Michael Pate OAM (born Edward John Pate; 26 February 1920 – 1 September 2008) was an Australian actor, writer, director, and producer, who also worked in Hollywood in the 1950s and 1960s.

Biography

Early life

Pate was born in Drummoyne, New South Wales, and attended

Fort Street High School , motto_translation = Each person is the maker of their own fortune , sister_school = Suginami Sogo High School, Tokyo, Japan , location = Parramatta Road, Petersham, Inner West Sydney, New South Wales , ...

. Initially interested in becoming a medical missionary, but unable to afford the university fees due to the Depression, he worked in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mounta ...

before 1938, when he became a writer and broadcaster for the

Australian Broadcasting Commission The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is the national broadcaster of Australia. It is principally funded by direct grants from the Australian Government and is administered by a government-appointed board. The ABC is a publicly-owned ...

, collaborating with George Ivan Smith on ''Youth Speaks''. For the remainder of the 1930s, he worked primarily in radio drama. He also published theatrical and

literary criticism Literary criticism (or literary studies) is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often influenced by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of literature's goals and methods. ...

and enjoyed brief success as an author of

short stories A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest t ...

, publishing works in both Australia and the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

World War II

During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, Pate served in the

Australian Army The Australian Army is the principal land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (CA), who ...

in the

South West Pacific Area South West Pacific Area (SWPA) was the name given to the Allied supreme military command in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands in the Pacific War. SWPA included the Philippines, Borneo, the ...

. He was transferred to the 1st Australian Army Amenities Entertainment Unit, known as "The Islanders", entertaining Australian troops in various combat areas.

Australian acting career

After the war, Pate returned to radio, appearing in many plays and serials. Between 1946 and 1950 he began working in films. In 1949 he appeared in his first leading role in ''

Sons of Matthew ''Sons of Matthew'' is a 1949 Australian film directed and produced and co-written by Charles Chauvel. The film was shot in 1947 on location in Queensland, Australia, and the studio sequences in Sydney. ''Sons of Matthew'' took 18 months to comp ...

''. In 1950, he appeared in '' Bitter Springs'' with

Tommy Trinder Thomas Edward Trinder CBE (24 March 1909 – 10 July 1989) was an English stage, screen and radio comedian whose catchphrase was "You lucky people!". Described by cultural historian Matthew Sweet as "a cocky, front-of-cloth variety turn", he ...

and

Chips Rafferty John William Pilbean Goffage MBE (26 March 190927 May 1971), known professionally as Chips Rafferty, was an Australian actor. Called "the living symbol of the typical Australian", Rafferty's career stretched from the late 1930s until his death ...

. That same year Pate also adapted, produced, and directed two plays: ''Dark of the Moon'' and ''Bonaventure''.

Hollywood, 1950s–1960s

Later in 1950 he travelled to the United States to appear in a film adaptation of ''Bonaventure'' for

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Americ ...

, which was released in 1951 as '' Thunder on the Hill'', starring

Claudette Colbert Claudette Colbert ( ; born Émilie Claudette Chauchoin; September 13, 1903July 30, 1996) was an American actress. Colbert began her career in Broadway productions during the late 1920s and progressed to films with the advent of talking pictures ...

and

Ann Blyth Ann Marie Blyth (born August 16, 1928) is an American retired actress and singer. For her performance as Veda in the 1945 Michael Curtiz film ''Mildred Pierce (film), Mildred Pierce'', Blyth was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting ...

. Pate spent most of the remainder of the 1950s in the United States, appearing in over 300 television shows and films. Most notable among those was a 1954 ''

Climax! ''Climax!'' (later known as ''Climax Mystery Theater'') is an American television anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS progra ...

'' live production of

Ian Fleming Ian Lancaster Fleming (28 May 1908 – 12 August 1964) was a British writer who is best known for his postwar ''James Bond'' series of spy novels. Fleming came from a wealthy family connected to the merchant bank Robert Fleming & Co., an ...

's '' Casino Royale'', in which Pate played the role of " Clarence Leiter", opposite

Barry Nelson Barry Nelson (born Robert Haakon Nielsen; April 16, 1917 – April 7, 2007) was an American actor, noted as the first actor to portray Ian Fleming's secret agent James Bond. Early life Nelson was born in San Francisco, the son of Norwegian immi ...

's " Jimmy Bond". On the big screen, he played the one-scene role of

Flavius The gens Flavia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Its members are first mentioned during the last three centuries of the Republic. The first of the Flavii to achieve prominence was Marcus Flavius, tribune of the plebs in 327 and 323 BC; ...

in ''

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, an ...

