Patricia Kneale

A profile of the actor Patricia Kneale

Patricia Kneale was born on October 17 1925, the daughter of William Lawrence Kneale and his wife Isabel Mary (Dodds), she was educated at Eastbourne and privately. Patricia's first marriage was to Jeremy Geidt, her second to Neil J. Osbourne. Patricia gained the Meggie Albanese Scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and it was there that she received the Kendal Prize and the Bancroft Gold Medal.

Patricia Kneale's stage debut was at the Open Air Theatre, Regents Park on May 22 1947 playing Olivia in Twelfth Night. Patricia's long and prolific stage career has seen her in a great number of plays over the years.

Patricia has also made many television appearances, including: Judy Adamson in the 1961 sci-fi series A For Andromeda. Patricia also appears in an episode of the adventure series Crane with Patrick Allen and Sam Kydd in an episode entitled Recoil (March 9 1964). In this episode, Patricia plays the Contessa d' Avezzano, and she invites Crane and Orlando to her villa for dinner, but the invitation could have potentially murderous consequences for Crane!

Patricia's other television work includes the police drama series No Hiding Place with Raymond Francis (Patricia has worked with Raymond Francis' son Clive, also an actor at the Leicester Phoenix Theatre), and comedies George and Mildred and Rosie. In the last few years Patricia has been touring in the UK and in the United States with her One-Woman Shows including: Hester, the Lady of Lebanon, Sarah Siddons, Constance Markievicz and Fanny Kemble.

Patricia's film credits include: Timeslip (1956), Charley Moon (with Max Bygraves-1956), Woman's Temptation (1959), The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1960), and Child and the Killer (1959). Her television guest appearances include: The Vise-episodes: Dram of Death (1958), & Farewell Mrs Forrest (1958), Hawaiian Eye: Malihini Holiday (1959), Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse: Murder in Gratitude (1959), Danger Man episodes: The Conspirators (1961), Yesterday's Enemies (1964) & The Mirror's New (1965), Second Time Around (1974), The Good Life: Suit Yourself (1977), Kidnapped (mini-series-1978), and Into The Labyrinth (1981).

Graham Hayes from Cherished Television had the pleasure of talking with Patricia by telephone a few years before she sadly passed away. The January 8 2009 edition of The Stage carried the sad news that Patricia passed away at her home, suddenly, on December 27 2008.