Michael Pate

Michael Pate
Michael Pate, circa 1938
Born	Edward John Pate (1920-02-26)26 February 1920 Drummoyne, New South Wales, Australia
Died	1 September 2008(2008-09-01) (aged 88) Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation	Film, television, radio and stage actor Film Director Screenwriter
Years active	1940–1996
Spouse(s)	Margaret Pate (?-?) (divorced) Felippa Rock (1951–2008; his death) 1 child

Michael Pate (26 February 1920 – 1 September 2008), born Edward John Pate in Drummoyne, Sydney, was an Australian actor, writer, director and WWII army soldier.

Initially interested in becoming a medical missionary, but unable to afford the university fees due to the Depression, he worked in Sydney before 1938, when he became a writer and broadcaster for the Australian Broadcasting Commission, collaborating with George Ivan Smith on Youth Speaks. For the remainder of the 1930s, he worked primarily in radio drama. He also published theatrical and literary criticism and enjoyed brief success as an author of short stories, publishing works in both Australia and the United States.

During World War II, Pate served in the Australian Army in the South West Pacific Area. He was transferred to the 1st Australian Army Amenities Entertainment Unit, known as "The Islanders", entertaining Australian troops in various combat areas.

After the war, Pate returned to radio, appearing in many plays and serials. Between 1946 and 1950 he began breaking into films. In 1949 he appeared in his first leading role in Sons of Matthew. In 1950, he appeared in Bitter Springs with Tommy Trinder and Chips Rafferty.

Also in 1950, Pate adapted, produced, and directed two plays — Dark of the Moon and Bonaventure. Later that year he travelled to the U.S. to appear in a film adaptation of Bonaventure for Universal Pictures, which was released in 1951 as Thunder on the Hill, starring Claudette Colbert and Ann Blyth.