Patsy King
Patsy King (born 13 September 1930)[1][4][5] is an Australian retired actress known for work in both theatre and television. She has been a children's television presenter, theatre director, playwright and worked in commercials, and in radio and voice over work, particularly in her early career in the United Kingdom.[6]
Patsy King | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 September 1930[1] Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | TV and Film: 1961–1984 Theatre (acting, directing, and writing) 1951-1990, 2009.[2] |
| Known for | Prisoner (also known internationally as Prisoner: Cell Block H[1]) |
| Notable work | Bellbird, Play School, Adventure Island |
| Spouse | John Sumner married 1959-1967[3] |
King started her career exclusively as a radio and classical stage actress, with roles in everything from Shakespeare to Peter Pan starting from 1951 until 1990. with a brief return to the stage post-retirement in 2009. Her career in television and children's entertainment started in the early 1960s and extended until 1984.[7]
She is known for her roles in TV series including Bellbird as Kate Andrews and internationally as an original cast member of Prisoner, internationally known as Prisoner: Cell Block H, appearing for 351 episodes as well-coiffured Governor/Warden Erica Davidson.[8]
Biography
Early life
King was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 13 September 1930.[1] She aspired to become a dress designer[1] and spent her early years in the United Kingdom.[6] Returning to Australia and opting to work in the theatre, she trained as a classical stage actress, specialising in straight drama and Shakespearean actress with the Melbourne National Theatre. In 1959, she married English-born theatre impresario John Sumner, the founder and artistic director of the mentioned company. They divorced in 1967.[5]
Career
Theatre
King started her career exclusively in theatre starting in the early 1950s, appearing in dramatic and period pieces and had numerous stage credits including Victoria Regina, The Miser, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Richard II, Blithe Spirit. Absurd Person Singular, Half a Sixpence, A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur, Love for Love and Love Letters
King earned awards including the Erik Award and the Melbourne Critics Awards for Agnes in Four Poster before retiring the stage in 1984, however she turned her hand to writing and directing her own plays in the late 1980s.
Television
Acting roles
After appearing in a few made-for-TV movies in the early 1960s she appeared in a variety of television serials from the late-1960s, including a prominent role in the rural series Bellbird and guest roles in the Crawford Productions series Hunter, The Box, and in their police procedurals Matlock Police, Division 4 and playing 14 different character parts in Homicide. She also acted in Power Without Glory, The Sullivans, Chopper Squad, Bluey, Cop Shop, Out of Love and the comedy series Good Morning, Mr. Doubleday.
Children's presenter and entertainer
She was an early presenter on the ABC TV show Play School, and also appeared on The Magic Circle Club and Adventure Island.[7]
Prisoner
She portrayed Erica Davidson, the first governor of the fictional Wentworth Detention Centre, on the cult soap opera Prisoner, after the role was offered to Googie Withers, who had played the Governor in the British series Within These Walls, in which Prisoner was loosed based on[1], subsequently she also reprised the role well appearing in a spin-off stage play that toured the UK . After King left Prisoner in 1983, she returned for brief guest appearances in 1984, after which she retired from television.[9][10]
Selected roles
Theatre
Source = AusStage
| Title | Year | Playwright | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Regina | 1951 | Laurence Housman | Ray Lawler |
| Summer and Smoke | 1956 | Tennessee Williams | Wal Cherry |
| The Miser | 1956 | Jean Baptiste Moliere | William P. Carr |
| The Wind of Heaven | 1957 | Emlyn Williams | Malcolm Phillips |
| Our Town | 1957 | Thornton Wilder | Wal Cherry |
| The Queen and the Rebels | ? | Ugo Betti | Wal Cherry |
| The Matchmaker | 1957 | Thornton Wilder | Wal Cherry |
| Tonight in Samarkand | 1957 | Jaquels Deval | Wal Cherry |
| Ring Round the Moon | 1957 | Jean Anouilh | Wal Cherry |
| Cat on a Hot Tin Roof | 1957 | Tennessee Williams | Wal Cherry |
| A View from the Bridge | 1957 | Arthur Miller | Wal Cherry |
| Peter Pan (pantomime) | 1957 | J.M. Barrie | John Carroll |
| Summer of the Seventeenth Doll | 1958 (tour, 27 performances) | 1957-1960 | Ray Lawler |
| See How They Run | 1960 | Philip King | Malcolm Roberts |
| The Mystery of a Hansom Cab | 1961 | The Importance of Being Ernest adopted by novel Fergus Hume | George Ogilvie |
| The Importance of Being Ernest | 1961 | Oscar Wilde | Brian Crossley |
