Pat Paterson
Encyclopedia
Pat Paterson was an Anglo-Scottish film actress, born in Bradford, England. Though she made over 20 films, she is most famous for being the wife of French-born actor Charles Boyer
and for the death of their only child, Michael, at his own 21st birthday party.
, Fife
, Scotland
) was a Scotsman. The Patersons had been Merchant Navy sailors for several generations, but his own father, John Robb Paterson (1864–1918) had broken the mould by becoming a Master Baker in Fifeshire, so John moved down to the Bradford area in his mid-teens for work, and met Hannah Holroyd. They married in 1908, and their eldest child, Eliza's older brother John, was born 9 January 1909. Their third and final child, Andrew Paterson, was born in 1920, also in Bradford.
From infancy, Eliza was called Cis (to rhyme with kiss) or Cissie Paterson, a traditional English nickname given to girls named Elizabeth or some variant thereof (Eliza, Elspeth, etc.). By the time she was twelve years old she had built up a portfolio of child-acting and modelling work in the local area, including photographs of her in assorted costumes and poses that were sent to agents, talent scouts, etc.
However, Cis was unknown to Americans as a name or nickname, so she was renamed Patricia (almost immediately shortened to Pat) Paterson, as the Pat-Paterson sound had an alliterative rhythm. From 1930 to 1934 she appeared in many studio pictures, usually as the third lead actress, then second lead, then co-lead, etc. In early 1934, French-born actor Maurice Chevalier
persuaded his lifelong best friend, fellow French actor Charles Boyer
to attend a Fox Studios' post-New Year dinner party, at which several of their contracted employee actors also gathered, including Pat Paterson. Boyer later declared that they instantly fell in love with each other, and they married within four weeks of that party, on St. Valentine's Day 1934, in Yuma
, Arizona
.
She continued to appear in at least one film per year until the outbreak of World War II in 1939, when she, her husband and Chevalier, as Europeans, devoted themselves to supporting the war effort of Britain and France. Her father, John Robb Paterson, had lost two brothers fighting in World War I, and another, Frederick Whyte Paterson, who had emigrated to Australia, would be killed in action in World War II. It was effectively the end of her film career; on 10 December 1944, two years after her husband Charles became an American citizen, she gave birth to their only child, Michael Charles Boyer, in Los Angeles
, California
.
On the night of 10 December 1964, at his own 21st birthday party in his Los Angeles home, their son Michael shot himself dead whilst playing Russian Roulette
near the mansion's summerhouse with a group of male friends. The media reported his death as a deliberate suicide, citing distress over his breakup with his girlfriend as the motivation. However, his death may have been a drunken accident. Charles Boyer was filming in Europe at the time and neither he nor Paterson ever recovered from the tragedy.
Diagnosed with a brain tumour, Paterson died in Hollywood on 24 August 1978. Boyer committed suicide two days after she died, by overdose. They are buried together alongside their son in the Holy Cross Cemetery
in Culver City, California
.
Charles Boyer
Charles Boyer was a French actor who appeared in more than 80 films between 1920 and 1976. After receiving an education in drama, Boyer started on the stage, but he found success in movies during the 1930s. His memorable performances were among the era's most highly praised romantic dramas,...
and for the death of their only child, Michael, at his own 21st birthday party.
Childhood and early life
She was born Eliza Paterson on 7 April 1910 at No.74 Fitzgerald Street, Horton, a suburb of Bradford, England. Her mother, Hannah Holroyd, was English, her father, John Robb Paterson, (b.1888, KirkcaldyKirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. The town lies on a shallow bay on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth; SSE of Glenrothes, ENE of Dunfermline, WSW of Dundee and NNE of Edinburgh...
, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
) was a Scotsman. The Patersons had been Merchant Navy sailors for several generations, but his own father, John Robb Paterson (1864–1918) had broken the mould by becoming a Master Baker in Fifeshire, so John moved down to the Bradford area in his mid-teens for work, and met Hannah Holroyd. They married in 1908, and their eldest child, Eliza's older brother John, was born 9 January 1909. Their third and final child, Andrew Paterson, was born in 1920, also in Bradford.
From infancy, Eliza was called Cis (to rhyme with kiss) or Cissie Paterson, a traditional English nickname given to girls named Elizabeth or some variant thereof (Eliza, Elspeth, etc.). By the time she was twelve years old she had built up a portfolio of child-acting and modelling work in the local area, including photographs of her in assorted costumes and poses that were sent to agents, talent scouts, etc.
Early Hollywood career
In 1928, although aged only 18 (the legal age of adulthood in the UK at the time was 21) she persuaded her parents to allow her to leave for Hollywood. She arrived in 1929 and was signed by Fox Studios as a bit-part actress.However, Cis was unknown to Americans as a name or nickname, so she was renamed Patricia (almost immediately shortened to Pat) Paterson, as the Pat-Paterson sound had an alliterative rhythm. From 1930 to 1934 she appeared in many studio pictures, usually as the third lead actress, then second lead, then co-lead, etc. In early 1934, French-born actor Maurice Chevalier
Maurice Chevalier
Maurice Auguste Chevalier was a French actor, singer, entertainer and a noted Sprechgesang performer. He is perhaps best known for his signature songs, including Louise, Mimi, Valentine, and Thank Heaven for Little Girls and for his films including The Love Parade and The Big Pond...
persuaded his lifelong best friend, fellow French actor Charles Boyer
Charles Boyer
Charles Boyer was a French actor who appeared in more than 80 films between 1920 and 1976. After receiving an education in drama, Boyer started on the stage, but he found success in movies during the 1930s. His memorable performances were among the era's most highly praised romantic dramas,...
to attend a Fox Studios' post-New Year dinner party, at which several of their contracted employee actors also gathered, including Pat Paterson. Boyer later declared that they instantly fell in love with each other, and they married within four weeks of that party, on St. Valentine's Day 1934, in Yuma
Yuma
-Places:* Yuma Desert, desert in southwest U.S. and northwest MexicoUnited States* Yuma County, Arizona** Yuma, Arizona** Marine Corps Air Station Yuma** United States Army Yuma Proving Ground** Yuma Territorial Prison* Yuma County, Colorado** Yuma, Colorado...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
.
