He began his career in minstrel shows and then transitioned into vaudeville where he performed as one half of the duo Quinlan & Mack from 1905 to 1910.
[1] Quinlan began his career on the stage in 1883 as a member of Barlow, Wilson and Co.'s Mammoth Minstrels.
[1] He worked for a variety of minstrel shows, including ones operated by Al G. Field and McIntyre & Heath.
[6] Quinlan retired from the stage in 1932, and returned to his native town of Elmira where he lived for the rest of his life.
[3] Daniel J. Quinlan died during surgery at a hospital in Elmira, New York, on 12 July 1940 at the age of 77.