Patricia Ellis

Born in Birmingham, Michigan,[1][11][12] most likely in 1918 (although she gave her year of birth to the Social Security Administration as 1920), Ellis was the eldest of four children born to Eugene Gladstone O'Brien, a Detroit insurance salesman, and his wife, Florence Calkins, who married on April 16, 1917.[13][14][15] Her parents divorced 12 years later in 1929.[16] She was later known as Patricia Leftwich[17] after her step-father, Alexander Leftwich,[18] "an eminent New York producer of musical shows."[19] She had a step-brother, Alexander Leftwich Jr.[18] Her childhood activities included singing and dancing, and she reportedly studied French and German.[20]

A 1932 newspaper article said, "Since she was able to walk, Patricia has been familiar with the world of the theater, accompanying her father constantly to rehearsals and performances."[21] That same year, another newspaper reported, "She understudied all her father's leading women in the last few years, assisted him with lighting and costuming, and knows stage production, too."[20]

Patricia Leftwich attended Brantwood Hall School and Gardner School for Girls,[21] and began her stage career after leaving school. She took classes in studio facilities while pursuing her acting career.[22]

Ellis appeared with Chamberlain Brown's stock company at Mount Vernon, New York, and at the Riviera Theater, New York City.[21]

Given a film test while appearing on stage in New York City,[19] Ellis was put under contract by Warner Bros.[21] In 1932, she had two small parts, both uncredited, in the films Three on a Match and Central Park. That same year, she was one of 14 girls chosen as WAMPAS Baby Stars; Ellis was the youngest. Her first credited role was in the 1933 film The King's Vacation, starring George Arliss and Marjorie Gateson.

After that film, her career took off, with her appearing mostly in lower-budget B movies, but still working steadily. She had roles in eight films in 1933, co-starring that year with James Cagney in Picture Snatcher, and in another seven in 1934. She appeared in 1935's A Night at the Ritz, opposite William Gargan. She appeared in seven films that year and another seven in 1936. Starring alongside some of Hollywood's biggest names, including James Cagney, Ricardo Cortez, and Bela Lugosi, Ellis's career was at its peak by 1937. Most of her roles were in comedy films, along with some mysteries and crime dramas, and by 1936, she was playing the female lead in almost all her films. She was in five films that year, then only three in 1938, and finally just two in 1939.

After her work in film, Ellis ventured into music, saying, "I was just getting into a rut in Hollywood ... I want to start a new career – singing."[23] She made a soundie in 1941. A review in the trade publication Billboard commented: "Miss Ellis isn't bad on voice and excells (sic) on appearance. Men will pay attention to her."[24] In 1941, she and Henny Youngman headlined with Blue Barron and his Orchestra at Hamid's Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[25] She reportedly appeared on Broadway in Louisiana Purchase, a musical comedy.[26]

On July 12, 1941,[23][27] she married George Thomas O'Malley (died 2000), future president of Protection Securities Systems in Kansas City, Missouri.[28][29] She settled into private life,[30] raising her family in Kansas City. The O'Malleys had one daughter.[23]

Ellis remained married to O'Malley for the remainder of her life, dying of colon cancer[31] on March 26, 1970, in Kansas City, Missouri.[32] She was cremated.

• Patricia Ellis at AllMovie
• Patricia Ellis biodata, imdb.com; accessed October 3, 2021.
• Patricia Ellis profile, virtual-history.com; accessed October 3, 2021.
• Patricia Ellis (using her birth name Patricia Gene O'Brien), July 12, 1941 marriage certificate (subscription required)
• Patricia Ellis O'Brien "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957" (subscription required)