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Patti Deutsch
Patti Deutsch.jpg
Born
Elaine Patricia Deutsch

(1943-12-16)December 16, 1943
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died July 26, 2017(2017-07-26) (aged 73)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actress
  • comedian
Years active 1968–2013
Spouse(s)
Donald Ross
​
(m. 1968)​
Children 3

Patricia Deutsch Ross (born Elaine Patricia Deutsch; December 16, 1943 – July 26, 2017) was an American actress and comedian. She was famous for being a regular guest on 1970s TV game shows. These included Match Game and Tattletales.

Patti Deutsch's Early Life and Education

Patti Deutsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She finished high school at Taylor Allderdice High School in 1961. After that, she studied at several colleges. These included Bennington College and Carnegie Mellon. She also attended the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Southern California.

Patti Deutsch's Career in Entertainment

Starting Out in Comedy and Theater

Early in her career, Patti Deutsch performed in local plays. She starred in Neil Simon's California Suite. She also worked with famous comedian Sid Caesar in New York City.

In the 1960s and early 1970s, Deutsch was part of an improv comedy group. It was called Ace Trucking Company. Other members included Fred Willard. The group often performed on This Is Tom Jones and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. They even made a comedy album.

Television Roles and Game Show Fame

From 1972 to 1973, Deutsch was a regular on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. Here, she worked with Richard Dawson, who would also be on Match Game.

From 1973 to 1979, Patti Deutsch was a popular guest on Match Game. She often sat in the number six seat. She also appeared on Tattletales with her husband. In 1978, she was in the TV series Grandpa Goes to Washington. Later, in the 1980s, she guest-starred on shows like Moonlighting. Her last TV role was in 2013 on Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23.

Guest Appearances on Talk Shows

Besides The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Deutsch appeared on other talk shows. These included The Merv Griffin Show and The Dick Cavett Show. In 2008, she was a guest on GSN's GSN Live. In 2009, Deutsch and other Match Game stars accepted an award. They received the "Favorite Classic Game Show" award for Match Game.

Voice Acting in Cartoons and Movies

Patti Deutsch also had a successful career as a voice actress. Early on, she did voice-overs for The Electric Company. In the 1980s and 1990s, she worked for Hanna-Barbera. She voiced characters in The Smurfs and Capitol Critters. She was the voice of Mrs. Dave on the popular Nickelodeon cartoon As Told by Ginger. She also voiced characters in Darkwing Duck.

Her voice was also heard in many animated movies. These included Tarzan, The Emperor's New Groove, and Monsters, Inc..

Commercials and Movie Cameos

Throughout her career, Deutsch appeared in many commercials. She was in classic ads for Folgers coffee and Charmin bathroom tissue. She also did commercials for a Canadian food store called M&M Meat Shops. In 1983, she had a small role in the movie Mr. Mom. She played The Deli Girl.

Patti Deutsch's Personal Life

Patti Deutsch met her future husband, Donald Ross, during her improv comedy days. He was a comedy writer. They got married in 1968 and had three children: Max, Lee, and Alexis. Both Patti and Donald appeared on Match Game '74 during the same week.

Patti Deutsch passed away from cancer on July 26, 2017. She was 73 years old. Her husband, Donald, also passed away from cancer in 2018.

Selected Filmography

Film

Television

  • This Is Tom Jones (1969-1971) – regular performer with The Ace Trucking Company
  • Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In (1972–1973) – regular performer
  • Match Game (1973–1979) – frequent panelist
  • Tattletales (1974–1978, 1982–1984) – frequent panelist
  • Grandpa Goes to Washington (1978–1979) – Patti
  • Capitol Critters (1992) – Trixie
  • The Wild Thornberrys (1999) - Clan Hyena (voice)
  • As Told by Ginger (2000) - Mrs. Dave (voice)
  • The Berenstain Bears (2003–2004) – additional voices
  • The 100 Most Unexpected TV Moments (2005) – herself
  • The Emperor's New School (2007-2008) – Mata, the Lunch Lady
  • Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (2013) - Old lady
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