Michael Pate was a versatile and prolific Australian actor, writer, director, and producer who worked in both Hollywood and his native country. He appeared in over 300 television shows and films, playing various roles such as Native Americans, cowboys, villains, and vampires. He also adapted, produced, and directed award-winning movies and TV series in Australia. He was a respected and influential figure in the Australian film industry, who helped launch the careers of many actors, including Mel Gibson. But how did Michael Pate die? What was his cause of death? Here is what we know.
Respiratory Failure
According to Variety, Michael Pate died of respiratory failure on September 1, 2008, near Sydney. He was 88 years old at the time of his death. Respiratory failure is a condition in which the lungs cannot provide enough oxygen to the body or remove enough carbon dioxide from the blood. It can be caused by various factors, such as lung diseases, chest injuries, neuromuscular disorders, or drug overdose. Respiratory failure can lead to serious complications, such as organ failure, coma, or death.
Lung Infection
According to ABC News, Michael Pate’s family was in shock over his sudden death as he was healthy until a recent lung infection. His long-time family friend Jacqui Bosanac said that he was working on a film script just before he went to the hospital. His son Christopher Pate decided to try and finish the script that his father left incomplete. Bosanac said that Pate was always working and loved his craft. She also said that he was a wonderful person who cared for his family and friends.
Career Highlights
Michael Pate was born in Sydney in 1920 and began his career as an interviewer for the ABC. During World War II, he served in the army’s entertainment unit, known as “The Islanders”. After the war, he returned to radio and also worked in films. He starred in his first leading role in Sons of Matthew (1949) and also appeared in Bitter Springs (1950) with Tommy Trinder and Chips Rafferty.
In 1950, he travelled to the United States to appear in a film adaptation of Bonaventure for Universal Pictures, which was released in 1951 as Thunder on the Hill, starring Claudette Colbert and Ann Blyth. He spent most of the 1950s in the US, appearing in many TV shows and films. He played the role of “Clarence Leiter” in a live production of Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale (1954), opposite Barry Nelson’s “Jimmy Bond”. He also played Flavius in Julius Caesar (1953), the film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play. He became known for playing Native American roles in western movies, such as Victorio in Hondo (1953), opposite John Wayne. He later said that this was his favourite film role.
He returned to Australia in the late 1960s and continued to work in films and TV. He won two Logie Awards for television production, starred in TV series Matlock Police (1971-1976), and adapted the award-winning screenplay for Tim (1979), starring Mel Gibson and Piper Laurie. He also directed films such as The Mango Tree (1977) and The Return of Captain Invincible (1983). He was honoured with an Order of Australia medal in 2005 for his services to the film industry.
Michael Pate is survived by his wife Felippa Rock, also an actor, his son Christopher Pate, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He is remembered as a talented and versatile actor and filmmaker who contributed greatly to the Australian culture.
