Tricia O'Neil explained

Tricia O'Neil
Other Names:Patti O'Neil
Birth Name:Patricia Lou O'Neil
Birth Place:Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
Education:McAllen High School
Yearsactive:1972–2001
Alma Mater:Baylor University
Known For:Two by Two
Captain Rachel Garrett in "Yesterday's Enterprise ",
Lisa / Christine Ames in "Labyrinth", Hawaii Five-O
Spouse:James Irving Van Valkenburg

Tricia O'Neil (born Patricia Lou O'Neil;[1] [2] [3] March 11, 1945[4]) is an American actress.

Early life

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, she is the daughter of James Weldon O'Neil and Mary Jane Marter.[5] The family lived in El Paso, Texas, from 1952 to 1959 and in 1963. O'Neil attended elementary and intermediate schools in El Paso and graduated from McAllen High School. In 1968, she graduated from Baylor University, where she studied with singer Miklos Bencze.[6]

Career

In 1965, while attending Baylor, O'Neil performed on two locally produced TV specials, both of them airing on KCEN-TV. First, on May 14, she was one of 18—and one of three Baylor students—selected to appear on Talent '65. Sponsored by Southwestern Bell and produced by KHOU-TV for the purpose of showcasing statewide talent, it was hosted by John Hambrick.[7] Accompanying herself on guitar, O'Neil performed "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You"[8] (Anne Bredon's composition, popularized in 1962 by Joan Baez).[9] On December 24 and 25, she and the Baylor University Religious Hour Choir were featured on Christmas: Old and New, an hour-long special which was heard in Dallas on WFAA (AM) on Christmas Eve and seen on KCEN on Christmas Day.[10] Following her graduation from Baylor, O'Neil sang in supper clubs in Texas and California for two years before an opportunity to act on Broadway arose.[11] [12] [13] By that time, O'Neil had already dropped "Patti" in favor of "Tricia",[14] after discovering there was already a Patti O'Neil registered at Actors Equity.[15]

In 1970, O'Neil made her professional theatrical debut in the Broadway musical Two by Two.[16] Although the show received mixed reviews,[17] O'Neil earned a Theatre World Award for her performance.[18] Newsweeks Jack Kroll, in particular, singles out O'Neil, amidst his otherwise blistering critique of the show itself:

There is only one delight in 'Two by Two'—Tricia O'Neil as Rachel, Noah's daughter-in-law who marries the wrong son. Miss O'Neil is a stunning girl with a full sweet voice and the grace of an Assyrian lioness. She is the only Biblical thing in the show, bearing the wheat of Zion in her hair, the loyalty of Ruth in her eyes, the determination of Judith in her arms, the sensuality of the Song of Solomon in her throat and the curve of her thigh.[19]

O'Neil made her film debut in the 1972 film The Legend of Nigger Charley (1972). Other film appearances include The Gumball Rally (1976), Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night (1977), Are You in the House Alone? (1978), The Kid from Left Field (1979), Brave New World (1980), (1982), Ted & Venus (1991) and Titanic (1997).

O'Neil made her television debut in the 1973 television movie Duty Bound. She appeared in a number of guest roles on various television series, including a dog trainer in a 1978 episode of Columbo titled "How to Dial a Murder",[20] nightclub singer Julie Heller in the episode "Murder! Murder!" of The Eddie Capra Mysteries (1978), as Dorothy Fulton in Hart to Hart (1979), as a police photographer in back-to-back episodes of Barney Miller (1980), as female stunt woman "Charlie" in the episode of the same name in the first season of The Fall Guy (1981), in Remington Steele (1982), as conniving "other woman" Ashley Vickers in the pilot episode of Murder, She Wrote (1984), as a pushy reporter in the second-season episode "Catch of the Day" in Riptide (1984), as the owner of a travelling Wild West rodeo show in the third-season Airwolf episode "Annie Oakley" (1985), and separate roles in three episodes of Matlock from 1989 to 1994. She appeared in the television miniseries Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the Dolls (1981) and in two episodes of The A-Team, playing Dr. Maggie "Mo" Sullivan in the season one episode "Black Day at Bad Rock" and the season two episode "Deadly Maneuvers".