| Romanoff and Juliet | 1961 | Sir Peter Ustinov | John Sumner |
| Dracula | 1962 | Bram Stoker | Moira Carleton |
| The Good Ship Walter Raleigh | 1963 | ? | Peter Batey |
| Richard II | 1963 | William Shakespeare | Raymond Westwell |
| The Fourposter | 1963-1965 (tour, 32) | Ray Lawler | Ronald Densen |
| The Happy Invalid | 1963 | Jean Baptiste-Molière | Wal Cherry |
| The Glazed Look | 1965 | Terence Journet | Irene Mitchell |
| The Cavern | 1966 | Jean Anoulit | Irene Mitchell |
| Half A Sixpence | 1967 | ? | Fred Hebert |
| Marching Song | 1969 | John Whiting | Paul Eddey |
| Love for Love | 1969 | William Congreve | Irene Mitchell |
| The Slaughter of St Theresa's Day | 1974 | Peter Kenna | Bruce Kerr |
| Absurd Person Singular | 1976 | Alan Ayckbourne | Malcolm Robertson |
| Innocent Bystanders | 1978 | Gordon Graham | Malcolm Robertson |
| A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur | 1983 | Tennessee Williams | Murray Copeland |
| Farewell Brisbane Ladies | ? | Doreen Clarke | Malcolm Robertson |
| Love wiih the Lights Out | 1989 | Patsy King | Graham Turner |
| A Constant Lover | 1990 | Gaytana Adorna | Patsy King |
| An Office Romance | 1990 | John Price | Patsy King |
| Love Letters (charity performance)[10] | 2009 | A.R. Gurney |
Filmography
FILM
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | The Journey | Role unknown | Film short |
TELEVISION
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | The General Motors Hour | Herself - Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1961 | The Rivals | Role unknown | Teleplay |
| 1962 | Suspect | Janet | Teleplay |
| 1964 | Wind from the Icy Country | Ella | Teleplay |
| 1965-1975 | Homicide | Guest roles: Sarah Adams / Helen Taylor / Trin Turner / Shirley Wallace / Kay Loder / Policewoman Burke / Janet Smith / Pat Palmer / Sybil Cochrane / Mary Hamilton / Joan Preston / Carol Long / Betty Nyberg / Joy | TV series, 14 episodes |
| 1965 | A Time to Speak | Annie | TV film |
| 1965 | Photo Finish | Role unknown | Teleplay |
| 1966 | Australian Playhouse | Guest role | ABC TV series, 1 episode "The Decision" |
| 1966 | Play School | Herself - Presenter | ABC TV series, 10 episodes |
| 1967 | Bellbird | Recurring role: Kate Andrews | ABC TV series |
| 1967 | Adventure Island | Regular role: Miss Behaviour | ABC TV series |
| 1968 | Hunter | Guest role: Jean Gallagher | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1969 | Good Morning, Mr. Doubleday | Guest role: Bridget O'Connor | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1969 | Dynasty | Guest role: Kathy Mason | ABC TV series, 1 episode |
| 1970-1975 | Division 4 | Guest roles: Mrs. Carr / Susan Hill / Carol Foster / Marion Dalton / Valerie Fisher | TV series, 5 episodes |
| 1970 | The Long Arm | Guest role: Naomi | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1971-1974 | Matlock Police | Guest roles: Lily / Joan / Jan Ross | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1974 | Marion | Recurring role: Mrs. Finnegan | ABC TV miniseries, 3 episodes |
| 1974 | This Love Affair | Guest role | ABC TV series, 1 episode 2: "Tilting At Windmills" |
| 1974 | The Box | Recurring Guest role: Gloria | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1974 | Out of Love | Guest role | ABC TV series, 1 episode 2: "It Will Never Work" |
| 1976 | Power Without Glory | Recurring role: Vera Maguire | ABC TV miniseries, 4 episodes |
| 1977 | Bluey | Guest role: Tina Golding | TV series, 1 episode 33: "Final Devotion" |
| 1977 | Hotel Story | Guest role | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1977 | The Sullivans | Recurring role: Beryl Fletcher | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 1978 | Cop Shop | Guest roles: Sara Fitzsimmons / Julie Gibbons | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1978 | Chopper Squad | Guest role: Iris Deacon | TV series, 1 episode 5: "8:52 A.M." |
| 1979-1984 | Prisoner | Regular role: Governor Erica Davidson / Erica | TV series, 353 episodes |
| 1979 | The Franky Doyle Story | Governor Erica Davidson | TV film |
| 1981 | Prisoner In Concert | Herself / Erica Davidson | TV special |
References
- ^ a b c d e f Lane, Richard (1991). Prisoner Cell Block H. London: Thames Mandarin. ISBN 0-7493-0929-6.
- ^ a b "Patsy King".
- ^ Bridal Group at University' Melbourne Age, 21 November 1959, page 7
- ^ Sinclair, Murray. "Prisoner Cell Block H". Pinnacle Books.
- ^ a b Bennet, Craig (27 December 2021) Patsy King at 91: 'Prisoner Fans Still Stop Me' New Idea. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
- ^ a b Bourke, Terry (1990). Prisoner Cell Block: Behind the Scenes. London: Angus and Robertson (UK).
- ^ a b Bryant, Margot "The illustrated Encyclopedia of Australian Showbiz"
- ^ Bridal Group at University Melbourne Age 21 November 1959 p.7
- ^ "Patsy King at the IMDB". Retrieved 25 April 2009.
- ^ a b Knox, David. "Governor's play for love".
External links
- Patsy King at IMDb