James Broderick was a talented and versatile actor who starred in many stage, film, and television productions. He is best known for his role as Doug Lawrence in the ABC series Family, which ran from 1976 to 1980. He also played a pivotal role in the 1975 film Dog Day Afternoon, alongside Al Pacino. However, his promising career was cut short by a deadly disease that claimed his life in 1982. Here is a glimpse into his final years and his struggle with cancer.
Early Life and Career
James Broderick was born in Charlestown, New Hampshire, on March 7, 1927. He was the son of James Joseph Broderick II, a highly decorated World War I combatant, and Mary Elizabeth Martindale, both of Irish descent. He was raised Catholic and attended Manchester Central High School. He then took pre-medical courses at the University of New Hampshire for two years before joining the Navy in 1945 as a pharmacist mate.
After returning from the service in 1947, he auditioned for a part in the University production of George Bernard Shaw’s Arms and the Man and impressed the director J. Donald Batcheller, who encouraged him to pursue acting as a career. He moved to New York City and studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse, where he graduated in 1949.
He married Patricia Biow, a playwright and painter, in the same year and they had three children: Martha, Janet, and Matthew. Matthew Broderick would later become a famous actor himself, known for his roles in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Producers, and The Lion King.
James Broderick made his Broadway debut in 1953 in the show Maggie and went on to appear in many other plays, such as The Time of Your Life and Johnny No-Trump. He also worked in the Repertory Theater of Lincoln Center and received critical acclaim for his performances.
He made his film debut in 1950 in The Lady Pays Off and appeared in several other movies, such as Alice’s Restaurant, The Group, and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. However, his most memorable film role was as Agent Sheldon, the FBI negotiator who deals with Al Pacino’s character Sonny in Dog Day Afternoon. The film was a huge success and earned six Academy Award nominations.
He also had a prolific television career, appearing in shows such as The Twilight Zone, Gunsmoke, Brenner, The Defenders, and Lou Grant. He won an Emmy Award for his role as Ralph Parker’s father in the PBS production of Jean Shepherd’s The Phantom of the Open Hearth. He also directed several episodes of Family and Thirtysomething.
Diagnosis and Death
In 1980, James Broderick was diagnosed with cancer. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy but the disease was too advanced to be cured. He continued to work despite his illness and starred in his last project, The Shadow Box, a TV film based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Michael Cristofer. He played Joe, a man dying from an incurable disease who tries to reconcile with his family before he passes away. The film was aired on March 28, 1980.
James Broderick died on November 1, 1982, at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut. He was 55 years old. His wife Patricia was by his side until the end. He was buried at Green Cemetery in Grafton County, New Hampshire.
He left behind a legacy of impressive work and a loving family who mourned his loss. His son Matthew said that he was very close to his father and that he inspired him to become an actor. He also said that he still misses him every day.
Conclusion
James Broderick was a talented actor who had a successful career in stage, film, and television. He is best remembered for his role as Doug Lawrence in Family and as Agent Sheldon in Dog Day Afternoon. He was also a devoted husband and father who loved his family dearly. He died from cancer in 1982 at the age of 55. His death was a tragic loss for the entertainment industry and for his fans around the world.