'', the 1953 film adaptation of

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

's play. In the same year he played for the first time the

Apache The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño a ...

chief Victorio, a role he would reprise several times in his career, in Australian director

John Farrow John Villiers Farrow, KGCHS (10 February 190427 January 1963) was an Australian film director, producer, and screenwriter. Spending a considerable amount of his career in the United States, in 1942 he was nominated for the Academy Award for B ...

's western ''

Hondo Hondo may refer to: Places * Rio Hondo (disambiguation), the name of several locations, derived from the Spanish word for "deep" Canada * Hondo, Alberta, an unincorporated community United States * Hondo, New Mexico, an unincorporated com ...

'' playing opposite

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Go ...

. Pate later said that this was his favourite film role. He also went on to perform many Native American roles in movies and on television. In 1956 he appeared in the film '' The Court Jester'', and three years later he played the lead role of a gunfighting

vampire A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead creatures that often visited loved ones and caused mi ...

in the horror film ''

Curse of the Undead ''Curse of the Undead'' is a 1959 American horror Western film directed by Edward Dein and starring Eric Fleming, Michael Pate and Kathleen Crowley. Plot In an Old West town, young girls are dying of a mysterious wasting disease. Dr. John ...

''. He played parts as well in episodes 27 and 28 of the 1957 television series ''

Zorro Zorro ( Spanish for 'fox') is a fictional character created in 1919 by American pulp writer Johnston McCulley, appearing in works set in the Pueblo of Los Angeles in Alta California. He is typically portrayed as a dashing masked vigilante w ...

'' along with Guy Williams. Pate in 1963 played the role of Puma, the

Comanche The Comanche or Nʉmʉnʉʉ ( com, Nʉmʉnʉʉ, "the people") are a Native American tribe from the Southern Plains of the present-day United States. Comanche people today belong to the federally recognized Comanche Nation, headquartered in ...

chief in

Andrew V. McLaglen Andrew Victor McLaglen (July 28, 1920 – August 30, 2014) was a British-born American film and television director, known for Westerns and adventure films, often starring John Wayne or James Stewart. According to one obituary "His career ...

's western ''

McLintock! :''See also McClintock (disambiguation)'' ''McLintock!'' is a 1963 American Western comedy film, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, directed by Andrew V. McLaglen. The film co-stars Wayne's son Patrick Wayne, Stefanie Powers, Jack Kr ...

'', again playing opposite John Wayne. During his time in the United States, Pate became an acting instructor and lecturer, and wrote many screenplays and plays for American films and television series, including '' Rawhide'' ("Incident of the Power and the Plow" with

Dick Van Patten Richard Vincent Van Patten (December 9, 1928 – June 23, 2015) was an American actor, comedian, businessman, and animal welfare advocate, whose career spanned seven decades of television. He was best known for his role as patriarch Tom Brad ...

) and ''

Most Dangerous Man Alive ''Most Dangerous Man Alive'' is a 1961 American science fiction film, produced by Benedict Bogeaus, directed by Allan Dwan (the final film of his long career), that stars Ron Randell, Debra Paget, and Elaine Stewart. The film was distributed by C ...

'' ("The Steel Monster"). In 1959, he returned briefly to Australia, where he starred in a television presentation of '' Tragedy in a Temporary Town'', shown as part of the ''

Shell Presents ''Shell Presents'' was an early attempt at Australian television drama, being an umbrella title for several different productions. It debuted on 4 April 1959, and aired on ATN-7 and GTV-9, who split production of plays for the series between t ...

'' anthology drama series. After that project he returned to the United States for another eight years, during which time he enjoyed a successful career as a television

character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to b ...

, appearing repeatedly on programs such as ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central chara ...

'', ''

Sugarfoot ''Sugarfoot'' is an American Western television series that aired for 69 episodes on ABC from 1957-1961 on Tuesday nights on a "shared" slot basis – rotating with ''Cheyenne'' (first season); ''Cheyenne'' and ''Bronco'' (second season); and ...

'', '' The Texan'', ''

The Rifleman ''The Rifleman'' is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the fictional town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The sho ...

'', ''

Maverick Maverick, Maveric or Maverik may refer to: History * Maverick (animal), an unbranded range animal, derived from U.S. cattleman Samuel Maverick Aviation * AEA Maverick, an Australian single-seat sportsplane design * General Aviation Design Bure ...

'' (S4 Ep23),'' Branded'' ("Call to Glory"), ''

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyond the we ...

'', '' The Virginian'', ''

Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a c ...

'' ("The Case of the Skeleton's Closet" and "The Case of the Wednesday Woman"), ''

Batman Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on March 30, 1939. I ...

'' (episodes 45 "The Clock King's Crazy Crimes" and 46 "The Clock King Gets Crowned"), '' Mission: Impossible'' ("Trek"), ''

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. ''The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'' is an American spy fiction television series produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television and first broadcast on NBC. The series follows secret agents, played by Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, who work for a secret ...