Later Hollywood career
Boyer was quoted in the news media as claiming his wife would be relinquishing her career, as he felt married women should not work, devoting their time and attention to raising their children. However, Paterson continued to work, her arguably most prominent role coming the year after her marriage, when she was the female lead in Charlie Chan in Egypt, starring as the archetype imperiled heroine that Charlie Chan has to save from being murdered.She continued to appear in at least one film per year until the outbreak of World War II in 1939, when she, her husband and Chevalier, as Europeans, devoted themselves to supporting the war effort of Britain and France. Her father, John Robb Paterson, had lost two brothers fighting in World War I, and another, Frederick Whyte Paterson, who had emigrated to Australia, would be killed in action in World War II. It was effectively the end of her film career; on 10 December 1944, two years after her husband Charles became an American citizen, she gave birth to their only child, Michael Charles Boyer, in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Marriage, death of son, death
Boyer continued to make movies, but perceptively targeted the suave, elder-statesman type of supporting role, recognising that his days as a hearthrob were done. Paterson remained in the background, though she visited him on set with Michael.On the night of 10 December 1964, at his own 21st birthday party in his Los Angeles home, their son Michael shot himself dead whilst playing Russian Roulette
Russian roulette
Russian roulette is a potentially lethal game of chance in which participants place a single round in a revolver, spin the cylinder, place the muzzle against their head and pull the trigger...
near the mansion's summerhouse with a group of male friends. The media reported his death as a deliberate suicide, citing distress over his breakup with his girlfriend as the motivation. However, his death may have been a drunken accident. Charles Boyer was filming in Europe at the time and neither he nor Paterson ever recovered from the tragedy.
Diagnosed with a brain tumour, Paterson died in Hollywood on 24 August 1978. Boyer committed suicide two days after she died, by overdose. They are buried together alongside their son in the Holy Cross Cemetery
Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City
Holy Cross Cemetery is a Roman Catholic cemetery at 5835 West Slauson Avenue in Culver City, California, operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles....
in Culver City, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Filmography
- The Other Woman (1931)
- The Great Gay RoadThe Great Gay Road (1931 film)The Great Gay Road is a 1931 British drama film directed by Sinclair Hill and starring Stewart Rome, Frank Stanmore and Kate Cutler.It was adapted from the 1910 novel The Great Gay Road by Tom Gallon which had previously been made in a silent film The Great Gay Road in 1920...
(1931) - The Right to LiveThe Right to LiveThe Right to Live is a 1932 British crime film made at Ealing Studios. It was directed by Albert Parker and starred Davy Burnaby, Pat Paterson and Francis L. Sullivan....
(1932) - Partners Please (1932)
- Lord BabsLord BabsLord Babs is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Bobby Howes, Jean Colin and Pat Paterson. It was based on a play by Keble Howard...
(1932) - Here's George (1932)
- The Medicine ManThe Medicine Man (1933 film)The Medicine Man is a British comedy film directed by Redd Davis and starring Claud Allister, Frank Pettingell, Pat Paterson, and Ben Welden. A young man impersonates a doctor.-Cast:* Claud Allister as Hon. Freddie Wiltshire...
(1933) - The Love WagerThe Love WagerThe Love Wager is a 1933 British comedy film directed by A. Cyran and starring Pat Paterson, Frank Stanmore and Wallace Douglas. Before he can receive her father's consent a young man works to try and earn £1,500 in a year to marry his girlfriend.-Cast:...
(1933) - The Laughter of Fools (1933)
- Head of the Family (1933)
- Beware of Women (1933)
- Bitter SweetBitter Sweet (1933 film)Bitter Sweet is a musical romance film directed by Herbert Wilcox and released by United Artists in 1933. It was the first film adaptation of Noel Coward's 1929 operetta Bitter Sweet. It starred Anna Neagle and Fernand Gravey, with Ivy St. Helier reviving her stage role as Manon.It tells the story...
(1933) - Bottoms UpBottoms Up (1934 film)Bottoms Up is a 1934 musical comedy film made by Fox Film Corporation, and was directed by David Butler who co-wrote original story and screenplay with producer Buddy G. DeSylva and co-star Sid Silvers. The film stars Spencer Tracy, Pat Paterson, John Boles and Herbert Mundin...
(1934) - Call It Luck (1934)
- Love Time (1934)
- The Lottery Lover (1935)
- Charlie Chan in EgyptCharlie Chan in EgyptCharlie Chan in Egypt is the eighth 20th Century Fox Charlie Chan film starring Warner Oland in the title role. It was released in 1935. -Plot:Charlie Chan is hired when an archaeologist disappears during the excavation of ancient art treasures in Egypt...
(1935) - Spendthrift (1936)
- 52nd Street (1937)
- Idiot's Delight (1939)