Vince O'Brien passes away

[jimbo]

Sad to report actor Vince O'Brien, Sheriff George Patterson passed away.

http://www.northjersey.com/obituaries/Character_actor_Vince_OBrien_91_of_Haworth_dies_.html

[Gothick]

Very sad.  Even though I think he was only in a few episodes (maybe only 2 or 3???), something about Vince O'Brien's presence was solidly memorable in the chimerical role of Sheriff Patterson.

Didn't he appear in another role on the series as well?

G.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Didn't he appear in another role on the series as well?

Yes, he was a recast as Lt. Riley in the Laura storyline. Here's his capture/caption for the Robs slideshow for January 18th :

1967: Ep #148 - Lt. Riley (poor Vince O'Brien - always a
recast - never an original) reveals a witness says that,
contrary to Laura's claim that she left Phoenix five days
before the fire, she saw Laura on the day of the fire.

As for how often he appeared as Sheriff Patterson, I think it was more than 2 or 3 times - but it might be less than 10. Our minds tend to play tricks. Just look at how often it seems that Mrs. Johnson appears - yet she was only in 56 eps.  

[Midnite]

If the IMDb is to be believed, he appeared 6 times as the Sheriff, and 4 times as Lt. Riley.

[Gothick]

Thanks MB for that beautiful capture.  I imagine Vince and Conard both bellying up to the bar in that great Blue Whale in the sky (forgive hackneyed imagery, my brain is wilted toast today).

And thanks Midnite for checking on Vince's episodes.  I thought he had played Riley.  Isn't he in what recently became one of my all time favorite scenes in the series, that weird-ass little vignette played in the Phoenix morgue?  I remember the scene yet am uncertain whether Vince was on hand for it.  Pathetic to see the mind disintegrate into a wispy bit of swiss cheese.

G.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

If the IMDb is to be believed, he appeared 6 times as the Sheriff

Even that seems too small a number

4 times as Lt. Riley

Though that sounds right.

I thought he had played Riley.  Isn't he in what recently became one of my all time favorite scenes in the series, that weird-ass little vignette played in the Phoenix morgue?  I remember the scene yet am uncertain whether Vince was on hand for it.

I was sure there's a capture of that scene somewhere around here, but I can't seem to find it. But I'll hunt up the scene later...

[Gothick]

Thanks, MB.  That scene is right out of Rod Serling's Twilight Zone terrain...

G.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Here's the scene (from Ep #174):

And for those who've never seen that ep, yes, that is John "Gladstone" Harkins as Lt. Costa.  

[jimbo]

MB, Gothick is right-that is one wonderful capture. Thanks!

[Gothick]

What an eerie mood.  It's incredible to think that Sy Tomashoff and his assistants did all that work for a set that was only seen for one brief moment on the show.

G.

[jimbo]

I don't remember that scene. Another great capture. Thanks again MB.

[Taeylor Collins]

I just watched the morgue scene with the footage of "PHOENIX" before it.  It is a haunting scene.  At least he lived a good long life.  Although it's sad when anyone from the DS family passes away!