THE HAT SQUAD: PAT CRANSHAW

If it hadn't been for the movie "Old School", Pat Cranshaw's death might have passed unnoticed for most of the country's newspapers. That's sadly the fate for most character actors. But his turn as the ancient frat boy who died from... anticipation gave the editors and obit writers a hook to hang the story.

But in Toobworld, he had the classic "Old-Timer" looks that made him prized for roles on all genres of TV shows. Had 'The Boys of Twilight' become a success, I imagined him as playing Richard Farnsworth's older brother, come to Twilight, Utah, to stir up a little trouble for his "kid" brother.

TV SERIES
"Most Valuable Primate" (1999) TV Series (as Joseph Patrick Cranshaw)
"After MASH" (1983) TV Series .... Bob Scannell
"Alice" (1976) TV Series .... Andy (1976-1978)
"On the Rocks" (1975) TV Series (as Pat Cranshaw) .... Gabby (1975-1976)
"Thicker Than Water" (1973) TV Series .... Bert Taylor

TV MOVIES
Alien Avengers II (1998) (TV) .... Judge Gorman
Return of the Rebels (1981) (TV) .... Storekeeper
Mars Needs Women (1967) (TV) (as Pat Cranshaw)
Curse of the Swamp Creature (1966) (TV) (as Pat Crenshaw)

TV RELATED MOVIES
The Gong Show Movie (1980) (as Pat Cranshaw) .... Man Dying In Elevator

TV PILOTS
Quantum Leap (1989) (TV) .... Old Man
["Quantum Leap" playing "Old Man" in episode: "Genesis - September 13, 1956" (episode # 1.1) 26 March 1989]

