Patty Hale, or Diana Jeanne Schultz as she was born, was a talented child actress who began her career in the entertainment industry in 1943. She was initially billed as Diana Hale, not to be confused with the television actress Diana Hale who was born four years earlier. During her brief but notable career, Patti/Diana appeared in only a handful of films.
As a blonde, rosebud-lipped graduate of Ohio University's liberal arts program, Patti had already gained experience in radio, local theatre, and films before her graduation in 1954. Her standout role on the big screen was that of Hildy, the little girl who shared a special bond with her brother and a chestnut filly named Flicka, in the beloved animal movie My Friend Flicka (1943). She reprised her role as Hildy in the sequel, Thunderhead: Son of Flicka (1945),which was released two years later.
Despite her early success, Patti struggled to transition to more mature acting roles and eventually turned her attention to other pursuits. In the 1950s, she appeared in several television commercials for Westinghouse appliances. From 1955 to 1956, she embarked on a tour of Alaska and the Middle East as one of a trio of entertainers. As the years went by, Patti's name became less familiar, and by the following decade, she was largely retired from the entertainment industry.
In her later years, Patti pursued a career in public relations before eventually retiring to Nevada, where she lived out her life.
