Occupation Character actor Years active 1937–1956 | Name Patsy Parsons Role Character actress | |
 | ||
Born June 9, 1931 ( 1931-06-09 ) Died October 26, 2006, Westlake Village, California, United States Spouse William Powell Jr. (m. 1952–1954) Movies and TV shows Rocky Jones - Space Ra, Yankee Doodle Dandy, They Wanted to Marry, They Meet Again, Heroes of the Saddle Similar People Michael Curtiz, Lew Landers, Erle C Kenton, William Witney | ||
Patricia Parsons (June 9, 1931 – October 26, 2006), better known as Patsy Parsons, sometimes credited as Patsy Lee Parsons, was an American character actress who appeared in about a dozen films beginning in 1937.
She was born in Parkersburg, W.Va., but moved to Hollywood at age 5. She began acting at age 6, and mostly did child roles, notably in Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), starring James Cagney. But she is perhaps best remembered for one of her few adult roles, as the evil space tyrant "Cleolanthe" on the TV show Rocky Jones, Space Ranger in 1954.
Like many former child stars, Parsons had difficulty finding good adult roles. She retired shortly after leaving Rocky Jones, Space Ranger, making one last TV appearance on Science Fiction Theater in 1956. She was still only in her mid-20s when she stopped acting.
Parsons had a busy post-entertainment career in California as the wife of banker and community activist Solon Soteras. As Pat Soteras, she worked at Pepperdine University and raised three children, Alexander, Nickoletta and Anthony. She also wrote a weekly column for the Malibu Times. In her later years, she was most remembered for her work with the Agoura/Oak Park/ Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce where, as its executive director, she increased membership eightfold.
In memory of her work with the chamber, the Patricia Soteras scholarship fund was established.