# Patricia Broderick
**Patricia Broderick** (born Patricia Biow; 23 February 1925 – 18 November 2003) was an American playwright, screenwriter, actress, and painter, best known as the mother of actor [Matthew Broderick](https://www.edgepedia.org/matthew-broderick) and as the writer of the screenplay for the 1996 film *Infinity*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0110832)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 23 February 1925, New York City; 18 November 2003, New York City, of cancer, at age 78[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0110832) |
| Birth name | Patricia Biow, daughter of Sophia (née Taub) and Milton Biow[2](https://www.peoplay.com/cgi-bin/magnum?id=219865&sid=2A2466EC04266B3B&ts=1D9176A1&type=10) |
| Marriage | Married actor James Broderick in May 1949; the marriage lasted until his death on 1 November 1982 and produced three children[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0110814/) |
| Screen work | Screenplay for *Infinity* (1996) and a writing credit for the television anthology *Theatre '62* (1961)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0110832) |
| Stage work | Play *The Admiration of Life*, produced at the Arts Theatre, London, opening 30 March 1960[4](https://jpwearing.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/london-stage-1960-1980-final-10.pdf) |
| Other work | Painter and director of plays, in addition to writing them[5](https://www.masterworksbroadway.com/artist/matthew-broderick/) • [6](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-30-ca-56525-story.html) |
## Life and family
Broderick was born in New York City as Patricia Biow, the daughter of Sophia (née Taub) and Milton Biow.[2](https://www.peoplay.com/cgi-bin/magnum?id=219865&sid=2A2466EC04266B3B&ts=1D9176A1&type=10) In May 1949 she married the actor [James Broderick](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-broderick), and the couple had three children: Martha, Janet, and Matthew, the actor later known for *Ferris Bueller's Day Off* and his Tony-winning stage career.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0110814/) • [7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0110814/bio/) James Broderick died of cancer on 1 November 1982.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0110814/)
The household was immersed in the arts. Matthew Broderick described an "arty upbringing" in which his well-read mother shaped the conversation at home, and he recalled going to the theater when his father performed in it and visiting museums often.[6](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-30-ca-56525-story.html) [Reference](https://www.edgepedia.org/reference) works describe her variously as a playwright, actress, and painter of Polish Jewish background, and as a writer and director of plays.[5](https://www.masterworksbroadway.com/artist/matthew-broderick/) • [8](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-International-Television-Almanac/1998/International-Television-Almanac-1998-Whos-Who.pdf)
## Stage and early screen writing
Her play *The Admiration of Life* opened at the Arts Theatre in London on 30 March 1960. The *Observer* found faults in the play but declared that Patricia Broderick possessed real talent.[4](https://jpwearing.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/london-stage-1960-1980-final-10.pdf) In 1961 she received a writing credit for one episode of the television series *Theatre '62*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0110832) BroadwayWorld lists one show to her name as a playwright, *Graduation*.[9](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Patricia-Broderick/)
## Infinity
Broderick's most visible screen credit came late in her life. She wrote the screenplay for *Infinity* (1996), a film about the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman, in which her son Matthew Broderick made his directorial debut while also starring, with [Patricia Arquette](https://www.edgepedia.org/patricia-arquette) in the cast.[6](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-30-ca-56525-story.html) The film wrapped in early September 1995, and Matthew Broderick worked closely with his mother during the production.[6](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-30-ca-56525-story.html) • [7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0110814/bio/) Making the film, her son later said, was rough, and he would think twice before directing again.[6](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-30-ca-56525-story.html)
Broderick died on 18 November 2003 in New York City, of cancer, at the age of 78.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0110832)
## References
1. [Patricia Broderick (1925–2003), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0110832)
2. [Patricia Broderick, Psychology of Numbers biographical entry](https://www.peoplay.com/cgi-bin/magnum?id=219865&sid=2A2466EC04266B3B&ts=1D9176A1&type=10)
3. [James Broderick, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0110814/)
4. [J. P. Wearing, The London Stage 1960–1980, productions of 1960](https://jpwearing.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/london-stage-1960-1980-final-10.pdf)
5. [Matthew Broderick, The Official Masterworks Broadway Site](https://www.masterworksbroadway.com/artist/matthew-broderick/)
6. [Kristine McKenna, "A Little Song, a Little Dance," Los Angeles Times, 30 October 1994](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-30-ca-56525-story.html)
7. [James Broderick Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0110814/bio/)
8. [International Television Almanac 1998, Who's Who: Broderick, Matthew](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-International-Television-Almanac/1998/International-Television-Almanac-1998-Whos-Who.pdf)
9. [Patricia Broderick (Playwright), BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Patricia-Broderick/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Theater and dance › Playwrights and dramatists › Anglophone playwrights › 20th-century American dramatists*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license