Patricia Gaul is an American actress whose career spans film and television, with notable appearances in productions such as The Big Chill, Silverado, Some Kind of Wonderful, Three Men and a Little Lady, and Road Trip. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1945, she built a screen career through supporting roles in well-known films and television programs.
Although Patricia Gaul is sometimes best known to audiences because of her connection to actor Jeff Goldblum, her professional career stands on its own. She worked with filmmakers including Lawrence Kasdan and appeared in a range of dramas, comedies, television movies, and series.
This guide looks at Patricia Gaul’s early life, acting career, notable roles, marriage to Jeff Goldblum, filmography, and what is publicly known about her life and career.
Key Takeaways
- Patricia Gaul was born on October 31, 1945, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- She is an American actress who has also been credited as a director and producer.
- Her best-known screen credits include The Big Chill, Silverado, Some Kind of Wonderful, and Road Trip.
- Gaul was married to actor Jeff Goldblum from 1980 until their divorce in the mid-1980s.
- Her television work includes appearances in ER, Picket Fences, Roseanne, L.A. Law, Empty Nest, and other series.
- Publicly available sources do not provide a reliable, authoritative estimate of her net worth, so a specific figure should not be treated as established fact.
Biography Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Patricia Gaul |
| Date of Birth | October 31, 1945 |
| Age | 80 as of September 2026 |
| Birthplace | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actress; also credited as director and producer |
| Education | Reliable public information is not clearly documented |
| Years Active | At least from the 1970s through the 2010s |
| Known For | The Big Chill, Silverado, Some Kind of Wonderful, Road Trip |
| Major Achievements | A wide-ranging screen career across film and television |
| Estimated Net Worth | No reliable public estimate established |
Who Is Patricia Gaul?
Patricia Gaul is an American screen actress known for a substantial collection of supporting roles in movies and television. IMDb identifies her as an actress, director, and producer and lists October 31, 1945, as her birth date and Philadelphia as her birthplace.
Gaul’s career is particularly associated with American films and television productions of the 1980s and 1990s. She appeared in ensemble movies as well as individual television episodes, allowing her to work across different genres.
Her most recognizable credits include The Big Chill (1983), Silverado (1985), Some Kind of Wonderful (1987), Three Men and a Little Lady (1990), and Road Trip (2000).
Patricia Gaul’s Early Life
Patricia Gaul was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 31, 1945. Public entertainment databases consistently identify Philadelphia as her birthplace.
Detailed information about her childhood, parents, schooling, and early personal life is limited in reliable mainstream entertainment sources. For that reason, claims about her family background or education should be treated cautiously unless supported by a primary or authoritative source.
What is clearer is the development of her professional career. Her screen credits began appearing in the 1970s, eventually leading to more prominent supporting roles during the following decade.
Patricia Gaul’s Acting Career
Gaul’s career demonstrates how a performer can build a lasting body of work through recurring supporting roles rather than relying on a single starring performance.
One early credit was the 1973 horror film Blood, in which she was credited as Patti Gaul and played Carrie.
During the 1980s, her film and television work expanded considerably. Her credits included productions such as Frances, The Big Chill, Teachers, Silverado, Some Kind of Wonderful, and Big Business.
Her television résumé also developed alongside her movie career. TV Guide lists appearances in productions including Quincy, M.E., Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, AfterMASH, Roseanne, Thirtysomething, L.A. Law, Picket Fences, Sisters, Empty Nest, Renegade, and ER.
This range makes Gaul’s career notable for its breadth. Rather than being associated with one particular genre, she worked in drama, comedy, television movies, and feature films.
Patricia Gaul in The Big Chill
One of Patricia Gaul’s most recognizable roles came in Lawrence Kasdan’s 1983 film The Big Chill. Gaul played Annie in the movie, which featured an ensemble cast including Glenn Close, Kevin Kline, William Hurt, Mary Kay Place, Meg Tilly, JoBeth Williams, and Jeff Goldblum.
The film is particularly relevant to Gaul’s personal story because she was married to Jeff Goldblum at the time. IMDb notes that she played Goldblum’s wife in The Big Chill.
Her appearance in the film helped place her within one of the notable ensemble casts of 1980s American cinema. The movie remains one of the credits most frequently associated with her name.
Patricia Gaul and Silverado
Gaul also appeared in Lawrence Kasdan’s 1985 western Silverado, playing Kate. IMDb lists Silverado among her best-known credits.
The film featured a major cast that included Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Kevin Costner, and Danny Glover. Gaul’s connection to the project is also interesting because Jeff Goldblum appeared in the movie, making it another production in which the former couple worked within the same film.
Her work in Silverado added a western to a résumé that already included ensemble drama and comedy.
Other Notable Patricia Gaul Movies
Patricia Gaul appeared in a variety of films throughout her career. Some of the better-known examples include:
| Film | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|
| The Big Chill | 1983 | Annie |
| Teachers | 1984 | Supporting role |
| The Man with One Red Shoe | 1985 | Mrs. Brown |
| Silverado | 1985 | Kate |
| Into the Night | 1985 | Stewardess |
| Some Kind of Wonderful | 1987 | Mrs. Gale |
| Big Business | 1988 | Iona Ratliff |
| Three Men and a Little Lady | 1990 | Mrs. Walker |
| Road Trip | 2000 | Cookie Edwards |
These credits are reflected across film and television databases, although databases can differ in the number of total credits they display.
