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Pat Finley

Pat Finley (born October 14, 1938, per ; some sources state 1940) is an American actress and television host recognized for her recurring television roles in popular 1970s sitcoms and crime dramas. Finley was born in , and began her career in the early 1960s with appearances in stage musicals before gaining prominence on television. She often performed under the stage name Patte Finley in her initial credits, including the short-lived sitcom From a Bird's Eye View (1971), where she co-starred as Maggie Ralston alongside . Her guest spots on further showcased her comedic talents, portraying characters such as Sparkie in the 1970 episode "Divorce Isn't Everything" and Twinks McFarland in the 1971 episode "A Friend in Deed." Throughout the 1970s, Finley secured recurring roles that highlighted her versatility in both comedy and drama. On The Bob Newhart Show, she played Ellen Hartley, the quirky sister of Bob Newhart's character, appearing in 15 episodes from 1974 to 1976. In the detective series The Rockford Files, she portrayed Peggy Becker, the wife of Lieutenant Dennis Becker, in multiple episodes starting in 1977 and reprising the role in the 1996 television movie The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows Best. Later in her career, Finley appeared in Perry Mason television movies, including as Judge Andrea Nachman in Perry Mason: The Case of the Reckless Romeo (1992). Her last credited acting role was in 2006's Cowboys and Idiots; she transitioned to hosting, co-hosting shows like Seattle Today and Good Company in the 1990s.

Early life

Birth and family background

Pat Finley was born on October 14, 1938, in Asheville, North Carolina, USA, although some sources list the year as 1940. She was the daughter of Robert Corpening Finley, a Washington State Supreme Court judge who served from 1951 to 1976, and Werdna Karen Finley (née Phillips), a philanthropist and longtime advocate for children's theater and drama programs. Finley had one sister, Mary Ellen, and one brother, , who later founded the Seven Gables movie theater chain in the . Her mother's involvement in promoting theater for children may have sparked Finley's early interest in the .

Upbringing and early influences

Pat Finley was born in Asheville, North Carolina, in 1938, but her family relocated to Washington state in 1940 when she was still a young child, following her father's career in law. Her father, Robert C. Finley, had briefly pursued music as a band leader before transitioning to legal roles, eventually serving as an assistant attorney general in Washington and later being elected to the state Supreme Court in 1951, where he remained for 25 years. This move to the Pacific Northwest, settling in areas like Olympia and Seattle, provided a stable environment shaped by her father's rising judicial prominence and commitment to public service. The Finley household emphasized community involvement and cultural enrichment, largely influenced by her mother, Werdna Finley, a dedicated philanthropist who championed children's arts programs. Werdna co-founded Junior Programs in 1939 to produce plays for young audiences and later directed the Children's Theatre Association of the Northwest in the , while also serving on advisory councils and editing national newsletters for theater education. She received a 1988 citation from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education for her 50 years of service in fostering youth engagement with the . The family's lifestyle reflected this dedication, as Werdna actively exposed her three children—including Pat and her siblings Randy and Mary Ellen (known as Sparkle)—to live theater productions, encouraging their participation in cultural activities amid the vibrant regional arts scene of post-war . Growing up in this milieu, Pat Finley encountered early opportunities in the Pacific Northwest's burgeoning theater community, which her mother's advocacy helped cultivate through organizations promoting accessible performances for children. This environment, combined with the stability of her father's judicial career, laid a foundational exposure to the arts that aligned with the area's emphasis on community-driven cultural initiatives during the mid-20th century.

Career

Stage and Broadway work

Pat Finley's theatrical career commenced in the early 1960s, marking her entry into professional performing arts through musical revues and tours. Her debut came in the Off-Broadway production of Greenwich Village, U.S.A. in 1960, a revue celebrating bohemian life in early 20th-century New York, where she performed in multiple sketches including "BLT" and "Off Broadway Broads." Critics praised her amiable clowning and enchanting gusto in ensemble numbers, highlighting her versatility as a newcomer. In 1962, Finley took on a leading role as Rose Alvarez in the national tour of the musical , co-starring with Carleton Carpenter as Albert Peterson. The production, a satirical take on mania, toured extensively, including an extension to , showcasing her comedic timing and vocal abilities in a high-profile vehicle that built her reputation in musical theater. Finley continued with Hello, Dolly!, joining the third national tour in 1965 and later replacing as Irene Molloy on from 1967 to August 23, 1967. In the role of the flirtatious hat shop owner, she contributed to the long-running musical's success during its peak popularity. Some productions credited her as Patte Finley, a variation used early in her stage work. Spanning the and focused primarily before the , Finley's endeavors provided critical acclaim and experience that propelled her transition to , establishing a foundation in live performance.

