Patsy King facts for kids

Patsy King (born 16 September 1930, died 19 January 2026) was a talented Australian actress. She was also a popular children's television presenter. Patsy King made many important contributions to theatre, radio, and television throughout her career.

Around the world, many people knew her best for playing Erica Davidson. This was the first governor in the TV series Prisoner. This show was also called Prisoner: Cell Block H in some countries.

Patsy King was also a theatre director, a writer for plays, and a voiceover artist. She started her career acting in radio shows and on stage. She performed in classic plays, including those by Shakespeare and Peter Pan. Her acting career lasted from 1951 to 1995. She even returned to the stage for a short time in 2009. She also appeared in TV shows like Homicide and Bellbird.

Discovering Patsy King

Early Life and Big Dreams

Patsy King was born in Melbourne, Australia, on 16 September 1930. When she was young, she dreamed of becoming a dress designer. She lived in the United Kingdom for a while before coming back to Australia.

After returning, Patsy decided to become an actress. She trained at the Melbourne National Theatre. There, she learned to be a classical stage actress. She focused on serious plays and works by Shakespeare.

Patsy King's Acting Career

Shining on Stage

Patsy King started acting on stage in the early 1950s. She later also wrote plays. She acted in many different theatre productions. Some of these included Victoria Regina and Peter Pan.

Her acting was highly praised. She won several awards for her stage work. These included the Erik Award and the Melbourne Critics Award. She received these for her role in a play called Four Poster.

From TV Dramas to Kids' Shows

Patsy King started her television career in the early 1960s. She appeared in TV plays on the ABC. She also had guest roles in many popular TV series. These included Hunter, The Sullivans, and The Box.

She also acted in police procedural shows. These were dramas about police work. Some of these shows were Matlock Police, Division 4, and Homicide.

Patsy King became a regular on the TV series Bellbird. She played the character Kate Andrews. She was also famous for her role as Governor Erica Davidson in Prisoner. This show was very popular and she appeared in 351 episodes. She played the first governor of the Wentworth Detention Centre in the story. After the show ended, she even performed in a stage play based on Prisoner in the United Kingdom.

A Favorite on Children's Television

Patsy King was also a well-known children's television presenter. She was one of the first hosts of Play School on the ABC. Many kids loved watching her on this show. She also appeared in other children's programs. These included The Magic Circle Club and Adventure Island.

About Patsy King's Life

In 1959, Patsy King married John Sumner. He was a theatre director and founded the Melbourne Theatre Company. They were married for eight years.

Patsy King passed away in Melbourne on 19 January 2026. She was 95 years old.