Melody Patricia Patterson (April 16, 1949 – August 20, 2015) was an American actress known for her role as Wrangler Jane in the 1960s television series F Troop, and for her role as Ellie in the cult horror film Blood and Lace (1971).

Spouses

James MacArthur (1970–1975; divorced)
Robert Seaton (1976–1993; divorced)
Vern Miller (1998–2015; her death)

Early life

Patterson was the daughter of machinist Pat Patterson and the former Rosemary Wilson, an official in the Miss Universecontest. Her mother had been a dancer with Warner Bros., who "doubled for Joan Crawford in several films."

Patterson wrote and directed a play at age 5. Before turning 10 she had also been a photographer's model, an actress and an ice skater. In the ninth grade, she enrolled in the Hollywood Professional School. She continued her education in the Warner Bros. school while she acted on F Troop.

Career

Patterson was 16 years old when she first appeared on F Troop, having obtained the role with the help of a forged birth certificate that indicated her age was 18. After the 1967 cancellation of F Troop, Patterson worked in television, radio, and the theater. She also appeared on Mr. Novak and Shindig!In the 1970s, she appeared in three episodes of Hawaii Five-O, and started modeling and making commercials.

Patterson's first screen appearance was an uncredited walk-on in Bye Bye Birdie (1963). Her first featured role was in the 1968 drama The Angry Breed. She also appeared in a lead role in the action film The Cycle Savages with Bruce Dern, followed by a leading part in the slasher film Blood and Lace (1971). In 1973, she appeared in a small part in The Harrad Experiment (1973). Her final film credit was in The Immortalizer(1990), a direct-to-video sci-fi horror film.

While living in Hawaii, Patterson found herself again onstage in the Butterflies Are Free, with Barbara Rushand Dirk Benedict. After that she appeared in other plays such as House of Blue Leaves, for the University of Hawaii, and played the part of Peggy in The Front Page written by Charles MacArthur, and directed by her husband James MacArthur.

Other activities in entertainment

Patterson entertained troops in Vietnam with the Johnny Grant Christmas tour and was a disc jockey for the Armed Forces Radio Service. She later wrote a column called "Wrapping with Wrangler" for Wildest Western Magazine.

Recognition

In 1965, the Motion Picture and Television Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists group selected Patterson as one of 12 young actresses named "Deb Stars of 1966." She was nominated by the Warner Bros. studio.

Personal life

From July 1970 to 1975, Patterson was married to actor James MacArthur, who was known for the role of Dan "Danno" Williams in the TV series Hawaii Five-O. During their marriage, she had to put her career aside to move to Honolulu, Hawaii. Later, she married musician Vern Miller.

Death

Patterson died in a nursing home in Hollister, Missouri on August 20, 2015, at the age of 66. Multiple organ failure was the reported cause. Her F Troop co-star Larry Storch (Corporal Agarn) announced her passing on Facebook as follows: “It’s with a heavy heart that we can let you know our beloved Wrangler Jane, Melody Patterson passed away today. Our hearts are sad today. RIP Sweet Melody. We love you.”