet Bird of Youth with Christopher Walken.
Corley's Hollywood career began in 1969 in TV with a small role in N.Y.P.D. and a few television commercials. His first feature film roles were in Gordon Parks' The Super Cops and the comedy Law and Disorder with Carroll O'Connor and Ernest Borgnine. He also appeared in Coming Home and in Oliver Stone's first feature, The Hand, with Michael Caine.
Corley appeared on dozens of TV shows, among the earliest of which were:"The Wackiest Ship in the Army", Get Christie Love and Kojak. Other series on which Corley has guest-starred include Starsky and Hutch, Barnaby Jones, Hill Street Blues, Hart to Hart, St. Elsewhere, Simon & Simon, Murder, She Wrote, Magnum, P.I., Cagney & Lacey, Night Court, Moonlighting, L.A. Law, and Hey Arnold!. Corley also had roles in two mini-series, Roots and "Fresno". He provided the voice of Sheriff McGee in Tom Sawyer (2000).
Corley died of congestive heart failure in September 2006 at age 76 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. His wife, actress Iris Corley, died the year prior.
The Super Cops (1974) as Captain BushGet Christie Love! Episode: Highway to Murder (1974)Kojak (1974) Episode: "Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die" as Mr. MillerLaw and Disorder (1974) as KenThe Blue Knight (1974) episode: "Throwaway" as The ManDelvecchio (1976) episode "Numbers" as MannyAlexander: The Other Side of Dawn (1977) as MartyAudrey Rose (1977) as Dr. WebsterBarnaby Jones 2 episodes Episode: “The Wife Beater” (1979) as Sid Markham, Episode: "The Price of Anger" (1980) as Sam PowellMartinelli, Outside Man (1977) as SallyRoots (1977) as RefereeThe Bad News Bears in Breaking Training (1977) as Morrie SlaytorThe Betty White Show (1977) Episode: "Mitzi's Cousin" as TV RepairmanThe Night They Took Miss Beautiful (1977) as RomanThe Quinns (1977) as Eugene CarmodyA Death in Canaan (1978) as Judge VincentAnd I Alone Survived (1978) as KaminskyComing Home (1978) as HarrisStarsky and Hutch (1978) Episode: "Moonshine" as Ben MeadowsThe Amazing Spider-Man Episode: "The Con Caper" (1978)The Paper Chase (1978) Episode: "The Seating Chart" as PlumberDiary of A Teenage Hitchhiker (1979)Family (1976 TV series) (1979) 2 episodes Episode: "Going Straight" (1979) as “Driver” and "Prelude" (1979) as “Umpire”Flesh and Blood (1979 film) (1979)Lou Grant 2 episodes, "Andrew Part 2"(1979) as Judge and "Dogs" (1980) as OrganizerThe Best Place To Be (1979)The Gift (1979 film) (1979)The Last Word (1979 film) (1979) as Chief NorrisNightwing (1979) as VetThe Onion Field (1979) as Jimmy's Lawyer #2The Rose (1979) as Police Chief MorrisonThe Two Worlds of Jennie Logan (1979) as RealtorAct of Love as Sgt. WatersonLoving Couples (1980) as Delmonico ClerkMark, I Love You (1980) as Bucky SimsOn the Nickel (1980)City In Fear (1980) as Supermarket ManagerCallie and Son (1981) as Deputy SheriffDarkroom (TV series) (1981) Episode: “Siege of 31 August” as Colonel/SheriffHart To Hart (1981) Episode “The Hartbreak Kid” as MontyOf Mice and Men as CarlsonMr. Merlin (1981) Episode: “The Cloning of The Green” as Roy OaklandThe Best Little Girl in the World (1981) as Store ManagerThe Black Marble (1980) as Itchy MitchThe Waltons (1980) Episode: “The Idol” as The BartenderThe Hand (1981) as SheriffTrue Confessions (1981) as Sonny McDonoughCagney & Lacey (1982) Episode: “High Steel” as TomFlamingo Road (1982) Episode: “Old Friends”Hanky Panky (1982) as PilotHill Street Blues (1982–1986) 6 episodes as Coroner Wally NydorfHouse Calls (TV series) (1982) Episode: “Ducks of Hazzard”Kiss My Grits (1982) as Sheriff Joe CozyMcClain's Law (1982) Episode: “What Patrick Doesn’t Know”Night Shift (1982) as Edward KoogleThe Executioner's Song (1982) as Val ConlanBay City Blues (1983) 8 Episodes as Ray HoltzCurse of the Pink Panther (1983) as Lt. PalmyraI Want To Live (1983) as BartenderSt. Elsewhere (1983) Episode: “Release” as Norman WylerThe Fall Guy (1983) Episode: “Spaced out” as Sheriff Nick BakerStarflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983) as Joe PedowskiThe Powers of Matthew Star (1983) Episode: “Matthew Star D.O.A” as DonzelliAgainst All Odds (1984) as Ed PhillipsCalendar Girl Murders (1984) as Lt. TonyDomestic Life (1984) as CoachHawaiian Heat (1984) Episode: “Missing In Hawaii” as CharlieScorned And Swindled (1984) as Ty JenkinsSimon & Simon 3 episodes (1984) Episode: “Our Fair City” as Mayor K.K. DrinkmanHardcastle and McCormick (1985) Episode: "She Ain’t Deep but She Sure Runs Fast" as Buzz BirdMoonlighting (1985) Episode: “Gunfight At The So-so Corrall” as Farley Wrye/Frankie TateRobert Kennedy & His Times (1985) as Andy McLaughlinScarecrow and Mrs. King (1985) Episode “A Little Sex, A Little Scandal” as Detective TuggeySilent Witness (1985) as Brad HuffmanStark (1985) as Wichita Police Chief WaldronStormin’ Home (1985) as BrokerA Year in the Life (1986) as George BilzarianFalcon Crest (1986) Episode: “The Stranger Within’’ as James SaundersFresno (1986) as Earl DukeHe's the Mayor (1986) 13 Episodes as Chief Walter PadgetJoe Bash (1986) Episode: “Tour of Duty” as Ernest JanowitzMagnum, P.I. (1986) Episode: "A Little Bit of Luck...A Little Bit of Grief” as Dennis MackenzieMurder, She Wrote (1986) Episode: “Powder Keg” as Frank KelsoSimon & Simon (1986) Episode: “Still Phil After All These Years” as Don BurtonStark: Mirror Image (1986) as Wichita Police Chief WaldronThe Christmas Gift (1986) as Bud SawyerCBS Summer Playhouse (1987) Episode: “Day to Day” as BobL.A. Law (1987) Episode: “Pigmallion” as Uncle Willard SabrettPoker Alice (1987) as MccarthySimon & Simon Episode: “Desperately Seeking Dacody” as Sheriff McKenzieThe Stepford Children (1987) as Sheriff WestonCagney & Lacey (1988) Episode “A fair Shake Part 1” as Sheriff CraddockJ.J. Starbuck (1988) Episode: “Cactus Jack’s Last Call” as Cactus JackMr. Belvedere (1988) Episode: “Commentary” as Mr. FranklinMurphy Brown (1988-1998) as Phil the BartenderNight Court (1988) Episode “Another Day in the Life” as Otis EdwardsIn Defense of a Married Man (1990) as Det. Brendan BradleyMr. Destiny (1990) as Harry BurrowsCarol Leifer: Gaudy, Bawdy, and Blue as Lucky HerbSaved By The Bell: Wedding In Las Vegas (1994) as Sheriff Myron ThorpeMurder One (TV series) (1995) Episode: “Chapter Four" as Marvin SiegalsteinAll Dogs Go to Heaven 2 (1996) as Officer McDowellCoach (1997) Episode: “It’s a Swamp Thing” as JebWhen Time Expires (1997) as TV car salesman, Becks InterfaceWalking Across Egypt (1999) as Sheriff TillmanTom Sawyer (2000) as Sheriff McGee (voice)Hey Arnold! (2002) Episode: On the Lam/Family Man as Mr. Camacho (voice)Purgatory Flats (2003) as RoyCome Early Morning (2006) as Papa