American actor Scott Patterson was born on September 11, 1958 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He initially attended Rutgers University, pursuing a degree in comparative literature, but he later dropped out. He then decided to take up acting classes in New York, training and later appearing in productions staged by the Actors Studio. Before that, however, he spent seven years as a professional pitcher, playing in several minor league teams and reaching the Triple-A level with his stint in Columbus’ minor league team. At one point, he was even selected by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of drafting in 1980.
Patterson made his screen acting debut in 1993, where he initially starred in television and direct-to-video films. He also had some success in theatrical film releases, playing some roles in movies such as Little Big League, A Boy Called Hate, Three Wishes and Them. He also had guest roles in shows such as Seinfeld, Arli$$, Vengeance Unlimited, Get Real, Will & Grace, It’s Like, You Know… and Silk Stalkings.
Perhaps Patterson’s most popular television role is that for the television series Gilmore Girls. He played the role of Luke Danes, the owner of a local diner whose gruff personality doesn’t get in the way of a strong friendship between him and Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham). Their friendship progresses to an on-off relationship, withstanding numerous tests and challenges. He played the role throughout the show’s seven-year run.
His next regular television role was in the short-lived comedy Aliens in America. Here he plays the role of Gary Tolchuk, the father of series protagonist Justin (Dan Byrd) and Claire (Lindsey Shaw)—an aspiring entrepreneur who is otherwise very laid-back. The series was cancelled after one season. Patterson’s more recent films include the romantic comedy Her Best Move and the thriller film Saw IV.