Patrick Duffy

Career

Duffy appeared in a Taco Bell commercial in the early 1970s, playing an employee describing an Enchirito. In 1977, he landed the role of Mark Harris in the short-lived television series Man from Atlantis. Following the series' cancellation in early 1978, he got his big break in the role of Bobby Ewing, opposite Barbara Bel Geddes and Larry Hagman, on the prime-time soap opera Dallas.

At the end of Dallas run in 1991, Duffy began another television role, as Frank Lambert on the family sitcom, Step by Step in which he co-starred with Suzanne Somers. The series ran until 1998, and Duffy also directed numerous episodes. Also in the 1990s, he appeared in two Dallas reunion television films; J.R. Returns (1996) and War of the Ewings (1998), both of which he also co-produced. He has reunited on several occasions with many of his Dallas co-stars both onscreen and off, most notably for the non-fiction television special Dallas Reunion: The Return to Southfork in 2004. Duffy later continued to act in occasional guest or voice acting appearances, including the series Family Guy (in which he appeared in a live action scene with Victoria Principal as they spoofed the Dallas shower scene), as well as Justice League and Touched by an Angel. Duffy starred in the television films Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door and Desolation Canyon. In 2006, he began a recurring role on the daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful as Stephen Logan. From April to July 2008, he hosted Bingo America, a partially interactive game show on GSN.

Duffy reprised his role as Bobby Ewing in TNT's continuation series of Dallas. The series aired from 2012 to 2014.

Duffy played a surreal double of Bobby Ewing in the experimental documentary Hotel Dallas, directed by artist duo Ungur & Huang. The film premiered at the 2016 Berlin International Film Festival. thumb

Personal life Duffy married Carlyn Rosser, a professional ballerina, in 1974. She danced with the First Chamber Dance Company of New York. The Duffys lived near Eagle Point, Oregon, with their sons.

Introduced to Buddhism by his wife, Duffy converted to Nichiren Buddhism and began chanting Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō. He and his family are longtime members of the Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai International.

On November 18, 1986, Duffy's parents were murdered at their tavern in Boulder, Montana, by two young men, Kenneth Miller and Sean Wentz, during an armed robbery. Wentz and Miller, who were teenagers at the time, were convicted of the murders and sentenced to 75 years in prison. In 2001, Miller appeared before the Montana Parole board after Wentz recanted his original story and admitted that he, Wentz, was the sole gunman. Miller was denied clemency in 2001 but was released on parole in December 2007. Wentz was granted parole in 2015.

Duffy's wife Carlyn Rosser died in 2017. In 2020, he entered into a relationship with actress Linda Purl.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes1974 The Stranger Who Looks Like Me Adoptee #3Television film Hurricane Jim1976 Switch Sgt. Musial Episode: "The Walking Bomb" The Last of Mrs. Lincoln Lewis BakerTelevision film1977 Man from AtlantisMark Harris Man from Atlantis: The Death Scouts Man from Atlantis: Killer Spores Man from Atlantis: The Disappearances 1977–1978 Man from Atlantis Series regular 1978–1985 & 1986–1991 DallasBobby Ewing Series regular & DirectorSoap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Actor in a Prime Time Serial (1985)Special Bambi Award (Shared with Dallas co-stars) (1987)TV Land Pop Culture Award (Shared with Dallas co-stars) (2006)Nominated - Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Actor in a Prime Time (1988, 1990, 1992)Nominated - Soap Opera Digest Award for Favorite Super Couple: Prime Time (Shared with Victoria Principal) (1988) 1979–1982 Knots Landing 3 episodes1980 Charlie's Angels William Cord Episode: "One Love...Two Angels" Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb Colonel Paul Tibbets Television film 1981 The Love Boat Ralph Sutton Episode: "The Expedition" 1982 Cry for the Strangers Dr. Brad Russell Television film 1984 Vamping Harry Baranski 1985 From Here to Maternity Henderson Television film Hotel Richard Martin Episode: "Missing Pieces" George Burns Comedy Week Episode: "Dream, Dream, Dream" Alice in Wonderland The GoatTelevision film 1986 Strong Medicine Dr. Andrew Jordan 1987 Our House Johnny Witherspoon Episode: "Candles and Shadows"1988 14 Going on 30 Actor in Black and White MovieTelevision film Unholy Matrimony John Dillman Too Good to Be True Richard Harland1990 Murder C.O.D. Steve Murtaugh Children of the Bride John Hix Newhart Patrick Duffy Episode: "Lights! Camera! Contractions!"; uncredited 1991 Daddy Oliver Watson Television film 1991–1998 Step by Step Frank Lambert Series regular & Director 1992 Goof Troop Harold Hatchback Voice, episode: "Buddy Building" 1994 Texas Stephen AustinTelevision film 1996 Dallas: J.R. Returns Bobby Ewing 1997 Heart of Fire Max Tucker1998 Dallas: War of the Ewings Bobby Ewing Rusty: A Dog's Tale Cap the Dog Voice Diagnosis: Murder Wayde Garrett Episode: "Till Death Do Us Part"1999 Dead Man's Gun Lyman Gage Episode: "The Womanizer" Don't Look Behind You Jeff Corrigan Television film Twice in a Lifetime Peter Hogan Episode: "A Match Made in Heaven" 1999–2001 Family Guy Bobby Ewing, Jack, Salesman, Teacher Voice, 2 episodes2000 The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne Duke Angelo Rimini Episode: "Rockets of the Dead" Perfect Game Coach Bobby Geiser Television film 2002 Justice League Steve Trevor Voice, episode: "The Savage Time" 2003 Touched by an Angel Mike Episode: "I Will Walk with You"2004 Reba Dr. Joe Baker Episode: "Couples' Therapy" Dallas Reunion: The Return to Southfork Himself / Bobby Ewing TV special2006 Desolation Canyon Sheriff Tomas 'Swede' LundstromTelevision film Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door James Connolly 2006–2011 & 2022–2023 The Bold and the Beautiful Stephen Logan Series regular 2007 Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Himself Uncredited cameo (unrated version)2008 He's Such a Girl Whitney's Father Bingo America Host Game Show 2009 Love Takes Wing Mayor EvansTelevision film2010 Healing Hands Uncle Norman You Again Ritchie Phillips Pony Exce$$ Narrator Documentary Party Down Himself Episode: "Constance Carmell Wedding" Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Himself 2012–2014 Dallas Bobby Ewing Series regular & Director 2012 Lovin' Lakin Himself Episode: "Lakin Visits Her Dad" 2014–2015 Welcome to Sweden Wayne Evans 4 episodes 2015 The Fosters Robert Quinn Sr. Episode: "The End of the Beginning"2017 The Christmas Cure Bruce Turner Television film Trafficked Christian2018 Christmas with a View Frank Haven Television film American Housewife Marty Episode: "Saving Christmas"2019 The Cool Kids Gene Episode: "Margaret Ups Her Game" Station 19 Terry Episode: "Into the Wildfire" The Mistletoe Secret Mack EubanksTelevision film Random Acts of Christmas Howard April, May and June April's Father 2020 All Rise Ed Parker Episode: "What the Constitution Greens to Me" NCIS Ret. Lieutenant Commander Jack Briggs Episode: "Flight Plan" Once Upon a Main Street Elder Dubois Television film Alley of Brandt Master of Time Short 2021 Lady of the Manor Grayson Wadsworth Doomsday Mom Larry Woodcock Television film On the Verge Gene Episodes: "Viva Italia!", "Lip Wax" The Christmas Promise Pops Television film 2024 The Family Business Sheriff KD Shrugs 3 episodes 2025 Hollywood Grit Clarence