Pat Bishop

Bishop was born on 13 June 1946 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to parents Lloyd and Dorothy and had two brothers, Ross and Howard.^[1]

Bishop appeared frequently on television, but is probably best known for her role in Prisoner as gangster's wife Antonia McNally, in 1979. She appeared in Dynasty in the regular role of Patricia Mason from 1970 to 1971. Other recurring roles included that of Melissa Hobson in Number 96 in 1976 and Maggie Gould in Cop Shop in 1980.

She appeared in the miniseries A Fortunate Life (1986), Edens Lost, Cassidy (both 1989), Come in Spinner, The Paper Man, Ring of Scorpio (all 1990), Brides of Christ (1991) and Bordertown (1995).

She also had guest roles in numerous television series including Contrabandits, Homicide, Delta, The Link Men, Division 4, Matlock Police, Catwalk, Spyforce, Ryan, Certain Women, Shannon's Mob, Spring & Fall, Menotti, Five Mile Creek, A Country Practice, Special Squad, Rafferty's Rules, The Flying Doctors, Boys from the Bush, Police Rescue, Law of the Land, Correlli, Water Rats, The Genie from Down Under, Bullpitt!, Blue Heelers and All Saints.

Bishop received an AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her representation of Jenny in the 1976 film Don's Party, based on the David Williamson play of the same name. She played the role of Maude White in the 1995 film Dad and Dave: On Our Selection, opposite Leo McKern, Geoffrey Rush and Noah Taylor, and was a nursing sister in the 1999 film Soft Fruit.

She also appeared in numerous TV plays and TV movies including Volpone (1968), The Voyage Out (1969), Tilley Landed On Our Shores (1969), Eden House (1970), Chimes at Midnight, Human Target (1974), A Step in the Right Direction (1981), Man of Letters (1984), Barracuda (1988), The Time Game (1992), Reprisal (1997) and Without Warning (1999).

Bishop acted extensively for the stage, including productions for NIDA, Old Tote Theatre Company, Ensemble Theatre, STC, MTC, QTC, Phillip Street Theatre, Belvoir and Hunter Valley Theatre Company.^[2]

Bishop was married to renowned Australian actor Bill Hunter in 1976, however, according to writer Bob Ellis, the marriage was short-lived after Hunter ran off with their wedding celebrant.

She had a daughter, Onagh.^[3]

Bishop died on 28 March 2000, aged 53, after a battle with cancer.^[1]

After Bishop's death, Onagh moved in with actress Fiona Spence and writer Denise Morgan in Sydney, who saw her through her HSC.^[3]

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