Patrick Barry Sullivan (August 29, 1912 – June 6, 1994)^[1] was an American actor of film, television, theatre, and radio. In a career that spanned over 40 years, Sullivan appeared in over 100 movies from the 1930s to the 1980s, primarily as aleading actor after establishing himself in the industry, and later as acharacter actor.

Barry Sullivan
Barry Sullivan inHarbormaster (1957)
Born	Patrick Barry Sullivan (1912-08-29)August 29, 1912 New York City, U.S.
Died	June 6, 1994(1994-06-06) (aged 81) Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1936–1987
Spouses	Marie Brown ​ ​ (m. 1937;div. 1957)​ Gita Hall ​ ​ (m. 1958;div. 1961)​ Desiree Sumarra ​ ​ (m. 1962;div. 1965)​
Children	3

Memorable films and TV programs that Sullivan appeared in includeThe Great Gatsby,The Bad and the Beautiful,Forty Guns,The Price, andPat Garrett and Billy the Kid. He was a featured guest performer in the top television series of his day, starring in two series,Harbormaster andThe Tall Man. He was nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award for his performance on the 1955 teleplayThe Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.

Ronald Bergan wrote inThe Guardian in 1994: "Second division Hollywood actors like Barry Sullivan ... are usually faintly praised for being reliable or solid. However, when given the chance, Sullivan was a powerful, often baleful presence on screen, providing more pleasure than many more touted stars. "^[2]

Born in New York City, Sullivan was a law student atNew York University andTemple University.^[3] He fell into acting when in college playing semi-pro football. He was later a department store buyer.^[4]

Sullivan's first appearance on Broadway was inI Want a Policeman in 1936.^[5] That year he was also in R.C. Sheriff'sSt Helena.^[6]Sullivan appeared in shorts such asStrike! You're Out (1936),Broker's Follies (1937),Dime a Dance (1937) (alongsideImogene Coca,June Allyson andDanny Kaye),Dates and Nuts (1937), andHi-Ho Hollywood (1937).^{[citation needed]} He returned to Broadway with roles inAll That Glitters (1938) andEye on the Sparrow (1938) (with a youngMontgomery Clift). He received attention when he joined the cast of the long runningThe Man Who Came to Dinner (1939) as Bert Jefferson. He was also inMr Big (1941),Ring Around Elizabeth (1941) andJohnny 2 X 4 (1942). Sullivan appeared with Bette Davis on stage in 1960 inThe World of Carl Sandburg as a substitute for her husbandGary Merrill.In 1950, Sullivan replacedVincent Price in the role ofLeslie Charteris'Simon Templar on theNBC Radio showThe Saint.^[7] Sullivan lasted only two episodes before the show was cancelled.

Sullivan had a small role in the Universal serialThe Green Hornet Strikes Again! (1941). He had a supporting part inHigh Explosive (1943) forPine-Thomas Productions, who released through Paramount, and he was the second male lead inThe Woman of the Town (1943) withClaire Trevor.^[8]

He was signed to a long term contract by Paramount, who gave him a good support role in an "A" film, the musicalLady in the Dark (1944) withGinger Rogers. He supportedDorothy Lamour inRainbow Island (1944) andAlan Ladd andLoretta Young inAnd Now Tomorrow (1944), and was one of many Paramount names inDuffy's Tavern (1945).^[9] He supportedDennis O'Keefe andMarie McDonald in the comedy,Getting Gertie's Garter (1945).^[10]

Then he went toMonogram Pictures forSuspense (1946), the most expensive film that studio had made to date, produced by theKing Brothers; Sullivan was second billed toBelita. Monogram were delighted with his work; Sullivan obtained a release from his Paramount contract and signed a three picture deal with Monogram.^[11] Sullivan supportedBrian Aherne andConstance Bennett inSmart Woman (1948) for Bennett's company, releasing through Monogram (as Allied Artists). He received top billing for a Western from the King Brothers and Monogram,Bad Men of Tombstone (1949).

