Shirley Patterson

Shirley Patterson, sometimes billed as Shawn Smith, (December 26, 1922 – April 4, 1995) was a Canadian-born B-movie actress of the 1940s and 1950s.

Shirley Patterson
Shirley Patterson c. 1943
Born(1922-12-26)December 26, 1922
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
DiedApril 4, 1995(1995-04-04) (aged 72)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Other namesShawn Smith
OccupationFilm, television actress
Years active1942–1959
Spouse(s)Alfred F. Smith, Jr (?-1971)
John L. Bodette (1979-1995) (her death)[1]

Early years

Born in Winnipeg,[2] Patterson grew up in Eastend, Saskatchewan, Canada. She was the daughter of druggist Benjamin Patterson. The family moved to Los Angeles because of her father's health problems, and she finished her education there.[3]

Career

Patterson began her acting career after being a beauty contestant in pageants in California 1939-1940. In 1940 she won the Miss California Pageant but was disqualified later when it was found she was underage. The contestant (Rosemary LaPlanche) that won second place went on later in 1941 to win the Miss America Pageant.

She graduated from the Mar-Ken School in Sherman Oaks, California, in 1941, and she signed a contract with Columbia Pictures after a talent scout saw her perform in a little theater production.[4] Her career spanned 40 films, a few television appearances, and a serial.

Patterson played the role of heroine in the 1943 15-chapter Batman serial. In 1944, she starred in The Vigilantes Ride alongside Russell Hayden and Bob Wills. In 1946, she accompanied Eddie Dean and Roscoe Ates in the film Driftin River, and starred with them again that same year in Tumbleweed Trail, as well as Stars Over Texas. She also was Dean's object of affection in the song, "Let's Go Sparkin'" in the 1948 film Black Hills.

[3] Patterson played Poppea, Nero's consort, in a nonspeaking role in The Silver Chalice (1954).[2] Two of her last films were the 1957 movie The Land Unknown and the 1958 science-fiction film It! The Terror from Beyond Space. Shortly after the close of filming in 1958 while skiing at Lake Arrowhead, CA she suffered a severely broken leg. It was broken in nine different places. She was in a full leg cast for a year and a half cast for another six months. After that it was hard for her to stand for long periods, ending her acting career.

Personal life

She had one child, Alfred F. Smith III (Tory). Patterson was married to Alfred F. Smith Jr.[3]

Death

Patterson had a long fight with cancer in her later years, and died in 1995 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Her ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1942North of the RockiesLydia Rogers
1942They All Kissed the BrideReceptionistUncredited
1942Riders of the NorthlandSheila Taylor
1942Parachute NurseKatherine Webb
1942Sabotage SquadMiss ColeUncredited
1942A Man's WorldNurse BentleyUncredited
1942Lucky LegsChambermaidUncredited
1942The Spirit of StanfordJune Rogers
1942Riding Through NevadaGail Holloway
1942Boston Blackie Goes HollywoodStewardessUncredited
1942Laugh Your Blues AwayMrs. KnoxUncredited
1943Spook LouderPerkinsUncredited
1943Let's Have FunGirlUncredited
1943Redhead from ManhattanTelephone OperatorUncredited
1943The More the MerrierGirlUncredited
1943Law of the NorthwestMichele Darcy
1943Good Luck, Mr. YatesSecretaryUncredited
1943BatmanLinda PageSerial
1943DestroyerBigbee's GirlUncredited
1943Dangerous BlondesBrideUncredited
1943My Kingdom for a CookElevator GirlUncredited
1943The Texas KidNancy Drew
1943Klondike KateDancerUncredited
1943The Vigilantes RideJane AndrewsUncredited
1944Riding WestAlice Morton
1944Marriage Is a Private AffairMary Saunders
1945Keep Your Powder DryWAC Brooks
1945Between Two WomenNurse Thorsen
1946The Harvey GirlsHarvey GirlUncredited
1946Tumbleweed TrailRobin Ryan
1946Driftin' RiverJ. C. 'Jenny' Morgan
1946Stars Over TexasTerry Lawrence
1947Black HillsJanet Hadley
1953Second ChanceUncredited
1953The French LineModelUncredited
1954The Long WaitCarol Shay
1954The Silver ChalicePoppaeaUncredited
1955The ShrikeCelia JohnsUncredited
1956The Bottom of the BottleGossipy WomanUncredited
1956World Without EndElaine
1957The Land UnknownMargaret Hathaway
1958It! The Terror from Beyond SpaceAnn Anderson

References
  1. "Shawn Smith - The Private Life and Times of Shawn Smith. Shawn Smith Pictures". www.glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com.
  2. Willett, Bob (April 23, 1955). "Lucky Nero: His Wife Doesn't Talk". The Ottawa Citizen. p. Weekend Magazine - 14. Retrieved September 26, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Lucky Nero". The Ottawa Citizen. Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. April 23, 1955. p. Weekend Magazine - 16. Retrieved September 26, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Little Theater Star Gets Film Role". The Salt Lake Telegram. United Press. September 10, 1941. p. 8. Retrieved September 11, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.


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