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 in 1930s
Born(1922-12-26)December 26, 1922
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
DiedApril 4, 1995(1995-04-04) (aged 72)
Other namesShawn Smith
Occupation(s)Film, television actress
Years active1942–1959
Spouse(s)Alfred F. Smith, Jr (?-1971)
John L. Bodette (1979-1995) (her death)[1]

Early years

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Born in Winnipeg, Canada,[2] Patterson grew up in Eastend, Saskatchewan. 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

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

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, Linda Page, in the 1943 15-chapter Batman serial. In 1944, she starred in The Vigilantes Ride with Russell Hayden and Bob Wills. In 1946, she accompanied Eddie Dean and Roscoe Ates in the movie Driftin River, and starred with them again the 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'" from the 1947 movie 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 movie It! The Terror from Beyond Space. Shortly after the close of filming in 1958 while skiing at Lake Arrowhead, California, she suffered a severely broken leg. She was in a full leg cast for a year and then a half cast for another six months, effectively ending her acting career.[citation needed]

Personal life

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

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1942 North of the Rockies Lydia Rogers
1942 They All Kissed the Bride Receptionist Uncredited
1942 Riders of the Northland Sheila Taylor
1942 Parachute Nurse Katherine Webb
1942 Sabotage Squad Miss Cole Uncredited
1942 A Man's World Nurse Bentley Uncredited
1942 Lucky Legs Chambermaid Uncredited
1942 The Spirit of Stanford June Rogers
1942 Riding Through Nevada Gail Holloway
1942 Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood Stewardess Uncredited
1942 Laugh Your Blues Away Mrs. Knox Uncredited
1943 Spook Louder Perkins Uncredited
1943 Let's Have Fun Girl Uncredited
1943 Redhead from Manhattan Telephone Operator Uncredited
1943 The More the Merrier Girl Uncredited
1943 Law of the Northwest Michele Darcy
1943 Good Luck, Mr. Yates Secretary Uncredited
1943 Batman Linda Page Serial
1943 Destroyer Bigbee's Girl Uncredited
1943 Dangerous Blondes Bride Uncredited
1943 My Kingdom for a Cook Elevator Girl Uncredited
1943 The Texas Kid Nancy Drew
1943 Klondike Kate Dancer Uncredited
1943 The Vigilantes Ride Jane Andrews Uncredited
1944 Riding West Alice Morton
1944 Marriage Is a Private Affair Mary Saunders
1945 Keep Your Powder Dry WAC Brooks
1945 Between Two Women Nurse Thorsen
1946 The Harvey Girls Harvey Girl Uncredited
1946 Tumbleweed Trail Robin Ryan
1946 Driftin' River J. C. 'Jenny' Morgan
1946 Stars Over Texas Terry Lawrence
1947 Black Hills Janet Hadley
1953 Second Chance Uncredited
1953 The French Line Model Uncredited
1954 The Long Wait Carol Shay
1954 The Silver Chalice Poppaea Uncredited
1955 The Shrike Celia Johns Uncredited
1956 The Bottom of the Bottle Gossipy Woman Uncredited
1956 World Without End Elaine
1957 The Land Unknown Margaret Hathaway
1958 It! The Terror from Beyond Space Ann Anderson

References

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  1. ^ "Shawn Smith - The Private Life and Times of Shawn Smith. Shawn Smith Pictures". www.glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com.
  2. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c "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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