Michael Pate

Michael Pate Headshot

Actor • Writer • Director • Producer

Birth Date: February 26, 1920

Death Date: September 1, 2008

Birth Place: Drummoyne, New South Wales, Australia

A talented writer and director, Michael Pate had a screen career that stretched across six decades of Australian and Hollywood productions, with his most recognizable role being that of Sgt. Vic Maddern on the Aussie crime drama "Matlock Police." Beginning his career as a writer at the Australian Broadcasting Commission, Pate soon segued into radio drama, and also wrote literary criticism. After serving in World War II, Pate headed to Hollywood, where he began to act in television and features. In 1953 he portrayed his first of many Native American roles, opposite John Wayne in the Western "Hondo."

Over his roughly two decades in the States, Pate appeared in dozens of prime-time shows, while writing teleplays and teaching acting. Upon his return to Australia in the late '60s, he began to work as a television producer, and soon landed the key role of Detective Maddern on the hit procedural drama "Matlock Police," playing the part for four seasons. After this he refocused on his writing, penning the coming-of-age drama "Mango Tree" and writing, producing, and directing 1979's romance "Tim," which starred a young Mel Gibson as a mentally challenged man. Pate continued with occasional screen work while contributing to Sydney's theater scene, and dabbled in voiceovers after his retirement from onscreen roles in 2001.

Credits

Casino Royale

Actor
Show
2012

Mary & Tim

Screenwriter
Movie
1996

Mission: Impossible

Guest Star
Show
1988

Howling III

Actor
President
Movie
1987

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Voice
Injun Joe
Movie
1986

Armageddon

Narrator
Movie
1986

The Camel Boy

Voice
Movie
1984

The Wild Duck

Actor
Wardle
Movie
1983

Duet for Four

Actor
Al Geisman
Movie
1982

Tim

Director
Movie
1979

Tim

Producer
Movie
1979

Tim

Writer
Movie
1979

Power Without Glory

Actor
Archbishop Malone
Show
1976

Cash and Company

Actor
Jacob Striker
Show
1975

Little Jungle Boy

Actor
The Sultan
Movie
1971

Maya

Guest Star
Show
1967

Hondo

Actor
Chief Vittoro
Series
1967

Return of the GunfighterStream

Actor
Frank Boone
Movie
1967

Rat PatrolStream

Guest Star
Sheik
Series
1966

Tarzan

Guest Star
Griggs
Series
1966

DaktariStream

Guest Star
Series
1966

The Singing NunStream

Actor
Mr. Arlien
Movie
1966

Get SmartStream

Guest Star
Series
1965

Branded-1965

Guest Star
Series
1965

Major Dundee

Actor
Sierra Charriba
Movie
1965

The Great Sioux MassacreStream

Actor
Sitting Bull
Movie
1965

Brainstorm

Actor
Dr. Mills
Movie
1965

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.Stream

Guest Star
Series
1964
100%

The Dakotas

Guest Star
Hal Regis
Series
1963

PT 109Stream

Actor
Lt. Reginald Evans
Movie
1963
64%

California

Actor
Don Francisco Hernandez
Movie
1963

Drums of Africa

Actor
Viledo
Movie
1963

McLintock!Stream

Actor
Puma
Movie
1963
57%

Alfred Hitchcock HourStream

Actor
Series
1962

The VirginianStream

Guest Star
Mike McGoff
Series
1962

Beauty and the Beast

Actor
Bruno
Movie
1962

Tower of London

Actor
Sir Ratcliffe
Movie
1962

Sergeants 3

Actor
Watanka
Movie
1962

The Canadians

Actor
Chief Four Horns
Movie
1961

Route 66Stream

Guest Star
Series
1960

Islanders

Guest Star
Show
1960

ThrillerStream

Actor
Series
1960

The Tall Man

Guest Star
Harry Young
Series
1960

Men Into Space

Guest Star
Dr. Morrow
Show
1959

LaramieStream

Guest Star
Governor Loren Corteen
Series
1959

RawhideStream

Guest Star
Series
1959

RawhideStream

Writer
Series
1959

Curse of the UndeadStream

Actor
Drake Robey/Don Drago Robles
Movie
1959

WestboundStream

Actor
Mace
Movie
1959

Green MansionsStream

Actor
Priest
Movie
1959

77 Sunset Strip

Guest Star
Reggie Waddick
Series
1958

The RiflemanStream

Guest Star
Series
1958

Hong Kong Confidential

Actor
John Blanchard
Movie
1958

ZorroStream

Guest Star
Series
1957

Alcoa Theatre

Actor
Witcher
Show
1957

Perry MasonStream

Guest Star
Richard Harris
Series
1957

Wagon TrainStream

Guest Star
Yellow Robe
Series
1957

Sugarfoot

Guest Star
Series
1957

Have Gun -- Will TravelStream

Guest Star
Series
1957

The Silent Service

Actor
Dennis
Show
1957

Tales of Wells FargoStream

Guest Star
Hogan
Series
1957

The Tall StrangerStream

Actor
Charley
Movie
1957

Something of Value

Actor
Joe Matson
Movie
1957

The OklahomanStream

Actor
Charlie Smith
Movie
1957

Zane Grey Theater

Actor
Series
1956

Congo Crossing

Actor
Bart O'Connell
Movie
1956

Reprisal!

Actor
Bert Shipley
Movie
1956

The Killer Is Loose

Actor
Detective Chris Gillespie
Movie
1956

7th CavalryStream

Actor
Capt. Benteen
Movie
1956

The Revolt of Mamie Stover

Actor
Harry Adkins
Movie
1956

Cheyenne

Guest Star
Series
1955

GunsmokeStream

Guest Star
Wild Hog
Series
1955

Marshal Dillon

Guest Star
Show
1955

The Court JesterStream

Actor
Sir Locksley
Movie
1955
97%

A Lawless StreetStream

Actor
Harley Baskam
Movie
1955

Casino Royale

Actor
Show
1954

Climax!

Actor
Series
1954

Lassie

Guest Star
Eddie Burch
Series
1954

King Richard and the Crusaders

Actor
Conrad
Movie
1954

The Maze

Actor
William
Movie
1954

The Royal African Rifles

Actor
Cunningham
Movie
1954

Secret of the Incas

Actor
Pachacutec
Movie
1954

The Silver ChaliceStream

Actor
Aaron Ben Joseph
Movie
1954
13%

General Electric TheaterStream

Actor
Dick Rogers
Series
1953

Rogue's March

Actor
Crane
Movie
1953

All the Brothers Were Valiant

Actor
Varde
Movie
1953

HondoStream

Actor
Vittorio - Chiricahua Apache Chief
Movie
1953
90%

Scandal at Scourie

Actor
Rev. Williams
Movie
1953

Julius CaesarStream

Actor
Flavius
Movie
1953
96%

Death Valley DaysStream

Actor
Frenchy Godey
Series
1952

The Black Castle

Actor
Count Ernst von Melcher
Movie
1952

Face to Face

Actor
Leggatt
Movie
1952

Five Fingers

Actor
Morrison (uncredited)
Movie
1952

Ten Tall Men

Actor
Browning
Movie
1951

Thunder on the Hill

Actor
Willie
Movie
1951

The Strange Door

Actor
Talon
Movie
1951

Sons of Matthew

Actor
Movie
1949