Pat Finn, a veteran character actor whose face was instantly recognizable to sitcom fans, has died after a harsh battle with cancer. He passed away Monday at 10:30 p.m., according to a representative for the actor, who confirmed the news to The Post. Finn was 60. In a statement, his family said he initially went into remission after a bladder cancer diagnosis in 2022, but the disease later returned and spread, ending what they described as a courageous fight.
Pat Finn: A Life in Comedy and Television
Born Patrick Cassidy Finn on July 31, 1965, in Evanston, Illinois, Finn was raised in nearby Wilmette and educated at Loyola Academy before attending Marquette University. There, he graduated in 1987 and played rugby alongside future comedy star Chris Farley, an early sign of the comic world Finn would soon enter.
After college, Finn immersed himself in Chicago’s legendary improv scene, performing with The Second City National Touring Company and the iO Theater. His work on resident Second City shows helped launch his professional acting career and led to his first major TV role on “The George Wendt Show” in the mid-1990s.
Finn became a dependable fixture of network television, earning recurring roles on series such as “Murphy Brown,” “3rd Rock from the Sun,” “Ed,” and later “The Middle,” where he appeared for nearly a decade as Bill Norwood. Though often cast in supporting roles, his grounded comedic style made his performances stand out.
In addition to his extensive TV résumé, Finn appeared in numerous films, including “Dude, Where’s My Car?,” “How High,” and “It’s Complicated,” and later expanded into writing with a credited episode of “Dads in Parks.” He is survived by his wife, Donna, and their three children.