Early Life
Patrick, the oldest of five siblings, was born in Marietta, Georgia, the son of Nadine and Robert Patrick, Sr., a banker. His siblings are Richard (who is the lead singer for the rock band, Filter), Cheri, Karen, and Lewis. He spent his early life in Bay Village, a small suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, while he moved around the country. Patrick did not start to pursue an acting career until his mid-twenties. During his childhood years, Patrick did not like to act. In third grade he refused to wear a pair of green tights required for Peter Pan. He graduated from Farmington High School in Farmington, Michigan in 1977. Patrick was a track and field and football athlete at Bowling Green State University, although he dropped out before graduating when he found interest in drama and acting.
After leaving college, Patrick got a job as a house painter and continued as such until a boating accident in 1984 in Lake Erie. He swam for three hours in order to save the others still stranded on the accident site, while he nearly drowned in his attempt. After the accident, he moved from Ohio to Los Angeles, California at the age of 26. His main income during the first years was a job at a bar. During the early years he lived in his own car. Patrick was then picked up for various small roles and cameos in low budget films. Looking back, Patrick credited his early appearances in films for his "tough-looking exterior".
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