Patricia Prior

Patricia Prior
Patricia Prior, Leicester Theatre Royal, 1950
Born	Patricia Mary Prior (1929-02-09)9 February 1929 Bradfield, Essex, England
Died	12 June 2023(2023-06-12) (aged 94) Addlestone, Surrey, England
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1948–1989
Spouse	Rex Robinson ​ (m. 1952)​

Patricia Prior (9 February 1929 – 12 June 2023) was an English actress active from the 1950s to the 1990s. Best known for playing Mrs. Gibson in The Onedin Line, she also appeared in the Doctor Who television series.

Formative years and family

Born in Bradfield, Essex, England in 1929, Prior was educated in the schools of Stratford-on-Avon and then received training as an actress at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.^[1]

In 1952, Prior married her fellow actor Rex Robinson, whom she met on a tour of South Africa. Robinson was a member of the cast of The Three Doctors.^[2]

Career

After receiving her artistic training, Prior performed with the Guildford Repertory Company.^[3][4] By January of 1950, she was performing "character and 'straight' roles" with the Theatre Royal Saxon Players in Leicester.^[5][6]

Prior appeared in the Doctor Who serial The Three Doctors directed by Lennie Mayne as Mrs. Ollis.

Death

Prior died in Addlestone, Surrey, England on 12 June 2023.^[7]

Selected filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1989	Shadow of the Noose	Mrs. Potter
1989	In Sickness and in Health	Woman In Street
1987	You Must Be the Husband	The Lady
1987	One by One	Elsie Gates
1986	Strong Medicine	Martin's Mother
1983	Storyboard	Mrs. Rook
1982	Saturday Night Thriller	Mrs. Bannister
1970	Play for Today	Mrs. Tomishita
1971	The Onedin Line	Mrs. Gibson (14 episodes 1977–1980)
1976	Softly, Softly: Task Force	Mrs. Tegman
1975	The Brothers	Doctor's Receptionist
1973	Warship	Diana Bennett
1973	Doctor Who	Mrs. Ollis	Story: The Three Doctors
1972	Monty Python's Flying Circus	Patient Russian
1965	The Troubleshooters	Secretary
1967	Mickey Dunne	Woman

References

1. "Here and There" (photo of Prior with caption describing her academic training and current work). Leicester, England: The Illustrated Leicester Chronicle, January 15, 1950, p. 3 (subscription required).
2. "Rex is man of parts at Stratford." Derby, England: Derby Evening Telegraph, 02 Jun 1956, p. 4 (subscription required).
3. ""Tomorrow's Child" at the Theatre." Surrey, England: Surrey Advertiser, 04 Feb 1948, p. 7 (subscription required).
4. "Repertory Players, Amersham." Buckinghamshire, England: Bucks Free Press, 19 Mar 1948, p. 6 (subscription required).
5. "Corn Exchange: Holiday Dance Carnival" (advertisement). Leicester, England: Leicester Mercury, December 21, 1950, p. 3 (subscription required).
6. "Here and There," The Illustrated Leicester Chronicle, January 15, 1950, p. 3.
7. "Patricia Robinson". Doctor Who Guide. Retrieved 1 January 2024.

External links

• Patricia Prior at IMDb (note, wrong death date)