Vale Michael Pate

A real jolt to read today that Michael Pate had died. He was getting on in years but he always seemed so indestructible. And no kidding I had “call Michael Pate” on my “to do” list – I wanted to chat to him about an article I’m researching on Alec Coppel. Pate worked with Coppel – one of the many, many people Pate worked with. He had an amazingly long and varied career – not just an actor but also director, producer, writer, soldier. Enjoyed a prosperous career in Hollywood as a character actor, came home in the late 60s and continued to work solidly.

His looks typed him as a villain in Hollywood – I particularly remember his Indian in Hondo and his bitter white settler in Something of Value. Marvellous speaking voice, great presence.

A film writer once told me Pate “could talk the arm off a chair” – and he was dead right: I interviewed Pate about Rod Taylor a number of years ago and he certainly liked to tell his stories. But they were funny stories. He was still trying to get up projects too. Actors never retire!