'' ("The Foreign Legion Affair"), ''

Get Smart ''Get Smart'' is an American comedy television series parodying the secret agent genre that had become widely popular in the first half of the 1960s, with the release of the ''James Bond'' films. It was created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, an ...

'', '' Rawhide'' ("Incident of the Power and the Plow", "Incident at Superstition Prairie", "Incident of the Boomerang", and others), ''

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea ''Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'' is a 1961 American science fiction disaster film, produced and directed by Irwin Allen, and starring Walter Pidgeon and Robert Sterling. The supporting cast includes Peter Lorre, Joan Fontaine, Barbara Eden, M ...

'' ("The Traitor"), and ''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings ...

''. In the 1963 movie '' PT 109'', he played the part of

Arthur Reginald Evans Arthur Reginald Evans, DSC (14 May 1905 – 31 January 1989) was an Australian coastwatcher in the Pacific Ocean theatre in World War II. He is chiefly remembered for having played a significant part in the rescue of future US President John F ...

, the Australian coast watcher who helped rescue John F. Kennedy and his crew. That role was of the few occasions when Pate played an Australian while working in the United States, others including ''

Four Star Playhouse ''Four Star Playhouse'' is an American anthology series that ran from 1952 to 1956. Four Star Playhouse was owned by Four Star International. Its episodes ranged anywhere from surreal mysteries, such as "The Man on the Train", to light comedie ...

'' ("The Firing Squad"), ''

77 Sunset Strip ''77 Sunset Strip'' is an American television private detective drama series created by Roy Huggins and starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Roger Smith, Richard Long (from 1960 to 1961) and Edd Byrnes (billed as Edward Byrnes). Each episode was o ...

'' ("The Down-Under Caper"), and '' Rawhide'' ("Incident of the Boomerang", for which he also wrote the story-line). In 1966, Pate played Frenchy Godey, a scout for

Kit Carson Christopher Houston Carson (December 24, 1809 – May 23, 1868) was an American frontiersman. He was a fur trapper, wilderness guide, Indian agent, and U.S. Army officer. He became a frontier legend in his own lifetime by biographies and ...

and the

John C. Fremont John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

(

Dick Simmons Richard Simmons (August 19, 1913 – January 11, 2003) was an American actor. Early life Simmons was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and his family later moved across the Mississippi River to Minneapolis. There, he attended West Side High Sc ...

) expedition in the episode "Samaritans, Mountain Style" of the syndicated series ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American old-time radio and television anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program ...

''. In the storyline of that episode, Carson (

Phillip Pine Phillip Pine (July 16, 1920 – December 22, 2006) was an American film and television actor, writer, film director, and producer. Despite incorrect biographical information repeated on many entertainment sites, he was not related to Robert P ...

) and Gody stop to help a settler in dire straits. In an earlier ''Death Valley Days'' episode, "The Measure of a Man" (1963), Pate was cast as the notorious bandit

Augustine Chacon Augustine Chacon (1861 – November 21, 1902), nicknamed El Peludo (English: "The Hairy One"), was a Mexican outlaw and folk hero active in the Arizona Territory and along the U.S.–Mexico border at the end of the 19th century and the early 20t ...

. In that episode,

Arizona Ranger The Arizona Rangers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, noncommissioned civilian auxiliary that supports law enforcement in the US, state of Arizona. In 2002, the modern-day Arizona Rangers were officially recognized by the State of Arizona when the Le ...

Burt Mossman (

Rory Calhoun Rory Calhoun (born Francis Timothy McCown, August 8, 1922April 28, 1999) was an American film and television actor. He starred in numerous Westerns in the 1950s and 1960s, and appeared in supporting roles in films such as ''How to Marry a Millio ...

) captures Chacon with the reluctant aid of another outlaw,

Burt Alvord Albert "Burt" Alvord (September 11, 1867 – after 1910) was an American lawman and later outlaw of the Old West. Alvord began his career in law enforcement in 1886 as a deputy under Sheriff John Slaughter in Cochise County, Arizona, but turned ...

(

Bing Russell Neil Oliver "Bing" Russell (May 5, 1926 – April 8, 2003) was an American actor and Class A minor-league baseball club owner. He was the father of Hollywood actor Kurt Russell and grandfather of ex–major league baseball player Matt Franco ...

), who has been promised a lenient sentence if he will surrender. Mossman

handcuff Handcuffs are restraint devices designed to secure an individual's wrists in proximity to each other. They comprise two parts, linked together by a chain, a hinge, or rigid bar. Each cuff has a rotating arm which engages with a ratchet that ...

s Chacon and orders Alvord to throw the key into the bushes. Soon Alvord is returned for the

hanging Hanging is the suspension of a person by a noose or ligature around the neck.Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed. Hanging as method of execution is unknown, as method of suicide from 1325. The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' states that hanging ...

he had avoided some four years earlier. In another 1963 ''Death Valley Days'' episode titled "The Peacemaker", Pate portrayed

Navajo The Navajo (; British English: Navaho; nv, Diné or ') are a Native Americans in the United States, Native American people of the Southwestern United States. With more than 399,494 enrolled tribal members , the Navajo Nation is the largest fe ...