Patricia Gaul and Road Trip
Another recognizable Patricia Gaul credit came much later in her career with the 2000 comedy Road Trip. She played Cookie Edwards. IMDb lists the film among her best-known work.
The role demonstrated Gaul’s continued presence in feature-film comedy after years of work in both movies and television. Her other 2000 credit included The Specials, in which she played U.S. Bill’s Mother.
Patricia Gaul’s Television Work
Television became an important part of Gaul’s career. Her credits include both individual episodes and television movies.
Among the productions associated with her are:
- Quincy, M.E.
- Hill Street Blues
- St. Elsewhere
- AfterMASH
- Roseanne
- Thirtysomething
- L.A. Law
- Picket Fences
- Sisters
- Empty Nest
- Renegade
- ER
- Caroline in the City
- The Doctor Blake Mysteries
TV Guide lists dozens of acting credits for Gaul across television movies and series.
Her appearance in The Doctor Blake Mysteries came in 2013, where she was credited as an inmate in one episode.
Patricia Gaul and Jeff Goldblum
Patricia Gaul’s personal life has received attention because of her former marriage to actor Jeff Goldblum.
The pair married on July 4, 1980. IMDb lists their marriage as lasting until 1985, while Biography.com describes the marriage as ending in 1986. The discrepancy illustrates why specific dates should be treated carefully when different databases provide slightly different records.
Gaul and Goldblum also shared professional connections. They appeared together in The Big Chill, and both were part of the cast of Silverado.
Their marriage ended in divorce, and Gaul subsequently continued her acting career independently.
Did Patricia Gaul Have a Career Beyond Acting?
Yes. IMDb identifies Patricia Gaul as an actress, director, and producer, indicating that her professional credits were not limited exclusively to acting.
However, acting remains the part of her career for which the most publicly accessible information exists. Her film and television performances account for the majority of the credits commonly associated with her name.
When discussing her career, it is therefore more accurate to describe her primarily as an actress while acknowledging her additional work behind the camera.
Patricia Gaul’s Career Legacy
Patricia Gaul’s career illustrates the importance of supporting performers in American film and television. She appeared alongside major actors and contributed to productions that remain recognizable decades after their release.
Her résumé includes several different periods of Hollywood production, from the 1970s through the 1980s and 1990s and into the 2000s and 2010s. Her credits range from the ensemble drama of The Big Chill to the western setting of Silverado and the comedy of Road Trip.
Rather than being defined by one role, her career is best understood as a broad collection of film and television appearances.
Is Patricia Gaul Still Acting?
The publicly available filmography information shows a later credited appearance in The Doctor Blake Mysteries in 2013.
There is not enough reliable current information to establish that Gaul is actively working on new screen projects in 2026. Consequently, it is better to distinguish between her documented past credits and any claims about current professional activity.
Patricia Gaul’s Age
Patricia Gaul was born on October 31, 1945. Based on that birth date, she is 80 years old in September 2026 and will turn 81 on October 31, 2026.
Age calculations should always be tied to the current date because her age changes annually.
Patricia Gaul’s Net Worth
There is no reliably established public figure for Patricia Gaul’s net worth.
Celebrity websites sometimes publish estimated net-worth figures, but such numbers are often based on assumptions rather than verified financial records. Without reliable documentation, presenting a specific dollar amount as fact would be misleading.
For that reason, Patricia Gaul’s net worth is best described as not publicly verified rather than assigning an unsupported estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Patricia Gaul?
Patricia Gaul is an American actress known for films including The Big Chill, Silverado, Some Kind of Wonderful, Three Men and a Little Lady, and Road Trip. She has also received credits as a director and producer.
When was Patricia Gaul born?
Patricia Gaul was born on October 31, 1945, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
What is Patricia Gaul best known for?
She is particularly associated with The Big Chill, Silverado, Some Kind of Wonderful, and Road Trip.
Was Patricia Gaul married to Jeff Goldblum?
Yes. Patricia Gaul and Jeff Goldblum were married from 1980 until their divorce in the mid-1980s. Sources differ slightly on the exact year of the divorce.
Did Patricia Gaul and Jeff Goldblum appear in the same movie?
Yes. They both appeared in The Big Chill and Silverado. Gaul played Annie in The Big Chill and Kate in Silverado, while Goldblum also appeared in both films.
What movies has Patricia Gaul appeared in?
Her film credits include Blood, The Big Chill, Teachers, The Man with One Red Shoe, Silverado, Into the Night, Some Kind of Wonderful, Big Business, Three Men and a Little Lady, The Specials, and Road Trip.
Did Patricia Gaul work in television?
Yes. Her television credits include appearances in Roseanne, Thirtysomething, Picket Fences, Sisters, Empty Nest, ER, Caroline in the City, and other programs.
What is Patricia Gaul’s net worth?
A reliable, independently verified public figure for Patricia Gaul’s net worth is not available. Online estimates should therefore be treated as unverified rather than established financial facts.
Conclusion
Patricia Gaul has built a diverse American screen career across several decades. From her early appearance in Blood to recognizable roles in The Big Chill, Silverado, Some Kind of Wonderful, Three Men and a Little Lady, and Road Trip, her work covers a broad range of film and television productions.
Her marriage to Jeff Goldblum is an important part of her publicly documented personal history, but it represents only one aspect of her story. Gaul’s own professional résumé includes numerous film and television credits, including collaborations with established filmmakers and appearances in widely recognized productions.
