Paddy McGuire

born: 15 December 1885
New Orleans, Louisiana,
United States of America		 died: 16 November 1923
Norwalk, California,
United States of America
(syphilis, age 39)

Irish (or) American* (depending on which source you believe) comic actor who worked with both Mack Sennett and Hal Roach during 1918. His surname is sometimes spelled "McQuire". His death certificate says "General Paralysis of the Insane", which was confirmed by a Wassermann Test for syphilis.
Different sources give different information regarding his real name: Brent Walker's "Mack Sennett's Fun Factory" list he is Padgene McQuire, born 15 December 1885 Ireland and had a height of 6'1¼".
Other sources list him as Harris McQuire, born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA (which is what he says in his 1917 marriage record, the 1920 Census, and the Motion Picture Studio Directories; also says he's "native born" [in the U.S.] on his WWI draft registration card). Also, the Motion Picture Studio Directories give a (IMO, more believable) height of 5'9".
The Harold Lloyd Encyclopedia lists him simply as P. McGuire.
Real name: Padgene McQuire (or) Harris McQuire
Height: between 5'9" - 6'1¼" 		Films listed on this page: complete Hal Roach filmography;
plus 1 film with Stan Laurel.

8


1918		 No Place Like Jail
[?]

1918		 Why Pick On Me?
[?]

1918		 Take A Chance
[?]

1919		 On The Fire
[?]

1919		 The Dutiful Dub
[?]

1919		 Next Aisle Over
[?]

1919		 Just Dropped In
[?]

1919		 Ring Up The Curtain
[?]
▼ NON-HAL ROACH FILMS

1922		 The Pest
Deaf & dumb patient

DEATH CERTIFICATE
(click image to enlarge)

Acknowledgements & sources:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9SX-SZ7K?i=1309&cc=2001287&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQGTN-S14B
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddy_McGuire (Wikipedia)
http://archive.org/stream/motionpicturestu00moti#page/66/mode/1up/search/mcguire (Oct 1916 Motion Picture News Studio Directory)
https://archive.org/stream/moctu00moti#page/88/mode/1up/search/mcquire (Apr 1917 Motion Picture Studio Directory)
https://archive.org/stream/motrestu00moti#page/86/mode/1up/search/mcguire (1918 Motion Picture Studio Directory)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MV2B-7RM (Harris McQuire in 1910 Census)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8DH-PWL (1917 marriage - "Paddy H. ["H" for "Harris?"] McQuire," age 32 - c. 1884)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLH4-S2R (1917 marriage)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZVN-TP9 (WWI draft reg. card - "Padgene Mc[Q/G]uire" - Sept. 1918,
says b. Dec. 1885, but gives age 33 suggesting 1884)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHQL-Y61 (1920 Census)
The Harold Lloyd Encyclopedia by Annette D'Agostino Lloyd (book - refers to him as P. McGuire)
Mack Sennett's Fun Factory by Brent Walker
Stan Without Ollie by Ted Okuda & James L. Neibaur (book)
Steve Rydzewski (identification in The Pest)
Jim Jarvis (research and details regarding death)
Jesse Brisson (research and help)

This page was last updated on: 04 April 2023