O'Neil made a number of appearances in popular science fiction television series during the 1980s and 1990s. She portrayed Captain Rachel Garrett of the U.S.S. Enterprise (NCC-1701-C) in the episode "Yesterday's Enterprise", returning to that series with a role as the Klingon Kurak in the episode "Suspicions". Later she guest-starred on as Cardassian Korinas in the episode "Defiant".[21] O'Neil guest-starred in the Babylon 5 season-one episode "Believers" (1994) as "M'ola". Later, she played the Earth Alliance president in the Babylon 5 TV movie (1998).

In 1991, O'Neil filmed her scenes in the role of Hoelun for the never-released film Genghis Khan. Efforts in 2010 to repackage the material as a miniseries, tentatively named Genghis Khan: The Story of a Lifetime, never came to fruition.

O'Neil's last screen appearance was on the television series JAG, playing Dr. Beth Salluci in the 2001 episode "Redemption".

Personal life

On August 6, 1966, O'Neil married opera singer James Irving Van Valkenburg.[22] [2]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1972The Legend of Black CharleySarah LyonsBlaxploitation Western film
1976The Gumball RallyAngie - Rolls-Royce Silver Shadowcomedy film
1982Anne KimbroughHorror film
1991Ted & VenusJudge Katherine NotchBlack comedy film
1997TitanicWomanDisaster film

