Patricia Dane, a second-string actress, was a stunning brunette with a rough and rowdy exterior that served her well on screen, but not so much in her personal life. Born Thelma Patricia Ann Pippen in Jacksonville, Florida, her father passed away shortly after her birth, and she was initially cared for by her grandparents before being reunited with her mother and stepfather, Byrnes.
After graduating from Andrew Jackson High School, Patricia attended the University of Alabama before moving to New York in 1938 to pursue a career in fashion design. However, her striking dark-eyed beauty led her to modeling jobs, which in turn opened doors to the city's high life, earning her a reputation as a feisty party girl.
Patricia's film debut came as a Ziegfeld Girl in MGM's 1941 musical, Ziegfeld Girl, followed by minor roles in Life Begins for Andy Hardy and Johnny Eager. She co-starred in several "B" films, including Grand Central Murder, Northwest Rangers, and Manhattan Melodrama.
Patricia was known for her high-profile relationships and, on April 8, 1943, she married renowned bandleader Tommy Dorsey. However, their marriage was tumultuous, marked by frequent fights and substance abuse. The couple divorced on August 26, 1947, and Patricia never remarried.
After her divorce, Patricia attempted to revive her acting career with minor roles in Joe Palooka in Fighting Mad and Are You with It?, but to no avail. Her personal life also continued to make headlines, including a 1949 arrest for driving under the influence and resisting arrest, alongside actor Robert Walker.
In the latter years of her life, Patricia moved to Blountstown, Florida, and became a librarian, leading a quiet and unassuming life. She eventually passed away on June 5, 1995, due to complications from lung cancer, having long since faded from the public eye.
