Patsy King

King was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 15 September 1927.[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 Shakespearean actress with the National Theatre.

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. She was an early presenter on the ABC TV show Play School, and also appeared on The Magic Circle Club and Adventure Island.[4]

She portrayed Erica Davidson, the first governor of the fictional Wentworth Detention Centre, on the cult soap opera Prisoner, as well as appearing in a spin-off stage play in the UK . King left Prisoner in 1983, but returned for guest appearances in 1984, after which she retired from television.[7]

King started her career in theatre in the early 1950s. Her stage credits include Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Blithe Spirit, Absurd Person Singular, A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur, Half a Sixpence and Love for Love. She earned the Erik Award for her portrayal of Agnes in Fourposter, and has also received the Melbourne critics' award. King was a regular theatre performer until 1984, and turned her hand to directing in 1989 and 1990, before retiring that year (although she briefly returned to the theatre in 2009 for a charity production in the stage play, Love Letters)[8]

Source = AusStage