Patrick Brent was born in Chicago, Illinois to Frances and Charles Monahan. Brent was adopted later by his step-father, Marine Robert Brent. Brent is the product of the Catholic educational system. These years including St. Patrick's High School; Loyola University Chicago; two years of Catholic seminary (where he suffered expulsion), and post graduate computer studies at the University of Notre Dame. During school, Brent served as an infantry Marine in the Second Battalion, Twenty Fourth Marines, Fourth Marine Division.
Brent started his acting career in Hawaii as Captain Brackett in South Pacific and later played a Marine in the movie Go for Broke.