Michael Pataki, a prolific and versatile character actor, had a remarkable career spanning over 50 years, marked by numerous film and television appearances. Born on January 16, 1938, in Youngstown, Ohio, Pataki attended the University of Southern California as a double major in Drama and Political Science.
He made his film debut with an uncredited role in the 1958 feature "Ten North Frederick." However, it was his acclaimed performance on stage in 1966 at a summer stock festival in Edinburgh that truly launched his career. Pataki's acting skills allowed him to portray a wide range of characters, from mean and unlikable antagonists to more appealing folks with equal conviction.
Some of his notable roles include the chilling performance as "Caleb Croft" in the horror film "Grave of the Vampire" (1972),the lecherous "Sergeant Ward" in "The Bat People" (1974),and the hard-nosed "District Attorney Dino Fulgoni" in "The Onion Field" (1979).
Pataki also had a recurring role on the TV series "The Amazing Spider-Man" (1977) and appeared in the two spin-off theatrical pictures, "Spider-Man" (1970) and "Spider-Man Strikes Back" (1978). He made numerous guest appearances on TV shows such as "The Twilight Zone" (1959),"Star Trek" (1966),"Combat!" (1962),and "The Flying Nun" (1967).
In addition to his acting career, Pataki provided voices for cartoon television programs, including the notable role of "George Liquor" on "The Ren & Stimpy Show" (1991). He also directed two low-budget 70s drive-in exploitation features, "Mansion of the Doomed" (1976) and "Cinderella" (1977),for producer Charles Band.
Michael Pataki passed away on April 15, 2010, at the age of 72, due to cancer complications in North Hollywood, California.