Chief Hastele. In that episode's plot

Mormon Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into se ...

pioneer

Jacob Hamblin Jacob Hamblin (April 2, 1819 – August 31, 1886) was a Western pioneer, a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and a diplomat to various Native American tribes of the Southwest and Great Basin. He ...

(

David Brian Brian James Davis (August 5, 1914 – July 15, 1993), better known as David Brian, was an American actor. He is best known for his role in ''Intruder in the Dust'' (1949), for which he received critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination. ...

) strives desperately to maintain a peace treaty with the Navajo after a white man kills some Indians who had come onto his property. Pate reprised the role of Victorio in the TV version of ''Hondo'' in 1967–68.

Return to Australia, 1968

In 1968, Pate returned to Australia and became a television producer, winning two

Logie Award The Logie Awards (officially the TV Week Logie Awards; colloquially known as The Logies) is an annual gathering to celebrate Australian television, sponsored and organised by the magazine ''TV Week''. The first ceremony was held in 1959 as the ...

s while working at the

Seven Network The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, and is one of ...

. In 1970, he published a

textbook A textbook is a book containing a comprehensive compilation of content in a branch of study with the intention of explaining it. Textbooks are produced to meet the needs of educators, usually at educational institutions. Schoolbooks are textbook ...

on acting, ''The Film Actor''. From 1971 to 1975 he starred as Detective Senior Sergeant Vic Maddern in '' Matlock Police''. After leaving ''Matlock Police'', Pate began working more behind the camera, continuing to work too in theatre in both Sydney and Melbourne. In 1977 he wrote and produced ''

The Mango Tree ''The Mango Tree'' is a Miles Franklin Award-winning novel by Australian author Ronald McKie. Synopsis The story follows the childhood of a young man, named Jamie, growing up in a country town in Australia during the early 20th century. Crit ...

'', starring his son Christopher Pate. In 1979 he adapted the screenplay for '' Tim'' from the novel by

Colleen McCullough Colleen Margaretta McCullough (; married name Robinson, previously Ion-Robinson; 1 June 193729 January 2015) was an Australian author known for her novels, her most well-known being ''The Thorn Birds'' and '' The Ladies of Missalonghi''. Life ...

, as well as producing and directing the film, which starred

Piper Laurie Piper Laurie (born Rosetta Jacobs; January 22, 1932) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in the films ''The Hustler'' (1961), ''Carrie (1976 film), Carrie'' (1976), and ''Children of a Lesser God (film), Children of a Lesser God' ...

and

Mel Gibson Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson (born January 3, 1956) is an American actor, film director, and producer. He is best known for his action hero roles, particularly his breakout role as Max Rockatansky in the first three films of the post-apoca ...

. Pate won the Best Screenplay Award from the Australian Writers Guild for his adaptation. His film appearances in the 1970s and 1980s included ''

Mad Dog Morgan ''Mad Dog Morgan'' is a 1976 Australian bushranger film directed by Philippe Mora and starring Dennis Hopper, Jack Thompson and David Gulpilil. It is based upon the life of Dan Morgan. Plot Dan Morgan witnesses the (fictitious) bloody massa ...

'' (1976), introduction in the

biopic A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of a non-fictional or historically-based person or people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from docudr ...

'' The Battle of Broken Hill'' (1981), ''

Duet for Four ''Duet for Four'' is a 1982 film directed by Tim Burstall. Plot A middle aged man, Ray Martin, faces a series of problems – his wife is cheating on him, his mistress wants to get married and Americans want to take over his toy business. Cast ...

'' (1982), '' The Wild Duck'' (1984), ''

Death of a Soldier ''Death of a Soldier'' is a 1986 Australian film based on the life of American serial killer Eddie Leonski. The film was shot using locations around Melbourne, Victoria. The film is directed by Philippe Mora and stars James Coburn, Bill Hun ...

'' (1986), and ''

Howling III ''Howling III'' (also known as ''Howling III: The Marsupials'' and ''The Marsupials: The Howling III'') is a 1987 Australian horror film and the sequel to '' The Howling'', directed by Philippe Mora and filmed on location in and around Sydney, Au ...

'' (1987). Pate also appeared as the President of the United States in ''

The Return of Captain Invincible ''The Return of Captain Invincible'' is a 1983 Australian superhero musical comedy film directed by Philippe Mora, and starring Alan Arkin and Christopher Lee. It was a box office disappointment on release but has become a cult film since then. ...

