James Patterson

James Patterson (June 29, 1932 – August 19, 1972) was an American actor who won a Tony Award for his role in the 1968 Harold Pinter play The Birthday Party.

Early life and education Patterson was born in Derry, Pennsylvania. For a time he was a painter, but he later studied acting at the Carnegie Institute of Technology with Herbert Berghof. He met his future wife, actress Rochelle Oliver, while working on an off-Broadway production of The Brothers Karamazov. They married in 1959 and by 1960 were living together in a small apartment on the Upper East Side.

In 1970, Patterson was in the horror-slasher film Silent Night, Bloody Night, playing Jeffrey Butler, a man trying to sell a house with a terrible history. The film was not released until after his death.

Death In 1972, Patterson died of cancer, aged 40, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. He was survived by his wife Rochelle and son John.

Filmography + Films Title Year Role Director NotesLilith 1964 Dr. Lavrier Robert Rossen In the Heat of the Night 1967 Lloyd Purdy Norman Jewison Castle Keep 1969 Elk Sydney Pollack A Fable 1971 The Husband Al Freeman Jr. Silent Night, Bloody Night 1972 Jeffrey Butler Theodore Gershuny (final film role)