‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Friends’ actor dead at 60; had ‘perfect sense of humor’
Actor Pat Finn attends ABC’s “The Middle” 200th episodes celebration at the Fig & Olive on October 28, 2017 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic via Getty Images)FilmMagic
A character actor and comedian who appeared on TV shows like “Seinfeld,” “Friends” and “The Middle” is dead at age 60.
Pat Finn died Monday night, his family announced Wednesday. The cause of death was bladder cancer, according to the New York Post.
“It is with profound sadness and grief that the Finn family announces the passing of beloved comedic actor, Pat Finn. In 2022, Pat battled bladder cancer, went into remission, but the cancer returned and metastasized,” a family statement said. “He was a warrior in every sense of the word.”
Finn was a Second City alumnus who appeared in 70 movies and TV shows in his career, including a recurring role as neighbor Bill Norwood on ABC’s “The Middle.”
Other memorable characters included throwing a party as Joe Mayo on “The Reverse Peephole” episode of “Seinfeld”; appearing on “Friends” as Dr. Roger, a boyfriend of “Fat Monica” (Courteney Cox); and playing Phil Jr., the son of Phil’s Bar owner/bartender Phil (Pat Corley) on “Murphy Brown.”
Pat Finn appears in a 1998 episode of “Seinfeld” (Season 9, Episode 12: “The Reverse Peephole”) as Joe Mayo opposite Jerry Seinfeld and Jason Alexander. (Video still)Video still
Finn’s credits also included “The Goldbergs,” “The George Wendt Show,” “3rd Rock from the Sun,” “Ed,” “The Drew Carey Show,” “That ‘70s Show,” “The King of Queens,” “Wizards of Waverly Place,” “2 Broke Girls,” “Space Buddies,” “I Love You Beth Cooper,” “Marvin Marvin,” “It’s Complicated,” “Dude Where’s My Car?” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” He also appeared as a contestant on “Celebrity Family Feud” in 2021.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Finn was beloved as an improv comedy actor and was close friends with “Saturday Night Live” legend Chris Farley, who died in 1997. Finn met both his wife and Farley while attending Marquette University in the 1980s.
“The two of us were inseparable. We listened to comedy albums by Steve Martin and National Lampoon,” Finn said in 2022 of Farley.
“Heartbroken that our dear friend, Pat Finn, passed away,” fellow comedian Brian Stack wrote in a tribute. “As kind as he was brilliantly hilarious. This video of him at our Chicago apartment in ‘96, making his baby daughter Cassidy pretend to drive a bus and do karate kicks is priceless. Rest In Peace, Finner. We love you.”
“I don’t like to be the guy who post pics with celebrities that pass. But this guy wasn’t just a celebrity to me. He was a friend. One of the best dudes I knew with a PERFECT sense of humor,” standup comic Jeff Dye added. “I love you Pat Finn and I’ll see again in the after , we can sing together and shake our heads about all the meannes in the used to be.
Survivors include Finn’s wife of 35 years, Donna, and their three children, as well as his parents and other family members.
A GoFundMe page to help raise money helping Finn’s family with medical costs has raised more than $118,000 to date.