'' (1982), in which he sings "What the World Needs", a song calling for the return of Captain Invincible to save the world. During the early 1980s Pate also collaborated with his son Christopher in a successful stage production of '' Mass Appeal'' at the

Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Sydney. Located on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, it is widely regarded as one of the world's most famous and distinctive buildings and a masterpiece of 20th-century architec ...

Personal life

In 1951, Pate married Felippa Rock, daughter of American film producer

Joe Rock Joe Rock (born Joseph Simberg, December 25, 1893 – December 5, 1984) was an American film producer, director, actor,Obituary '' Variety'', December 12, 1984, page 63. and screenwriter. He produced a series of 12 two reel short subject comedies ...

. The couple had a son,

Christopher Pate Christopher Pate is an Australian actor. He was nominated for the 1977 AFI Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his role in '' Raw Deal''. In 1966, he starred in the television Western '' Gunsmoke'' as Curtis in S12E8 "The Whistling ...

, also an actor, along with a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Although Michael Pate retired from acting in 2001, he remained busy with voiceover work; and he was writing a screenplay at the time of his death. He died at the age of 88 at

Gosford Gosford is the city and administrative centre of the Central Coast Council local government area in the heart of the Central Coast region, about north of Sydney and about south of Newcastle. The city centre is situated at the northern extr ...

Hospital in New South Wales, Australia, on 1 September 2008.

Partial filmography

* ''

Forty Thousand Horsemen ''Forty Thousand Horsemen'' (aka ''40,000 Horsemen'') is a 1940 Australian war film directed by Charles Chauvel. The film tells the story of the Australian Light Horse (mounted rifleman as distinct from cavalry) which operated in the desert at t ...

'' (1940) as Arab Carpet Seller / Arab Customer / Sikh Policeman (uncredited) * ''

'' (1949) as Shane O'Riordan * '' Bitter Springs'' (1950) as Trooper * '' Thunder on the Hill'' (1951) as Willie (also screenplay) * ''

Ten Tall Men ''Ten Tall Men'' is a 1951 American adventure film starring Burt Lancaster about the French Foreign Legion during the Rif War in Morocco. Though co-written and directed by Willis Goldbeck, Goldbeck walked off the film due to disputes with Lancaste ...

'' (1951) as Browning * ''

The Strange Door ''The Strange Door'' is a 1951 American horror film, released by Universal Pictures, and starring Charles Laughton, Boris Karloff, Sally Forrest and Richard Stapley. Karloff's role is actually a supporting one but his name carried significant w ...

'' (1951) as Talon * ''

5 Fingers ''5 Fingers'', known also as ''Five Fingers'', is a 1952 American spy film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and produced by Otto Lang. The screenplay written by Michael Wilson was based on the 1950 book ''Operation Cicero'' (original German: ' ...

'' (1952) as Morrison (uncredited) * '' Face to Face'' (Part 1, 1952) as Leggatt ("The Secret Sharer") * ''

The Black Castle ''The Black Castle'' is a 1952 American horror film directed by Nathan H. Juran and starring Richard Greene, Boris Karloff, Stephen McNally, Rita Corday and Lon Chaney Jr. It was produced by William Alland. The film was made in the United State ...

'' (1952) as Count Ernst von Melcher * ''

Target Hong Kong ''Target Hong Kong'' is a 1953 American action film noir directed by Fred F. Sears. Plot American mercenaries attempt to stop a spy ring targeting Hong Kong. Cast * Richard Denning as Mike Lassiter * Nancy Gates as Ming Shan * Richard Loo as Fu ...

'' (1953) as Dockery Pete Gresham * '' Rogue's March'' (1953) as Crane * ''

The Desert Rats The 7th Armoured Division was an armoured division of the British Army that saw distinguished active service during the Second World War, where its exploits in the Western Desert Campaign gained it the ''Desert Rats'' nickname. After the ...

'' (1953) as Capt. Currie (uncredited) * ''

'' (1953) as Flavius * ''

Scandal at Scourie ''Scandal at Scourie'' is a 1953 American drama Technicolor film directed by Jean Negulesco, starring Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon "above the title", and co-starring Donna Corcoran. Garson and Pidgeon were together for the 8th and last time in t ...

'' (1953) as Rev. Williams * '' The Maze'' (1953) as William * ''

Houdini Harry Houdini (, born Erik Weisz; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian-American escape artist, magic man, and stunt performer, noted for his escape acts. His pseudonym is a reference to his spiritual master, French magician ...

'' (1953) as Dooley * ''

The Royal African Rifles '' The Royal African Rifles'' is a 1953 American Cinecolor First World War adventure film directed by Lesley Selander and starring Louis Hayward, Veronica Hurst and Michael Pate. It is set in British East Africa but filmed on location in the Los ...