TV GUEST APPEARANCES
"7th Heaven" playing "Mr. Suggs" in episode: "There's No Place Like It" (episode # 8.19) 19 April 2004
"Monk" playing "Miles Hollings" in episode: "Mr. Monk and the Very, Very Old Man" (episode # 2.5) 25 July 2003
"ER" playing "Mr. Gilman" in episode: "A Little Help from My Friends" (episode # 9.11) 9 January 2003
"Dead Last" playing "Pops McNitty" in episode: "The Problem with Corruption" (episode # 1.5) 18 September 2001
"The Norm Show" playing "Grandpa" in episode: "Norm vs. Dad" (episode # 3.13) 12 January 2001
"Ladies Man" playing "Uncle Earl" in episode: "Thanks for Nothing" (episode # 1.10) 22 November 1999
"Suddenly Susan" playing "Kyle" in episode: "On a Clear Day You Can Hear Forever" (episode # 3.13) 18 January 1999
"Veronica's Closet" playing "Mr. Leeds" in episode: "Veronica's From Venus; Josh's Parents are From Mars" (episode # 2.11) 7 January 1999
"Boy Meets World" playing "Custodian" in episode: "Santa's Little Helpers" (episode # 6.11) 11 December 1998
"ER" in episode: "Vanishing Act" (episode # 5.4) 15 October 1998
"Just Shoot Me!" playing "Cowboy Pete" in episode: "Sewer!" (episode # 2.11) 13 January 1998
"The Drew Carey Show" playing "Gerald Thompson" in episode: "Drew vs. Mimi: Part 2" (episode # 2.22) 30 April 1997
"The Single Guy" playing "Old Man" in episode: "Au Pair" (episode # 2.20) 9 April 1997
"Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" playing "Homer Blackstock" in episode: "Forget Me Not" (episode # 3.18) 10 March 1996
"Pig Sty" playing "Old Man" in episode: "The Ghost and Mr. Evans" (episode # 1.6) 27 February 1995
"All-American Girl" playing "Mr. Vasin" in episode: "Pulp Sitcom" (episode # 1.18) 22 February 1995
"Coach" playing "Mr. Knickerbocker" in episode: "Out of Control" (episode # 7.11) 28 November 1994
"Ellen" playing "Mr. Curran" in episode: "Adam's Birthday" (episode # 2.8) 16 November 1994
"Married... with Children" playing "Young Kit" in episode: "Buck Has a Belly Ache" (episode # 6.6) 13 October 1991
"Growing Pains" playing "Reverend Chuck MacGregor" in episode: "Anniversary from Hell" (episode # 4.15) 15 February 1989
"Night Court" playing "Mr. MacNulty" in episode: "The New Judge" (episode # 4.7) 20 November 1986
"Hunter" playing "Old Man" in episode: "Saturday Night Special" (episode # 2.23) 20 May 1986
"Perfect Strangers" playing "Street Person" in episode: "Happy Birthday, Baby" (episode # 1.6) 29 April 1986
"Three's a Crowd" playing "Mr. Levingson" in episode: "Jack Gets Trashed" (episode # 1.21) 2 April 1985
"Night Court" playing "Mr. Sheldon" in episode: "Billie's Valentine" (episode # 2.18) 14 February 1985
"Diff'rent Strokes" playing "Mr. Clemens" (as Pat Cranshaw) in episode: "The Wedding: Part 2" (episode # 6.19) 25 February 1984
"Archie Bunker's Place" playing "Albert" (as Pat Crenshaw) in episode: "Three Women" (episode # 4.15) 16 January 1983
"It's a Living" playing "Louis" in episode: "Strange Bedfellows" (episode # 2.13) 4 June 1982
"Best of the West" in episode: "The New Jail" (episode # 1.11) 26 November 1981
"Best of the West" playing "Bob" in episode: "The Prisoner" (episode # 1.2) 17 September 1981
"Mork & Mindy" playing "Jake Loomis" in episode: "Mindy Gets Her Job" (episode # 3.11) 22 January 1981
"Little House on the Prairie" playing "Manuel Barton" in episode: "To See the Light: Part 1" (episode # 7.10) 1 December 1980
"The Dukes of Hazzard" playing "Doctor" in episode: "And in This Corner, Luke Duke" (episode # 3.4) 14 November 1980
"CHiPs" playing "Carpenter" in episode: "Kidnap" (episode # 3.18) 26 January 1980
"The Dukes of Hazzard" playing "Doc Petticord" (as Pat Cranshaw) in episode: "Double Sting" (episode # 1.12) 11 May 1979
"Wonder Woman" playing "Codger" in episode: "A Date with Doomsday" (episode # 3.18) 10 March 1979
"Mork & Mindy" playing "Old Man" in episode: "Mork's First Christmas" (episode # 1.12) 14 December 1978
"Little House on the Prairie" playing "Spokes" in episode: "Men Will Be Boys" (episode # 5.10) 13 November 1978
"Mork & Mindy" playing "The Man in the Store" in episode: "Mork the Gullible" (episode # 1.8) 9 November 1978
"Baby, I'm Back" playing "Bum" in episode: "Baby, I'm Back" (episode # 1.9) 27 March 1978
"Baby, I'm Back" playing "The Biker" in episode: "So, What Are You Doing This Weekend" (episode # 1.3) 13 February 1978
"The Bob Newhart Show" playing "Bum" in episode: "Carlin's New Suit" (episode # 6.5) 22 October 1977
"Sanford and Son" playing "Bank Guard" in episode: "Carol" (episode # 6.9) 26 November 1976
"Police Woman" (as Pat Crenshaw) in episode: "Broken Angels" (episode # 3.5) 9 November 1976
"Jigsaw John" playing "Caretaker" (as Pat Crenshaw) in episode: "The Executioner" (episode # 1.10) 5 April 1976
"The Bob Newhart Show" playing "Old Gentleman" in episode: "Carol's Wedding" (episode # 4.6) 18 October 1975
"Adam-12" playing "Mr. Ferguson" in episode: "Point of View" (episode # 7.6) 12 November 1974
"Temperatures Rising" in episode: "The Oldest Living American" (episode # 2.2) 2 October 1973
"Green Acres" playing "Farmer #2" (as J.P. Cranshaw) in episode: "The Hole in the Porch" (episode # 6.23) 2 March 1971
"The Odd Couple" playing "Grubby" (uncredited) in episode: "The Hideaway" (episode # 1.15) 14 January 1971
"Green Acres" playing "Old Man" (as Pat Cranshaw) in episode: "Jealousy" (episode # 6.3) 29 September 1970
"Green Acres" playing "Grandpa" (as Pat Cranshaw) in episode: "The Picnic" (episode # 5.22) 7 March 1970
"The Doris Day Show" playing "Farmer" in episode: "Buck's Portrait" (episode # 2.19) 16 February 1970

Depending upon the fates for all those characters in shows in which he portrayed "Old Man", it might be interesting to concoct some kind of back-story to link them all together as one character.

Perhaps he was an eccentric millionaire who liked to travel incognito, which is why he could be found in Chicago ('The Bob Newhart Show'), Manhattan ('The Single Guy'), Boulder ('Mork & Mindy'), L.A. ('Hunter') and Hooterville ('Green Acres').

But like I said, it would depend upon the fates for each of those roles. When you're tagged as "Old Man", it's a pretty safe bet there's only one way to develop your character and that's by dropping dead.

Still and all, it's definitely a project for the back-burner - if one of those episodes pops up on the Toobworld radar, I'll check it out for inclusion.

I'll leave it to others to offer up the signature send-off for you from the cinematic world. For Toobworld, I just wanted to tip my hat to your career and say, "Happy Trails".

BCnU.....
Tele-Toby