Born: 23^rd March 1917, Milan, Italy.  Died: 23^rd November 2003, Draguignan, France.

Patricia Burke came from a show business background. Her parents were operatic tenor Tom Burke (known as ‘The Lancashire Caruso’), and actress/singer Marie Burke (who also appeared in ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’). Before Patricia decided to become a dramatic actress by joining London’s Old Vic company in 1947, she had been a well-known song & dance star. Before the war she appeared in shows with the likes of Beatrice Lillie and Flanagan & Allen, and in revues for Leslie Henson and Herbert Farjeon. Perhaps her best known role was as Gabrielle in ‘The Lisbon Story’, which she played at the Hippodrome from 1943 to 1944. Patricia later starred in the film version. She appeared in 7 episodes of ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’, portraying Lady Leonia (Sir Richard of the Lea’s wife) in 5 of them. A few more TV and film roles followed, but the stage remained her first love. From 1958 to 1972, Patricia played Jimmy Clitheroe’s mother in the BBC radio comedy series ‘The Clitheroe Kid’. On her retirement from show business in the 1980s, she became an agent and advisor. Three times married, Patricia Burke died in 2003 at the age of 86. She had begun writing a history of her famous family, until struck down by her final illness.

Episodes Featuring Patricia Burke: -

Series 1

The Challenge - Lady Leonia 

The Youngest Outlaw - Lady Torrance 

The Betrothal - Lady Leonia 

The Byzantine Treasure - Lady Leonia 

Series 2

Blackmail - Lady Leonia 

The Final Tax - Donia Joyner 

Series 3

Castle in the Air - Lady Leonia

Film Roles: -

Ship’s Concert (1937) ... Geraldine Jackson

Fun and Games! (1938) (TV)

The Trojan Brothers (aka Murder in the Footlights) (1946) ... Betty Todd

Lisbon Story (1946) ... Gabrielle Girard

While I Live (aka The Dream of Olwen) (1947) ... Christine Sloan

Forbidden (1948) ... Diana Harding

Why? (1953) TV Mini-Series ... Herself - Panellist

The Happiness of Three Women (aka Wishing Well) (1954) ... Ann

The Film That Never Was (1957)

The Desperate Man (1959) ... Miss Prew

The Impersonator (1960) ... Mrs. Lloyd

Dilemma (1962) ... Edna Jones

Daylight Robbery (1964)

The Day the Fish Came Out (1967) ... Mrs. Mavroyannis

Soft Beds, Hard Battles (aka Undercover Hero) (1974) ... Mother Superior

TV Guest Appearances: -

The Public Defender - ‘A Pair of Gloves’ (1955) ... Anne Hobart

Stryker of the Yard - ‘The Case of Canary Jones’ (1956)

Sword of Freedom - ‘The Ship’ (1957) ... Duchess of Urbino

The New Adventures of Charlie Chan - ‘The Circle of Fear’ (1957) ... Mrs. van Boorman

H.G.Wells’ Invisible Man - ‘Death Cell’ (1959) ... Mrs. Willis

No Hiding Place - ‘A Genuine Sale of Murder’ (1959) ... Alice Dawson

Tales of Edgar Wallace - ‘Marriage of Convenience’ (1960) ... Woman in Flat

The Four Just Men - ‘The Survivor’ (1960) ... Ann

Suspense - ‘Killer in the Band’ (1962) ... Nixie Martin

Z Cars - ‘Known to the Police’ (1962) ... Hilda Simmons

Comedy Playhouse - ‘A Picture of Innocence’ (1963) ... Bette Berry

Gideon’s Way - ‘The Reluctant Witness’ (1965) ... Mrs. Gully

Tales of Edgar Wallace - ‘Strangler’s Web’ (1965) ... Norma Brent

Thirty-Minute Theatre - ‘Don't Go Down to the Bingo Mother, Father’s Coming to Tea’ (1966) ... Alice

Looks Familiar (1972) ... Herself - Panellist