Patty Ross obit

RIP Patty Ross

Despite her gruff comic persona, Ross was a sweetheart

 She was not on the list.

About two hours ago, veteran Boston comic Paul D’Angelo reported the death of his friend and fellow Boston comedian Patty Ross. On his Facebook account, he wrote, “One of my best friends in the world passed away today, extraordinary actress / comedienne Patty Ross. Although I was kind of prepared for this news, I'm just lost for words right now.”

Patty is a big loss for Boston comedy. I spent time one night with Ross and D’Angelo after the two shot scenes for a pilot D’Angelo financed for the two of them called A Fine Mess, just hanging out in a bar somewhere I can’t even remember. And, of course, I saw her in clubs and theaters around Boston very early in my career covering comedy here.

Patty had a gruff, deep voice and the on-stage countenance of the last woman you’d ever want to mess with at the end of the night in a dive bar. In reality, she was one of the biggest sweethearts in the scene, and she had a great, throaty laugh. Which made her turn in The Heat with Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock, actually playing that woman at the bar, so satisfying. It’s a small part, but it has always delighted me. And her character is actually named Patty.

Ross, a Dedham native, was given the Comedian of the Year honor at the Boston Comedy Festival in 2016. In a piece I wrote for the Boston Globe, Festival founder Jim McCue said then that Patty never quite got the recognition she deserved as a comic and a performer.

Ross was surprised when she got the news about a month ago that she’d be honored at the festival. “I didn’t even understand what was happening,” she says. “The first words out of my mouth, because I’ve got a big ego and low self-esteem, I said, ‘Why?’ ” She’s never dwelled on the question of whether she’s gotten enough credit as a comic. “I don’t ever think about things like that,” she says. “Otherwise I wouldn’t get out of bed in the morning. I don’t get out of bed in the morning anyways, but I never think about things like that.”

Ross has fond memories of her earlier time in Boston, before a move to Los Angeles, but it wasn’t all rosy. She remembers being the only woman in the inner circle of the local scene in the late ’80s and early ’90s. “I went through years of being grateful that I was the girl, and then I just got sick of them all and I said no, I’m not engaging in this anymore,” she says. These days, she eschews clubs in favor of doing her one-woman show in theaters and for charity functions.

When she went to Los Angeles in the early ’90s, she became a regular at The Comedy Store, and got movie and TV roles, including on “Roseanne.” Since moving back to Boston a decade ago, she’s been getting small but juicy roles in movies like “Spotlight” and “The Heat.” In the latter, she played a woman at a bar shouting profanities in Sandra Bullock’s face. “My cursing became [director] Paul Feig’s ringtone,” she says. She’s scheduled to start shooting a supporting role in a “Three Stooges” prequel soon.

Even at her most gruff, Ross exudes warmth, and her frustrations are universal. “I don’t think I’m mean at all,” she says. “I think I’m sarcastic because I’m pointing out the absurdity of what you just did or what came out of your mouth. When you fall on the ground and people stand over you as you’re bleeding because you tripped on a curb, and they just stand there and say, ‘Are you all right?,’ that kind of thing aggravates me.”

I am unsure of the cause of death at this time, but I knew Patty had been in ill health for some time. I attended a benefit for her at Giggles in January of 2025, put together by D’Angelo, and spoke to him about it for Field Reports. You can listen to D’Angelo talk about Patty here.

There have already been plenty of fond remembrances of Patty on social media, and you should read every one when you see them. I am sure they will all paint a similar picture of a sweet person and a great Boston original. And if you haven’t seen her, here’s a good introduction to her comedy.

 

Actress

Testament of Grace (2022)

Testament of Grace

Short

Madame Lucinda

2022

 

Steve Buscemi, Ray Liotta, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, Tim Meadows, Julie Bowen, Kevin James, Maya Rudolph, Kenan Thompson, Karan Brar, Paris Berelc, and Noah Schnapp in Hubie Halloween (2020)

Hubie Halloween

5.3

Scary Locker Lady

2020

 

Mark Wahlberg and Winston Duke in Spenser Confidential (2020)

Spenser Confidential

6.2

Mrs. Weisnewski

2020

 

David Spade, Nat Faxon, Matt Shively, and Joey Bragg in Father of the Year (2018)

Father of the Year

5.2

Wife Race Worker

2018

 

Michael Keaton, Liev Schreiber, Brian d'Arcy James, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel McAdams in Spotlight (2015)

Spotlight

8.1

Linda

2015

 

Mena Suvari, Josh Hopkins, Kristin Chenoweth, Jennifer Finnigan, and Geoff Stults in The Opposite Sex (2014)

The Opposite Sex

4.5

Stenographer

2014

 

Clear History (2013)

Clear History

6.4

TV Movie

Gladys

2013

 

Salma Hayek, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Maria Bello, David Spade, Kevin James, and Maya Rudolph in Grown Ups 2 (2013)

Grown Ups 2

5.4

Pizza Delivery Woman

2013

 

Sandra Bullock, Demián Bichir, Melissa McCarthy, Michael McDonald, Adam Ray, and Spoken Reasons in The Heat (2013)

The Heat

6.6

Drunk Woman

2013

 

Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg in That's My Boy (2012)

That's My Boy

5.6

Judge

2012

 

Sean Hayes, Chris Diamantopoulos, and Will Sasso in The Three Stooges (2012)

The Three Stooges

5.2

Head Nurse

2012

 

The Restaurant (2011)

The Restaurant

8.2

Short

Patty

2011

 

The Love Guide (2011)

The Love Guide

3.9

Gladys

2011

 

Oxy-Morons (2010)

Oxy-Morons

5.5

Patty

2010

 

Hosed

Video

Paula

2010

 

Eliza Dushku, Ben Barnes, and Sarah Roemer in Locked In (2010)

Locked In

4.7

Nurse Mary

2010

 

Em & Me (2004)

Em & Me

7.5

Beatrice

2004

 

My Wife and Kids (2000)

My Wife and Kids

7.0

TV Series

Female Cop (as Patti Ross)

2002

1 episode

 

Bev

TV Movie

(as Patti Ross)

2001

 

Andrew Dice Clay, Richard Grieco, Angie Everhart, and Jennifer O'Dell in Point Doom (2000)

Point Doom

3.8

Secretary

2000

 

Traylor Howard, Ryan Reynolds, Suzanne Cryer, Nathan Fillion, and Richard Ruccolo in Two Guys and a Girl (1998)

Two Guys and a Girl

7.4

TV Series

Johnny's Sister Patti

1999

1 episode

 

Damon Wayans, David Alan Grier, Melissa De Sousa, Dom Irrera, Andrea Martin, Julio Oscar Mechoso, and Greg Pitts in Damon (1998)

Damon

7.1

TV Series

Mrs. Lindstrom

1998

1 episode

 

Sarah Michelle Gellar in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

8.3

TV Series

Cool Guy's Mom

1997

1 episode

 

John Goodman, Roseanne Barr, Sara Gilbert, Michael Fishman, Alicia Goranson, and Laurie Metcalf in Roseanne (1988)

Roseanne

7.1

TV Series

Bobby Barrows (as Patti Ross)

1997

1 episode

 

Bless This House (1995)

Bless This House

6.4

TV Series

Joy (as Patti Ross)

1995–1996

2 episodes

 

James Caan in Thief (1981)

Thief

7.4

Marie (as Patti Ross)

1981

 

Self

Meemaw

Self - Principal Patty McPeriwinkle

Completed TV Series

6 episodes