'' (1953) as Cunningham * ''

All the Brothers Were Valiant ''All the Brothers Were Valiant'' is a 1953 Technicolor adventure drama film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and directed by Richard Thorpe. The film's screenplay was written by Harry Brown and based on the 1919 novel '' All the Brothers Were Va ...

'' (1953) as Varde, Second Mate * ''

'' (1953) as Vittoro - Chiricahua Apache Chief * ''

El Alamein El Alamein ( ar, العلمين, translit=al-ʿAlamayn, lit=the two flags, ) is a town in the northern Matrouh Governorate of Egypt. Located on the Arab's Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, it lies west of Alexandria and northwest of Cairo. , it had ...

'' (1953) as Sgt. McQueen * '' Secret of the Incas'' (1954) as Pachacutec * ''

King Richard and the Crusaders ''King Richard and the Crusaders'' is a 1954 American historical drama film made by Warner Bros. The film stars Rex Harrison, Virginia Mayo, George Sanders and Laurence Harvey, with Robert Douglas, Michael Pate and Paula Raymond. It was directe ...

'' (1954) as Conrad, Marquis of Montferrat * '' The Silver Chalice'' (1954) as Aaron Ben Joseph * ''

A Lawless Street ''A Lawless Street'' is a 1955 American Western film directed by Joseph H. Lewis and starring Randolph Scott and Angela Lansbury. The film is also known as ''The Marshal of Medicine Bend'' in the United States. Plot The marshal of Medicine Bend ...

'' (1955) as Harley Baskam * '' The Court Jester'' (1955) as Sir Locksley * '' The Killer is Loose'' (1956) as Detective Chris Gillespie * ''

The Revolt of Mamie Stover ''The Revolt of Mamie Stover'' is a 1951 novel by William Bradford Huie about a young woman from Mississippi who goes to Hollywood to work as an actress. Driven into prostitution, she moves to Honolulu, works at a brothel and takes it over, chal ...

'' (1956) as Harry Adkins * ''

Congo Crossing ''Congo Crossing'' is a 1956 American adventure film directed by Joseph Pevney and starring Virginia Mayo and George Nader. Most of the exterior sequences were shot in the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. Plot Congotanga, West ...

'' (1956) as Bart O'Connell * ''

Reprisal! ''Reprisal!'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by George Sherman and starring Guy Madison, Felicia Farr and Kathryn Grant.Hampes p.176 The film's sets were designed by the art director Walter Holscher. Plot A man named Frank Madden ( ...

'' (1956) as Bert Shipley * '' 7th Cavalry'' (1956) as Capt. Benteen * ''

Something of Value ''Something of Value'' is a 1957 American drama film directed by Richard Brooks and starring Rock Hudson, Dana Wynter, and Sidney Poitier. The film was reissued under the title ''Africa Ablaze''. The film, based on the book of the same name by ...

'' (1957) as A Farmer - Joe Matson * ''

The Oklahoman ''The Oklahoman'' is the largest daily newspaper in Oklahoma, United States, and is the only regional daily that covers the Greater Oklahoma City area. The Alliance for Audited Media (formerly Audit Bureau Circulation) lists it as the 59th large ...

'' (1957) as Charlie Smith * '' The Tall Stranger'' (1957) as Charley * ''

Desert Hell ''Desert Hell'' is a 1958 American adventure film directed by Charles Marquis Warren and written by Charles Marquis Warren and Endre Bohem. The film stars Brian Keith, Barbara Hale, Richard Denning, Johnny Desmond, Phillip Pine, Richard Shannon ...

'' (1958) as Ahitagel * '' Hong Kong Confidential'' (1958) as John Blanchard * '' Westbound'' (1959) as Mace * ''

Green Mansions ''Green Mansions: A Romance of the Tropical Forest'' (1904) is an exotic romance by William Henry Hudson about a traveller to the Guyana jungle of southeastern Venezuela and his encounter with a forest-dwelling girl named Rima. The principal ...

'' (1959) as Priest * ''

'' (1959) as Drake Robey / Don Drago Robles * '' Walk Like a Dragon'' (1960) as Rev. Will Allen * '' The Canadians'' (1961) as Chief Four Horns (uncredited) * '' Sergeants Three'' (1962) as Watanka * ''

Beauty and the Beast ''Beauty and the Beast'' (french: La Belle et la Bête) is a fairy tale written by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and published in 1740 in ''La Jeune Américaine et les contes marins'' (''The Young American and Marine ...

