Dennis PatrickLOS ANGELES--Character actor Dennis Patrick, whose four-decade career in TV included a regular role on the hit nighttime soap "Dallas," died October 13 in a weekend fire at his Hollywood Hills home. MSTies may recall his minor role as Commander Yarnell, the head of the top secret research project the bad guys were trying to infiltrate, in the movie in episode 608- CODENAME: DIAMONDHEAD. He was 84. Patrick was found dead by firefighters with the body of his dog on the floor next to him, according to a spokesman for the Los Angles City Fire Department. Neighbors said Patrick, who lived in the home for more than 30 years, was battling cancer and needed kidney dialysis and rarely left the house in recent years. Patrick was a busy actor for many years, whose credits included appearances on series from "Gunsmoke," "Perry Mason" and "Kojak" to "All in the Family," "Eight is Enough" and "Coach." But he may be best known as businessman Vaughn Lelend, a competitor of the Ewing family, on the hit CBS prime-time drama "Dallas" from 1979 to 1984. He also appeared in two different roles during the 1960s on the gothic daytime serial "Dark Shadows." He also worked in films, appearing in movies such as "Joe," and "The Air Up There." 
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