MGM signed Sullivan to a contract, and he played supporting roles inTension (1950),The Outriders (1950),Nancy Goes to Rio (1950),A Life of Her Own (1950), andGrounds for Marriage (1951). He was upped to leading man forCause for Alarm! (1951) with Young andPayment on Demand (1951) withBette Davis at RKO but was back down the cast list forThree Guys Named Mike (1951),Mr. Imperium (1951), andInside Straight (1951). He was given top billing inNo Questions Asked (1951), a role originally meant for Gable.^[12]

Sullivan played the lead in a series of lower budgeted films noir:Loophole (1954) for Allied Artists,Playgirl (1954) at Universal, andThe Miami Story (1954) forSam Katzman. He went back to MGM for a support role inHer Twelve Men (1954).

In June 1954, he returned to Broadway to replaceHenry Fonda inThe Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.^[13] He went to Paramount to support James Stewart inStrategic Air Command (1955) and guested on shows likeGeneral Electric Theater,Studio One in Hollywood,Climax! andFord Star Jubilee (reprising hisCaine Mutiny performance).

Sullivan was leading man toJoan Crawford inQueen Bee (1955),Claudette Colbert inTexas Lady (1955),Barbara Stanwyck inThe Maverick Queen (1956) andDoris Day inJulie (1956).^[14]

In 1956, he was inToo Late the Phalarope on Broadway which had a short run.^[15]

He had the lead in a low budget WesternDragoon Wells Massacre (1957),The Way to the Gold (1957), andSam Fuller'sForty Guns (1957) with Stanwyck. He wasLana Turner's leading man inAnother Time, Another Place (1958) and played star roles in some films for Allied Artists, includingWolf Larsen (1958), an adaptation ofThe Sea Wolf wherein Sullivan played the title role, andThe Purple Gang (1959), a gangster film.^[16]

His last film wasThe Last Straw in 1987.

In the 1953-1954 television season, Sullivan appeared with other celebrities as a musical judge onJukebox Jury.^[17] His first starring television role was asyndicated adaptation of the radio seriesThe Man Called X forZiv Television in 1956-1957 as secret agent Ken Thurston. He directed some episodes ofHighway Patrol, which was made by Ziv, who didHarbourmaster.^[18] He continued to make guest appearances on shows likeAlfred Hitchcock Presents,Pursuit,Playhouse 90,The DuPont Show with June Allyson,The United States Steel Hour andWestinghouse Desilu Playhouse, and he was in a TV adaptation ofMy Three Angels. Barry Sullivan starred in a western TV show, The Tall Man ...(1960–1962) Sullivan starred in the television seriesThe Road West, as family patriarch Ben Pride. He guest starred onPerry Mason,Mission: Impossible,Bonanza,Garrison's Gorillas,Mannix,The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,That Girl, andIt Takes a Thief. Barry Sullivan also appeared in the first season of Barnaby Jones; episode titled, "A Little Glory, A Little Death" which initially aired April 29, 1973.

He has two stars on theHollywood Walk of Fame: one at 1500 Vine St. for his work in television, and another at 6160 Hollywood Blvd. for motion pictures.^{[citation needed]}

Sullivan was married three times and had three children. Marie Brown (married 1937, divorced 1957), a Broadway actress, was mother to both Jenny and John Sullivan.^[19][20]

Sullivan married model and actressGita Hall in 1958; they divorced in June 1961.^[21][22] The couple's daughter, Patsy, was a child model. While married to songwriterJimmy Webb, Patsy gave Sullivan seven grandchildren.^{[citation needed]}

Sullivan's third marriage was to Desiree Sumarra. The union produced no children and ended in divorce in 1965.^[23]

Sullivan died at age 81 ofrespiratory failure on June 6, 1994.^[24]

In 1950 Barry Sullivan filled in for Vincent Price (delayed in Paris) as The Saint (The Ghost that Giggled, Sept 17, 1950)

• Barry Sullivan atIMDb
• Barry Sullivan at theInternet Broadway Database 
• Barry Sullivan as The Saint