Neva Patterson

A character actress who appeared in numerous films and TV shows, Neva Patterson was also an accomplished Broadway performer. Born in Iowa, she moved to New York with her family and eventually made a name for herself in theatrical productions such as "Ring Round the Moon" and "The Seven-Year Itch." She transferred her talents to the small screen beginning in the late '40s and started appearing in teleplays on shows like "Colgate Theatre" and "Hallmark Hall of Fame." She played supporting parts in the romantic film "Taxi," the Judy Holliday comedy "The Solid Gold Cadillac," and the Oscar-nominated Leo McCarey classic "An Affair to Remember" in the 1950s. After a role in the highly acclaimed drama "David and Lisa" in 1962, she was a TV actress almost exclusively for the rest of her career. Her roles crossed many genre boundaries and included a part in the drama "The Doctors and the Nurses," a major role as the Governor's secretary in the sitcom "The Governor & J.J.," and a costarring gig with James Garner in the one-season Western "Nichols," which was cancelled in 1972. She appeared with Garner again in the comic Western "Skin Game" and in the political thriller "All the President's Men" in 1976. Patterson remained a frequent guest star on TV until she was in her 70s, making her last appearance in 1992 on the crime drama "In the Heat of the Night"