Melody Patterson obit

‘F Troop’ Actress Melody Patterson Dies at 66

 

She was not on the list.

TV actress Melody Patterson, best known for playing Wrangler Jane on “F Troop,” died Thursday at the age of 66. Patterson died in a nursing home after multiple organ failure, according to reports.

In addition to her starring role on “F Troop” from 1965-1967, Patterson appeared on other television shows of the era including “The Monkees,” “Adam-12” and “Green Acres.” She was also in a handful of episodes of “Hawaii Five-O,” which featured her husband at the time, James MacArthur.

Patterson also appeared in a few films, landing roles in “The Angry Breed,” “The Cycle Savages” and “Blood and Lace.”

Patterson’s “F Troop” co-star Larry Storch announced her death via Facebook post, saying, “It’s with a heavy heart that we can let you know our beloved Wrangler Jane, Melody Patterson passed away today. Our hearts are sad today. RIP Sweet Melody. We love you.”

Patterson entertained troops in Vietnam with the Johnny Grant and Friends show. Her first tour was in December 1967, with Diane McBain, Sherry Jackson, and Sabrina Scharf. Her second tour was in June 1968 with Vicki Lawrence and Karen MacQuirk (Miss Welcome to Long Beach 1968). Patterson was a disc jockey for the Armed Forces Radio Service. She later wrote a column called "Wrapping with Wrangler" for Wildest Westerns magazine.

Melody Patterson was married three times, the first was to actor James MacArthur in July 1970, and lasted until 1977. MacArthur was known for the role of Dan "Danno" Williams in the TV series Hawaii Five-O. During their marriage, she put her career aside to move to Honolulu, where the show filmed. Her second marriage was to Robert Hill Crump Seaton, Jr., and ended in divorce April 29, 1998. Her last marriage was to musician Vern Miller on November 28, 1998, and ended with her death. Patterson had no children from those marriages.

 

Actress (13 credits)

 1989 The Immortalizer (Video)

Nurse Blaine

 1969-1974 Hawaii Five-O (TV Series)

Kathy / Sherry / Missy

- Bomb, Bomb, Who's Got the Bomb? (1974) ... Kathy

- Nightmare in Blue (1974) ... Sherry

- The Devil and Mr. Frog (1969) ... Missy

 1973 The Harrad Experiment

Jeannie (uncredited)

 1971 Blood and Lace

Ellie Masters

 1969 The Cycle Savages

Lea

 1968 Green Acres (TV Series)

Lorelei Appleby

- Eb's Romance (1968) ... Lorelei Appleby

 1968 Adam-12 (TV Series)

Valerie

- Log 141: The Color TV Bandit (1968) ... Valerie

 1968 The Angry Breed

April Banner

 1967 The Monkees (TV Series)

Ella Mae

- Hillbilly Honeymoon (1967) ... Ella Mae

 1965-1967 F Troop (TV Series)

Wrangler Jane Angelica Thrift

- Is This Fort Really Necessary? (1967) ... Wrangler Jane Angelica Thrift

- Our Brave in F Troop (1967) ... Wrangler Jane Angelica Thrift

- The Majority of Wilton (1967) ... Wrangler Jane Angelica Thrift

- Carpetbagging, Anyone? (1967) ... Wrangler Jane Angelica Thrift

- Marriage, Fort Courage Style (1967) ... Wrangler Jane Angelica Thrift

1965 Wendy and Me (TV Series)

Eleanor Martinson

- You Can Fight City Hall (1965) ... Eleanor Martinson

 1963 Bye Bye Birdie

Teenager (uncredited)

 1960-1961 The Jim Backus Show (TV Series)

Teenager winking at Melvin / Teenager with Pink Dress / Teenage Girl

- When a Body Meets a Body (1961) ... Teenager winking at Melvin

- Sidney's Scoop (1961) ... Teenager with Pink Dress

- The Three Sisters (1960) ... Teenage Girl

 

Soundtrack (2 credits)

 1967 F Troop (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)

- That's Show Biz (1967) ... (performer: "Lemon Tree", "Mr. Tambourine Man" - uncredited)

 1965 Shindig! (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)

- Episode #2.22 (1965) ... (performer: "You're the One", "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands")

 

Self (8 credits)

 1972-1973 It's Your Bet (TV Series)

Self

- James MacArthur and Ben Murphy (1973) ... Self

- Pat O'Brien, James MacArthur and Melody Patterson (1972) ... Self

 1973 Joanne Carson's VIPs (TV Series)

Self

- Episode #1.105 (1973) ... Self

 1967 The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) (TV Series)

Self - Panelist

- Episode #1.188 (1967) ... Self - Panelist

- Episode #1.187 (1967) ... Self - Panelist

- Episode #1.186 (1967) ... Self - Panelist

- Episode #1.185 (1967) ... Self - Panelist

- Episode #1.184 (1967) ... Self - Panelist

 1966-1967 Dream Girl of '67 (TV Series)

Self - Fashion Hostess

- The Dream Girl of 1967 (Show No. 130) (1967) ... Self - Fashion Hostess

- The Dream Girl of 1967 (Show No. 129) (1967) ... Self - Fashion Hostess

- The Dream Girl of 1967 (Show No. 128) (1967) ... Self - Fashion Hostess

- The Dream Girl of 1967 (Show No. 127) (1967) ... Self - Fashion Hostess

- The Dream Girl of 1967 (Show No. 126) (1967) ... Self - Fashion Hostess

1967 Dateline: Hollywood (TV Series)

Self / Self - Actress

- Episode dated 2 June 1967 (1967) ... Self

- Episode dated 26 May 1967 (1967) ... Self - Actress

 1967 Gypsy (TV Series)

Self

- Episode #3.124 (1967) ... Self

 1966 Hollywood Deb Star Ball (TV Special)

Self - 1966 Deb Star

 1965 Shindig! (TV Series)

Self - Singer / Self

- Episode #2.22 (1965) ... Self - Singer

- Episode #2.16 (1965) ... Self

Archive footage (1 credit)

 2007 Fall in with F Troop (Documentary short)