Television

YearTitleRole Notes
1973Duty BoundGlenn's Wifetelevision film
1975How to Survive a MarriageJoan Willissoap opera
1976Ellery QueenYvonne DanelloEpisode: "The Adventure of the Wary Witness"
SerpicoGraceEpisode: "The Indian"
Sirota's CourtSugar HillsEpisode: "Sirota's Car"
1977DelvecchioSharon NicholsonEpisode: "The Madness Within: Part 1"
Episode: "The Madness Within: Part 2"
Charlie Cobb: Nice Night for a HangingAngelicaTelevision film
Big HawaiiDr. Ericka BergenEpisode: "Sun Children"
Mary Jane Harper Cried Last NightDr. Angela BuccieriTelevision film
Eight Is EnoughEllen ManningEpisode: "Double Trouble"
1978ColumboMiss Cochran - the dog trainer Episode: "How to Dial a Murder"
Are You in the House Alone?Jessica hirschTelevision horror film
The Eddie Capra MysteriesJulie HellerEpisode: "Murder, Murder"
1979The Kid from Left FieldMarion FowlerTelevision baseball comedy film
Hawaii Five-ODilys Conover
Lisa / Christine Ames
Episode: "The Bark and the Bite"
Episode: "Labyrinth"
1980Brave New WorldMaoina KruppsTelevision film
Charlie's AngelsAnne Moore (as Tricia O'Neill)Episode: "Toni's Boys"
Barney MillerAlex Kramer (as Tricia O'Neill)Episode: "Homicide: Part 1"
Episode: "Homicide: Part 2"
1981The Misadventures of Sheriff LoboSheila McKnightEpisode: "Macho Man"
Jacqueline Susann's Valley of the DollsEnid MarshallTV Mini Series
1982Palms PrecinctJeanine MonascoTelevision film
Hart to HartDorothy FultonEpisode: "The Harts Strike Out"
The Powers of Matthew StarFortune TellerEpisode: "Mother"
Voyagers!Annie BrownEpisode: "Old Hickory and the Pirate"
1982-1983The Fall GuyCharlie
Agent Eve Peterson
Episode: "Charlie"
Episode: "The Last Drive"
1983Whiz KidsKathy FairgateEpisode: "Deadly Access"
Hardcastle and McCormickPamela PetersonEpisode: "Once Again with Vigorish"
Lottery!Episode: "New York: Winning Can Be Murder"
1983-1984The A-TeamMaggie Sullivan (as Tricia O'Neill)
Maggie Sullivan
Episode: "Black Day at Black Rock"
Episode: "Deadly Maneuvers"
1984RiptideTawny ClarkEpisode: "Catch of the Day"
1985Scarecrow and Mrs. KingRita HoldenEpisode: "A Little Sex, a Little Scandal"
Megazone 23Additional Voices(Streamline Pictures dub) (English version, voice)
AirwolfAnnie Oakley, Louise MackeyEpisode: "Annie Oakley"
1986Blacke's MagicTeresa GeorgeEpisode: "Breathing Room" (Pilot)
DynastyMrs. DavisEpisode: "The Trial: Part 1
Episode: "The Trial: Part 2"
Kay O'BrienEpisode: "Princess of the City"
1987MacGyverSusan Murphy, Victoria JamesEpisode: "Phoenix Under Siege"
The New Mike HammerFran LaskerEpisode: "Little Miss Murder"
Jack and MikeBarbaraEpisode: "Separate Lives"
Episode: "Come Together"
Episode: "Light My Fire"
HunterSylvia BrandEpisode: "Night on Bald Mountain"
1983-1988Simon & SimonLaura Reynolds
Nurse Sandy Purcell (as Trish O'Neil)
Episode: "It's Only a Game"
Episode: "A Firm Grasp of Reality"
1988Police Story: Gladiator SchoolD.A. WillisTelevision film
1989L.A. LawMeredith KorngoldEpisode: "Captain Hurt"
1991CBS Schoolbreak SpecialBeth CraneEpisode: "Lies of the Hear"
Equal JusticeSaraEpisode: "Courting Disaster"
1984-1991DallasDr. Barbara Mulgravy
Barbara Barnes
Episode: "True Confessions"
Episode: "Conundrum"
1984-1991Murder, She WroteAshley Vickers
Bibi Hartman
Lila Benson
Althea Mayberry
Linda Truitt
Episode: "The Murder of Sherlock Holmes"
Episode: "Murder in the Afternoon"
Episode: "Trouble in Eden"
Episode: "From the Horse's Mouth"
Episode: "Lines of Excellence"
1991Jake and the FatmanDelta RidpathEpisode: "Every Time We Say Goodbye"
1992Civil WarsRuth ConwayEpisode: "Whippit 'Til It Breaks"
Margaret FitzpatrickTelevision film
1993Doogie Howser, M.D.Acting CoachEpisode: "What Makes Doogie Run"
1990-1993Captain Rachel Garrett
Kurak
Episode: "Yesterday's Enterprise"
Episode: "Suspicions"
1994Babylon 5M'OlaEpisode: "Believers"
Robin's HoodsLydia BarnhouseEpisode: "To Heir Is Human"
1989-1994MatlockCynthia Slayton
Jackie Whitman - Model's Agent
Jackie Carol Davis
Episode: "The Best Seller"
Episode: "The Cover Girl"
Episode: "The Tabloid"
1994KorinasEpisode: "Defiant"
1995Degree of GuiltRosaTelevision film
1996High TideKaren DonaldsonEpisode: "University Blues: Part 1"
Episode: "University Blues: Part 2"
1997 Jane EllingtonEpisode: "A History of Murder"
1998Earth Alliance Presidentspace opera television film
GiaVogue Editorbiographical television film
Beverly Hills, 90210Mrs. O'LareEpisode: "You say Goodbye, I Say Hello"
Episode: "I'm Back Because"
2000TitansDr. SmithEpisode: "Bad Will Hunting"
2001JAGAmanda Litrell
Dr. Beth Salluci
Episode: "To Walk on Wings"
Episode: "Redemption"

