Patsy King

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Patsy King
Born (1930-09-16) 16 September 1930 (age 93)[1]
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupations
  • Actress (stage, radio, television, film)
  • television presenter
  • director
  • commercial voiceover
[2]
Years activeTV and Film: 1961–1984
Theatre (acting, directing, and writing) 1951-1990.[2]
Known forPrisoner (also known internationally as Prisoner: Cell Block H[1])
Notable work
SpouseJohn Sumner (1959-1967)[4]

Patsy King (born 16 September 1930)[1][5][3] is an Australian actress known for her work in theatre, radio and television.

She is known to international audiences for the cult classic television series Prisoner (known in the UK and USA as Prisoner: Cell Block H and Canada as Caged Women) as Governor Erica Davidson, the original Governess of the "Wentworth Detention Centre". She has been a children's television presenter, theatre director and playwright, and worked in commercials. She has also worked in radio and done voiceover work, particularly during the early stages of her career in the United Kingdom.[6]

King started her career as a radio and classical stage actress, with roles ranging from Shakespeare to Peter Pan. She was active between 1951 and 1990, then came briefly out of retirement, returning to the stage in 2009. Her career in television and children's entertainment started in the early 1960s and extended until 1984.[7] King appeared in several character roles in the police procedural series Homicide.[3], before taking a regular role in the rural series Bellbird as Kate Andrews.

Biography[edit]

Early life[edit]

She was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 16 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 Shakespeare with the Melbourne National Theatre. In 1959, she married English-born theatre impresario John Sumner, the founder and artistic director of the aforementioned company. They divorced in 1967.[3]

Career[edit]

Television series[edit]

King appeared in teleplays on the ABC in the early 1960s, before featuring in a variety of television serials and guest roles in a range of Crawford Productions series such as Hunter, The Sullivans and The Box as well as in the police procedurals Matlock Police, Division 4, Bluey, Cop Shop, and Homicide, in which she played 14 different character parts. She also acted in Power Without Glory, Chopper Squad, Out of Love and the comedy series Good Morning, Mr. Doubleday.

King became a regular cast member of the TV series Bellbird as Kate Andrews. Internationally she is known as an original cast member of Prisoner, also known as Prisoner: Cell Block H, as the first governor of the fictional Wentworth Detention Centre. She appeared in 351 episodes as well-coiffured Governor/Warden Erica Davidson. The role of Governor was originally offered to Googie Withers, who had played the role in the unrelated but similar British prison series Within These Walls. After the series ended, King toured the United Kingdom in a stage play based on the series.[8]

King wore high heels and an up-style French roll hairstyle when playing the role, as series creator Reg Watson wanted her to tower over the prison inmates. During her tenure on the show her character was kidnapped, escaped from a burning building, was sacked, reinstated, resigned, bickered with the Department, suffered family trauma, including her niece ending up in the prison on drug charges, had numerous failed romances, left her husband and was the victim of a shooting during an end-of-season cliffhanger.[3]

Children's presenter and entertainer[edit]

She was an early presenter on the ABC TV show Play School, and also appeared on The Magic Circle Club and Adventure Island.[7][1][9][10]

Theatre roles[edit]

Source: AusStage.edu.au

Although best known to TV audiences, King trained and started her early career as a stage actress in the early 1950s, and later worked as a playwright roles in productions ranging from the classic to period piece costumed roles, 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 for her theatre roles, including the Erik Award and Melbourne Critics Award for Four Poster.

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[edit]

FILM

Year Title Role Type
1972 The Journey Role unknown Film short


Television

Year Title Role Type
1961 The Rivals Lydia Teleplay
1962 Suspect (an episode of The General Motors Hour) 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 (an episode of Wednesday Theatre) Annie Telplay
1965 Photo Finish (an episode of Wednesday Theatre) 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 The Franky Doyle Story Erica Davidson TV film
1981 Prisoner in Concert Erica Davidson TV special
1979-1984 Prisoner Regular role: Governor Erica Davidson / Erica (353 episodes) TV series

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Lane, Richard (1991). Prisoner Cell Block H. London: Thames Mandarin. ISBN 0-7493-0929-6.
  2. ^ a b "Patsy King".
  3. ^ a b c d e Bennet, Craig (27 December 2021) Patsy King at 91: 'Prisoner Fans Still Stop Me' New Idea. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  4. ^ Bridal Group at University' Melbourne Age, 21 November 1959, page 7
  5. ^ Sinclair, Murray. "Prisoner Cell Block H". Pinnacle Books.
  6. ^ a b Bourke, Terry (1990). Prisoner Cell Block: Behind the Scenes. London: Angus and Robertson (UK).
  7. ^ a b Bryant, Margot "The illustrated Encyclopedia of Australian Showbiz"
  8. ^ Bridal Group at University Melbourne Age 21 November 1959 p.7
  9. ^ "Patsy King at the IMDB". IMDb. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  10. ^ a b Knox, David. "Governor's play for love".

External links[edit]