Shirley Gladys PattersonBelser, Emily (September 4, 1954). "Mansion Owner, Bored With Money, Takes Job as Extra in Movietown". The Sandusky Register. p. 2. Retrieved April 28, 2025. "Shawn Smith, who is playing the minor role of a grapeeater at the court of Nero in a film, says she's tired of current, pastimes of the idle rich. [...] Shawn, whose real name is Shirley Patterson Smith, wife of Alfred Smith, an Oregon-born timber tycoon, added that she never was much of a girl for bridge, either."Lomen, Edna M. (September 18, 1947). "Society: Smith, Patterson Nuptials". Eagle Rock Sentinel. p.6. Retrieved April 28, 2025. "In the gardens of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred F. Smith, 901 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, Shirley Gladys Patterson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Patterson of Beverly Hills, formerly of Eagle Rock, recited her nuptial vows Wednesday evening September tenth, with Alfred Fuller Smith Jr., with Dr. Lewis Evans officiating." (December 26, 1922 – April 4, 1995), sometimes billed as Shawn Smith, was a Canadian-born B-movie actress of the 1940s and 1950s.

Early years Born on December 26, 1922,"United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K4S-358M : Sat Apr 26 15:00:06 UTC 2025), Entry for Shawn Smith and Shirley J Patterson. in Winnipeg, Canada, Patterson grew up in Eastend, Saskatchewan. She was the daughter of druggist Benjamin Patterson. The family moved to Los Angeles because of her father's health problems, and she finished her education there.

Career Patterson began her acting career after being a beauty contestant in pageants in California from 1939 to 1940. In 1940, she won the Miss California Pageant, making a total of 15 contest victories. She was disqualified later when it was found she was underage. The second-place contestant (Rosemary LaPlanche) won the Miss America Pageant in 1941.

She signed a contract with Columbia Pictures after a talent scout saw her perform in a little theater production. Her career spanned 40 films, a few television appearances, and a serial.

Patterson played the role of heroine, Linda Page, in the 1943 15-chapter Batman serial. In 1944, she starred in The Vigilantes Ride with Russell Hayden and Bob Wills. In 1946, she accompanied Eddie Dean and Roscoe Ates in the movie Driftin River, and starred with them again the same year in Tumbleweed Trail, as well as Stars Over Texas. She also was Dean's object of affection in the song "Let's Go Sparkin'" from the 1947 movie Black Hills.

Patterson played Poppea, Nero's consort, in a nonspeaking role in The Silver Chalice (1954). Two of her last films were the 1957 movie The Land Unknown and the 1958 science-fiction movie It! The Terror from Beyond Space. Shortly after the close of filming in 1958 while skiing at Lake Arrowhead, California, she suffered a severely broken leg. She was in a full leg cast for a year and then a half cast for another six months, effectively ending her acting career.

Personal life and death From September 10, 1947 until their divorce in February 1971, Patterson was married to Alfred Fuller Smith, Jr."California, Divorce Index, 1966-1984", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPY4-HZ7 : Tue Feb 25 17:12:37 UTC 2025), Entry for Shirley Patterson and Alfred F Smith, Feb 1971. They had one child, Alfred F. Smith III (nickname,”Tory”). In April 1979, she married John Laurence Bodette."More Parties (Continued from Second Page)". The Los Angeles Times. May 27, 1979. pt. III, p. 3. Retrieved April 28, 2025. "at Virginia McIntire's home last month to witness the marriage of Shirley Patterson Smith, a mainstay up to now in Who's Who International, and John Laurence Bodette. Since Bodette is president of U.F.C. Ltd. based in Toronto, Can., the newlyweds are planning to do a lot of commuting."

On April 4, 1995, at age 72,"Obituaries: Broward County". South Florida Sun Sentinel. April 6, 1995. p. 12. Retrieved April 28, 2025. "BODETTE - Shirley P., 72 of Ft. Lauderdale, died Tuesday, April 4, 1995 at Hospice House, North Broward Medical Center. [...] Bodette is survived by husband, John L. Bodette: her son, Alfred "Tory" Smith of Davis, CA; four step-sons" following a long battle with cancer,"The Heroines: Shirley Patterson/Shawn Smith". b-westerns.com. Retrieved April 28, 2025. Patterson died at Hospice House, North Broward Medical Center (located in Pompano Beach, Florida"Obituaries: Broward County". South Florida Sun Sentinel. April 7, 1992. p.16. Retrieved April 28, 2025. "In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Hospice, Inc. of North Broward Medical Center, 201 E. Sample Rd., Pompano Beach, FL" See also: "Obituaries: Broward County". South Florida Sun Sentinel. February 26, 1998. p. 53. "In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Hospice House at North Broward Medical Center in Pompano Beach, FL."), where she had been brought from her home in nearby Fort Lauderdale. She was survived by Bodette, by her son Alfred Smith III, and by four stepsons from her second marriage.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1942 North of the Rockies Lydia Rogers 1942 They All Kissed the Bride Receptionist Uncredited1942 Riders of the Northland Sheila Taylor 1942 Parachute Nurse Katherine Webb 1942 Sabotage Squad Miss Cole Uncredited1942 A Man's World Nurse Bentley Uncredited1942 Lucky Legs Chambermaid Uncredited1942 The Spirit of Stanford June Rogers 1942 Riding Through Nevada Gail Holloway 1942 Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood Stewardess Uncredited1942 Laugh Your Blues Away Mrs. Knox Uncredited1943 Spook Louder Perkins Uncredited1943 Let's Have Fun Girl Uncredited1943 Redhead from Manhattan Telephone Operator Uncredited1943 The More the Merrier Girl Uncredited1943 Law of the Northwest Michele Darcy 1943 Good Luck, Mr. Yates Secretary Uncredited1943 Batman Linda Page Serial1943 Destroyer Bigbee's Girl Uncredited1943 Dangerous Blondes Bride Uncredited1943 My Kingdom for a Cook Elevator Girl Uncredited1943 The Texas Kid Nancy Drew 1943 Klondike Kate Dancer Uncredited1943 The Vigilantes Ride Jane Andrews Uncredited1944 Riding West Alice Morton 1944 Marriage Is a Private Affair Mary Saunders 1945 Keep Your Powder Dry WAC Brooks 1945 Between Two Women Nurse Thorsen 1946 The Harvey Girls Harvey Girl Uncredited1946 Tumbleweed Trail Robin Ryan 1946 Driftin' River J. C. 'Jenny' Morgan 1946 Stars Over Texas Terry Lawrence 1947 Black Hills Janet Hadley 1953 Second Chance Uncredited1953 The French Line Model Uncredited1954 The Long Wait Carol Shay 1954 The Silver Chalice Poppaea Uncredited1955 The Shrike Celia Johns Uncredited1956 The Bottom of the Bottle Gossipy Woman Uncredited1956 World Without End Elaine 1957 The Land Unknown Margaret Hathaway 1958 It! The Terror from Beyond Space Ann Anderson

References

External links

Shirley Patterson at b-westerns.com