Notes and References

  1. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-monitor/139515139/ "'Two by Two Another Triumph for Rodgers'"
  2. https://www.newspapers.com/image/430011124/?clipping_id=139515663 "Van Valkenburg-O'Neil Vows Solemnized in Rite"
  3. https://www.newspapers.com/image/434526793/?clipping_id=139523080 "Marriage Plans Told for King-O'Neil Rite"
  4. News: Almanac. March 11, 2023. Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. A3. Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is 92. Former ABC News correspondent Sam Donaldson is 89. Musician Flaco Jimenez (FLAH'-koh hee-MEH'-nez) is 84. Actor Tricia O'Neil is 78. Actor Mark Metcalf is 77. Rock singer-musician Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge) is 76. Singer Bobby McFerrin is 73.. . See also:
    • News: Wire reports. March 11, 2003. South Florida Sun - Sentinel. 2A. media mogul Rupert Murdoch, 72; ABC News correspondent Sam Donaldson, 69; U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, 67; musician Flaco Jimenez, 64; actress Tricia O'Neil, 58; singer Bobby McFerrin, 53;. .
  5. "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011",, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q5Q6-C3KD : Fri Oct 20 08:53:05 UTC 2023), Entry for James Weldor O'Neil and Mary Jane Marter, 02 Jan 1978.
  6. https://www.newspapers.com/image/961493837/?clipping_id=139530273 "Music Club Elects New Officer Slate"
  7. https://www.newspapers.com/image/961560400/?clipping_id=139524513 "TV Show Featuring College Talent Includes Baylorites"
  8. https://www.newspapers.com/image/961564174/?clipping_id=139524155 "Patti O'Neil"
  9. Ojala, Jani (2022). The Top 100 Albums of the 1960s: My Beautiful Mine. S.I.: Books on Demand. p. 50. .
  10. https://www.newspapers.com/image/961496514/?clipping_id=139540859 "Baylor Religious Choir to Appear on Channel 6"
  11. Slaughter, Tony (October 9, 1968). "Navy Day Oct. 27". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 33. "Singer Patti O'Neal is currently at the Terrace Room at Colonial CC and will close Sunday night." Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  12. Slaughter, Tony (December 31, 1968). "Just Call It Blackstone". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 4. "Colonial CC's new Terrace Room is bringing back entertainers, with Vivian Mason due Jan. 7-19 and Patti O'Neil taking over Jan. 21 to Feb. 2." Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  13. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-shreveport-journal/139590941/ "Actress to Receive Theater World Citation"
  14. Latham, Peggy (April 13, 1969). "Former El Paso Girl". El Paso Times. . p. 37. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  15. https://www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-mirror/139525539/ "LITTLE Patti O'Neil"
  16. News: Ligon. Betty. January 4, 1971. El Pasoan Takes New York Entertainment Headlines. 17. El Paso Herald-Post. September 22, 2021. Newspapers.com.
  17. News: Broadway Review: 'Two by Two' Opens Broadway Run. Schmidt, Sandra. November 12, 1970. Los Angeles Times. J22. I liked 'Two by Two.' Really, I did. [...] It's just that the whole thing hangs on a framework as casual as that which forms the ark, and all the emotions it touches are the automatic reaction we have to well done melodrama (or bedtime stories). In the end, it is only a very small show with very small aspirations. With the ingredients it has, I wish it had been more.. . See also:
    • News: 'Two by Two' Lacks Real Sparkle. Kelly,Kevin. October 4, 1970. The Boston Globe. A45. .
  18. Web site: Theatre World Award Recipients. Theatre World Awards, Inc.. 2019-05-15.
  19. News: Leaky Ark. Kroll, Jack. November 23, 1970. Newsweek. 137. .
  20. Web site: Tricia O'Neil. TVGuide.com. TV Guide. 27 April 2020.
  21. Web site: Catching Up With TNG's Capt. Garrett, Tricia O'Neil . Staff writers . . 2013-01-28 . 2019-05-15.
  22. News: Latham . Peggy . Former El Paso Girl Makes Hit As Singer . August 6, 2022 . El Paso Times . April 13, 1969 . 7-C. Newspapers.com.