Patricia Martínez, better known as Patrice Martinez, was a Mexican-American actress with a strong background in theatre acting. Her impressive resume showcased a well-rounded acting career, complemented by her film and television credits. She began her career in her early teens, working as an extra in the 1978 film "Convoy" starring Kris Kristofferson and directed by Sam Peckinpah.
After catching the director's eye, Peckinpah offered her a speaking role, and Patrice became the lead stage actress for "La Compañía", a bilingual theatrical repertory company founded by her mother, Margarita Martínez, and her mentor, Jose Rodríguez. Despite being still a teenager, she was already making a name for herself in the industry.
Patrice's determination and passion for acting led her to seek formal training at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. Among 3000 aspiring actors from around the world, she was awarded the sole scholarship of her term, an incredible achievement.
Upon graduating from RADA, Patrice was honored with five of the most prominent awards the academy has to commend. She then returned to the US and moved to California, where she quickly landed a lead role in her first feature film, "A Walk on the Moon" (1987).
Her breakthrough role came shortly thereafter, when she was cast in the hit comedy "Three Amigos!" (1986) starring Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short, and directed by John Landis. Patrice's talent and charisma caught the attention of producers, and she was soon cast in a lead role in the popular TV series "Magnum, P.I." (1980),starring Tom Selleck.
She also appeared in other notable TV shows, including "Miami Vice" (1984) with Don Johnson and Edward James Olmos. Her film credits include "Beetlejuice" (1988) with Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis, and "The Effects of Magic" (1998),among others.
One of the highlights of her professional career was when she began to appear in international productions, including the series "Zorro" (1990),shot for the Family Channel in Spain. She also worked on several other European projects, such as "Winnetous Rückkehr" (1998) for German television.
