Neva Patterson's Early Life
Born Neva Louise Patterson in 1920 in Nevada, Iowa, to a seamstress mother and a mailman father, she was raised in a small town surrounded by the American heartland. Growing up, Neva developed a passion for performing, often putting on plays at home with her brother Harlan and performing in high-school plays. Her interest in acting was further fueled when she found work as an usher at the Circle Theatre in Nevada, Iowa.
Education and Early Career
Neva graduated from high school in 1937 and worked briefly in Des Moines, Iowa, before moving to New York City in 1938. She worked various jobs, including secretary, radio singer, and bit-part performer, before making her Broadway debut in 1947 in the play "The Druid Circle". Her early career was marked by a series of small roles on stage and screen, including appearances in "Ring'Round the Moon" (1950),"Susan and God" (1951),"The Cocktail Party" (1951),and "The Seven-Year Itch" (1952).
Television and Film Career
Neva's breakthrough came in the 1950s, with a series of television appearances, including roles in "The Colgate Theatre" (1950) and "In the Heat of the Night" (1988). She went on to appear in over 400 dramas during her career, including support roles in films such as "Taxi" (1953),"The Solid Gold Cadillac" (1956),"Desk Set" (1957),"An Affair to Remember" (1957),"Too Much, Too Soon" (1958),"David and Lisa" (1962),"Dear Heart" (1964),and "Counterpoint" (1967).
Personal Life
Neva was married three times, including to a professional dancer, and adopted two children with her third husband, writer James Lee. She retired from acting in the early 1990s and passed away at the age of 90 in December 2010, following complications from a pelvic fracture.