'' (1962) as Bruno * ''Tower of London (1962 film), Tower of London'' (1962) as Sir Ratcliffe * ''California (1963 film), California'' (1963) as Don Francisco Hernandez * ''Drums of Africa'' (1963) as Viledo * '' PT 109'' (1963) as Lt. Reginald Evans * ''

'' (1963) as Puma * ''Advance to the Rear'' (1964) as Thin Elk * ''Major Dundee'' (1965) as Sierra Charriba * ''Brainstorm (1965 film), Brainstorm'' (1965) as Dr. Mills * ''The Great Sioux Massacre'' (1965) as Sitting Bull * ''The Singing Nun (film), The Singing Nun'' (1966) as Mr. Arlien * ''Return of the Gunfighter'' (1967) as Frank Boone * ''Little Jungle Boy'' (1971) as The Sultan * ''

'' (1976) as Superintendent Winch * '' Tim'' (1981) (also screenplay, director, producer) * ''The Battle of Broken Hill'' (1981) as Himself - Narrator * ''The Mango Tree'' (1982) (writer, producer only) * ''

'' (1982) as Al Geisman * ''

'' (1983) as President * ''The Wild Duck'' (1984) as Wardle * ''The Camel Boy'' (1984) (voice) * ''The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'' (1986) as Injun Joe (voice) * ''

'' (1986) as Maj. Gen. Sutherland * ''The Howling III'' (1987) as President * ''A Dangerous Life'' (1988) as Stephen W. Bosworth

Television

* ''The Lone Wolf (TV series), The Lone Wolf'' (1954) as Suva Polege/Dr. Bill Roche * ''You Are There (TV series), You Are There'' (1953/1955) as Brutus * ''Schlitz Playhouse'' (1954/1955) * ''

'' (1955) as Sgt. Gibbons * ''Passport to Danger (TV series), Passport to Danger'' (1956) * ''Conflict (American TV series), Conflict'' (1956) * ''Broken Arrow (TV series), Broken Arrow'' (1956) as Gokliya * ''Soldiers of Fortune (TV series), Soldiers of Fortune'' (1956) as Salom * ''Wire Service (TV series), Wire Service'' (1957) as Edward Lansing * ''The Millionaire (TV series), The Millionaire (1957) as Mark Jason * ''The Adventures of McGraw'' (1957) as Blake * ''Gunsmoke'' (1957) as Locke * ''The O. Henry Playhouse'' (1957) * ''The Adventures of Jim Bowie'' (1957) as First Officer * ''Goodyear Theatre'' (1957) as Jim Witcher * ''The Californians (TV series), The Californians'' (1958) as Don Manuel Guzman * ''

'' (1958) as Salvador Quintana * ''The Frank Sinatra Show (1957 TV series), The Frank Sinatra Show'' (1958) as Paul Dupres * ''

'' (1954/1958) as Wilcher/Eddie/Bert Landon * ''The Silent Service'' (1958) as Australian Commando Dennis * ''

'' (1958) as Ross Garrett * ''The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin'' (1959) as Sleeping Dog * ''The Third Man (TV series), The Third Man'' as Nick Boles * ''Black Saddle'' as Garnie Starrit * ''Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV series), Wanted: Dead or Alive'' as Victorio/Captain Manuel Herrera * ''Markham (TV series), Markham'' (1959) as Largo * ''Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse'' (1959) as Howard * ''

'' (1959) as Indian’s Wild Hog & Blue Horse (latter the title character) * ''Grand Jury (TV series), Grand Jury'' (1959) as Freeman * ''The Detectives (1959 TV series), The Detectives'' (1960) as Lyman * ''Law of the Plainsman'' (1960) as 'Gentleman' Frank Deegan * '' The Texan'' (1958/1960) as George Brandon/Emory * ''Wichita Town'' (1960) as Kotana * ''Men Into Space'' (1960) as Dr. Morrow * ''The Islanders (TV series), The Islanders'' (1960) as Moribus * ''Zane Grey Theater'' (1956-1960) as Gunman/Deputy Charlie Spawn/Miguel/Geronimo * ''Michael Shayne (TV series), Michael Shayne '' (1960) as Leo Gannet * ''Hawaiian Eye '' (1960) as Joe Gordon * ''General Electric Theater'' (1961) as Dick Rogers * ''Adventures in Paradise (TV series), Adventures in Paradise'' (1961) as Andre Villard * ''

'' (1961) as Chet Whitehead * ''Thriller (American TV series), Thriller'' (1961) as Shanner * ''The Tall Man (TV series), The Tall Man'' (1961) as Harry Young * ''The Roaring 20's (TV series), The Roaring 20's'' (1961) as Frankie Delain * ''Acapulco (1961 TV series), Acapulco'' (1961) as George Jamison * ''Peter Gunn (TV series), Peter Gunn'' (1961) as Juan Mendoza * ''Follow the Sun (TV series), Follow the Sun'' (1961) as T.J. Conlon * ''Lawman (TV series), Lawman'' (1961) as King Harris * ''Frontier Circus'' (1961) as Michael Smith * ''Tales of Wells Fargo'' (1960-1961) as Hogan/Paul Jennings Kalo * ''Laramie (TV series), Laramie'' (1960-1962) as Governor Loren Corteen/Quinto/Toriano * ''Have Gun - Will Travel (TV series), Have Gun - Will Travel'' (1957-1962) as Miguel Rojas/Chief Tamasun (twice) * ''