Television roles

Pat Finley's television career spanned from the early to the , encompassing recurring roles and numerous guest spots on both sitcoms and dramas, showcasing her versatility in comedic and dramatic formats. In the 1970s, Finley secured several recurring roles that highlighted her comedic timing. She appeared as the Blue-Collar Wife in 14 episodes of the short-lived sketch comedy series The Funny Side in 1971. She played Ellen Hartley, the sister of Bob Newhart's character, in 15 episodes of The Bob Newhart Show from 1974 to 1976. Another notable recurring part was as Peggy Becker, the wife of LAPD Lieutenant Dennis Becker (played by Joe Santos), appearing in 7 episodes of the detective series The Rockford Files between 1975 and 1979. She reprised the role of Peggy Becker in the 1996 television movie The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows Best. Finley also made memorable guest appearances across a range of series, often credited as Patte Finley in her earlier work. On The Mary Tyler Moore Show, she portrayed quirky characters like Twinks McFarland and Sparkie in multiple episodes during the early 1970s. Other standout guest spots included roles in Perry Mason (notably as Grace Kingman in the 1963 episode "The Case of the Skeleton's Closet"), From a Bird's Eye View (as regular Maggie Ralston in 1971), The Love Boat, and Diff'rent Strokes. These appearances, totaling over 50 television credits, underscored her adaptability from lighthearted sitcoms to more serious fare throughout the 1960s and 1980s.

Film appearances

Pat Finley appeared in several television movies and one , showcasing her versatility in supporting roles amid a career dominated by episodic television. She made her debut in this format with the 1982 An Innocent Love, directed by Roger Young, where she portrayed June Woodward, a mother grappling with her teenage son's unconventional friendship with an older tutor. In the late 1980s and early , Finley appeared in three installments of the television movie series, each time playing a judge and contributing to the franchise's courtroom drama elements. In : The Case of the Reckless Romeo (1992), she played Judge Andrea Nachman in a story involving a tabloid journalist's . She followed this with the role of Judge Treyball in : The Case of the Fatal Fashion (1991), centered on intrigue within the fashion industry. Finley reprised a similar authoritative presence as Judge Andrea Nachman in : The Case of the Killer Kiss (1993), which explored tensions on a set. Her final film role was as Mrs. Fugner in the independent comedy Cowboys and Idiots (2006). These credits underscore a selective approach to projects outside her more prolific work.

Later years

Hosting and media ventures

After establishing herself in through numerous guest appearances and work, Pat Finley transitioned to local media hosting in during the 1980s. She served as co-host of the morning Good Company on , a program that emphasized community features, segments, and interviews. In 1990, following a three-and-a-half-year hiatus living in , Finley returned to as co-host of the revamped Seattle Today—the successor to Good Company—alongside Cliff Lenz and Colby . The show, which had aired in various formats since , focused on local topics including cooking, gardening, and human interest stories, drawing on Finley's Northwest roots and personal passions. Seattle Today concluded in May 1991 after 17 years on air, amid competition from syndicated programs; Finley highlighted impactful segments, such as those on , which resonated deeply with viewers. This phase of her career, spanning over a decade in local television, represented a pivot to non-scripted media that capped more than 50 years of professional involvement in entertainment.

Personal life and residences

Following her retirement from an active career in entertainment, Pat Finley adopted a notably private lifestyle, with no publicly available details regarding or children. This low profile has characterized her post-Hollywood years, allowing her to step away from public scrutiny while residing internationally. Since the early 1990s, Finley has primarily resided in Sévrieres, a village near in southeastern , after moving there following her time hosting a local television program in . She previously maintained a home in , where she co-hosted Seattle Today from 1990 to 1991, and sources indicate she continued to divide her time between the two locations into the early 2000s, facilitated by her career transition. This dual-residence arrangement reflects her semi-retired status, embracing a quieter life across continents. As of 2025, at age 87, Finley remains alive and semi-retired, with her most recent public mention occurring in family contexts earlier that year, including the obituary of her brother Randy Finley, who died on September 7, 2025. No active involvement in or public causes has been documented in recent years.

References

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