DRUG CULTURE TYPECAST OF PATRICK McDERMOTT

Patrick McDermott as Frank Russo in JOE

Patrick McDermott portrays Frank Russo, the jerk boyfriend of hippie chick Susan Sarandon, who played Melissa in the John G. Avildson counter-culture classic JOE starring Peter Boyle. 

Patrick McDermott with Susan Sarandon in JOE

Patrick McDermott and Susan own the entire first act of the film, establishing their characters in a crummy New York loft where Frank sells bunk speed pills to afford the real stuff, keeping himself and Melissa strung-out on heroin.

Patrick McDermott testing the heroin in THE FRENCH CONNECTION

Cut three years later to the classic Oscar winning crime thriller THE FRENCH CONNECTION where Patrick turns up as a chemist who tests heroin imported from France, soon to fill the streets of New York City – but not if Gene Hackman's Popeye Dyle, a gritty narcotics officer, can help it. 

Patrick McDermott with Tony Lo Bianco in THE FRENCH CONNECTION

In THE FRENCH CONNECTION, Patrick plays a professional version of his JOE persona: think Frank Russo with actual skills and a real job.  

A young Bill Clinton lookalike buys bunk pills from Patrick McDermott in JOE

Patrick also appeared in something called DIONYSUS directed by Brian De Palma, a filmed stage play featuring members of The Performance Group, an NYC experimental theater ensemble. Perhaps this association landed Patrick his JOE gig. 

And to note, this is not the same Patrick McDermott that Olivia Newton-John dated until he vanished into thin air. Although sadly, this Patrick also vanished... from the screen... a damn shame since he did a fantastic job in two amazing films.

BUY JOE AND/OR THE FRENCH CONNECTION ON AMAZON

Obviously Amazon thinks highly of  Patrick McDermott's part in The French Connection