Patsy King
Patsy King was an Australian actress and children's television presenter recognised for her contributions to theatre, radio and television. Internationally, she was best known for portraying the original governor, Erica Davidson, in the cult television series Prisoner.
King had also worked as a theatre director, playwright, children's television presenter and voiceover artist. She began as a radio and classical stage actress, performing in a range of roles including Shakespeare and Peter Pan. King's career spanned from 1951 to 1995, with a brief return to the stage in 2009. Her television career included roles in the series Homicide and Bellbird where she played Kate Andrews.
Early life
King was born in Melbourne, Victoria, on 16 September 1930. Initially aspiring to become a dress designer, she spent her early years in the United Kingdom before returning to Australia. She then pursued a career in theatre, training as a classical stage actress with the National Theatre in Melbourne, specialising in straight drama and Shakespeare.Career
Theatre
King began her career as a stage actress in the early 1950s and later became a playwright. She performed in a variety of roles, including productions of Victoria Regina, The Miser, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, Richard II, Blithe Spirit, Absurd Person Singular, Half a Sixpence, A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur, Love for Love and Love Letters. Her performances earned her several awards, including the Erik Award and the Melbourne Critics Award for her role in Four Poster.Television
In the early 1960s, King began her television career with teleplays on the ABC, followed by a variety of serials and guest roles in several Crawford Productions series, including Hunter, The Sullivans and The Box. She also appeared in police procedural dramas such as Matlock Police, Division 4, Bluey, Cop Shop and Homicide. Her other television credits include Power Without Glory, Chopper Squad, Out of Love and Good Morning Mr Doubleday.King became a regular cast member on the series Bellbird as Kate Andrews and as Governor Erica Davidson in Prisoner. In Prisoner she portrayed the first governor of the fictional Wentworth Detention Centre, appearing in 351 episodes. Following the conclusion of the series, King toured the United Kingdom in a stage play based on the program.
King was also a notable children's television presenter, being an early host of Play School on the ABC. She additionally appeared in The Magic Circle Club and Adventure Island.
Personal life and death
In 1959, King married the English-born Australian theatre impresario John Sumner, the founder and artistic director of the Melbourne Theatre Company. They divorced in 1967.King died in Melbourne on 19 January 2026 at the age of 95.