Patsy King

Patsy King (born 16 September 1930) is an Australian actress and children's television presenter, recognized for her contributions to theatre, radio, and television. Internationally, she is best known for portraying Governor Erica Davidson in the cult television series Prisoner (known as Prisoner: Cell Block H in the UK and USA, and Caged Women in Canada).

King has also worked as a theatre director, playwright, children's television presenter, and voiceover artist. She began as a radio and classical stage actress, performing in a range of roles including Shakespeare and Peter Pan. King's career spanned from 1951 to 1995, with a brief return to the stage in 2009. Her television career included roles in the series Homicide and Bellbird, where she played Kate Andrews.

Early life

King was born on 16 September 1930 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Initially aspiring to become a dress designer, she spent her early years in the United Kingdom before returning to Australia. She then pursued a career in theatre, training as a classical stage actress with the Melbourne National Theatre, specialising in straight drama and Shakespeare.

Career

Theatre

King began her career as a stage actress in the early 1950s and later became a playwright. She performed in a variety of roles, including productions of 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. Her performances earned her several awards, including the Erik Award and the Melbourne Critics Award for her role in Four Poster.

Television

In the early 1960s, King began her television career with teleplays on the ABC, followed by a variety of serials and guest roles in several Crawford Productions series, including Hunter, The Sullivans and The Box. She also appeared in police procedural dramas such as Matlock Police, Division 4, Bluey, Cop Shop, and Homicide. Her other television credits include Power Without Glory, Chopper Squad, Out of Love and Good Morning, Mr. Doubleday.

King became a regular cast member on the series Bellbird as Kate Andrews and as Governor Erica Davidson in Prisoner (also known as Prisoner: Cell Block H). She portrayed the first governor of the fictional Wentworth Detention Centre, appearing in 351 episodes. Following the conclusion of the series, King toured the United Kingdom in a stage play based on Prisoner.

King was also a notable children's television presenter, serving as an early host on the ABC show Play School. She additionally appeared on The Magic Circle Club and Adventure Island.

Personal life

In 1959, she married English-born Australian theatre impresario John Sumner, the founder and artistic director of the Melbourne National Theatre. They divorced in 1967.