'' (1962) as Reggie Waddick/Nicky Madrid-Andrew Cornell * ''

'' (1958-1962) as Xavier Escobar/Brad Davis/Pete Morgan/Mogollan/Sanchez * ''Route 66 (TV series), Route 66'' (1962) as Phillip Tager * ''The Beachcomber (TV series), The Beachcomber'' (1962) as Ricardo Selas * ''Cheyenne (TV series), Cheyenne'' (1957-1962) as Strongbow/Col. Rissot/Chato * ''Ripcord (TV series), Ripcord'' (1962) * '' Rawhide'' (1959-1964) as Taslatch/Mitla/Sankeno/Richard Goffage/Running Horse * ''Glynis (TV series), Glynis'' (1963) as Wellman * ''The Dakotas (TV series), The Dakotas'' (1963) as Hal Regis * ''

'' (1963-1964) as Richard Harris/Jack Mallory * ''Temple Houston (TV series), Temple Houston'' (1964) as Nat Cramer * ''Gunsmoke (TV series), Gunsmoke'' (1957-1964) as Locke/Wild Hog/Blue Horse/Buffalo Calf * ''Profiles in Courage (TV series), Profiles in Courage'' (1965) as John Wilson * ''Lassie (1954 TV series), Lassie'' (1965) as Eddie Burch * ''The Alfred Hitchcock Hour'' (1964-1965) as Hare/Stephen Leslie * ''Kraft Suspense Theatre'' (1965) as Johnny Slato * ''

'' (1958-1965) as Yellow Robe/Crazy Bear * ''Burke's Law (1963 TV series), Burke's Law'' (1965) as Kauffman * ''

'' (1965) as Naharana * ''The Man From U.N.C.L.E.'' (1966) as Lucienne Bey * ''Honey West (TV series), Honey West'' (1966) as Darza * '' Branded'' (1966) as Chief Crazy Horse * ''Daktari'' (1966) as Patrick Boyle Connors * ''

'' (1964-1966) as Pushta/Raaccuwan * ''Batman (TV series), Batman'' (1966) as Second Hand Three * ''The Wild Wild West'' (1966) as Bledsoe * ''

'' (1962-1966) as Roy Anthony/Two Horses/Augustine Chacon/Chief Hastele/Frenchy Godey/Horace Stoner * ''The Magical World of Disney'' (1967) as Capt. Blazer * ''The Time Tunnel'' (1966-1967) as Capt. Hotchkiss/Captain * ''Rango (TV series), Rango'' (1967) as Burning Arrow * The Road West (1967) as Deacon * ''The Rat Patrol'' (1967) as Sheik * ''Tarzan (1966 TV series), Tarzan'' (1967) as Griggs/Findley * '' Mission: Impossible'' (1967) as General Diaz * ''Hondo (TV series), Hondo '' (1967) as Chief Vittoro * ''Maya (American TV series), Maya'' (1968) as Matt Collins * ''

'' (1964-1968) as Colonel/Hamid/Gelid * ''Riptide (Australian TV series), Riptide'' (1969) as Wes Lowry/Capt. Bonner * '' The Virginian'' (1963-1970) as Mike McGoff/Alf * ''Homicide (Australian TV series), Homicide'' (1970) as Harold Barrett * ''Delta (Australian TV series), Delta'' (1970) as Leo Falstone-Green * ''The Long Arm (TV series), The Long Arm'' (1970) as David Martin * ''Division 4'' (1970) as Vic Delaney * ''The Box (Australian TV series), The Box'' (1974) as Narrator * '' Matlock Police'' (1971-1975) as Det. Sgt. Vic Maddern * ''Cash and Company'' (1975) as Jacob Striker * Power Without Glory (1976) as Dr. Malone/Archbishop Malone * ''Mission: Impossible (1988 TV series), Mission: Impossible'' (1989) as Luis Berezan

References

External links

Michael Pate Memorial
*
Michael Pate at the National Film and Sound ArchiveMichael Pate
a
FelixLeiter.comObituary in ''The Times''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pate, Michael 1920 births 2008 deaths Australian male television actors Australian male film actors Deaths from pneumonia in New South Wales Australian Army soldiers Australian Army personnel of World War II Australian screenwriters Male actors from Sydney Writers from Sydney Western (genre) television actors 20th-century Australian screenwriters Australian expatriates in the United States