Audrey Hepburn and her Aussie connection (1993)

Flashback to Variety Today 1993

By SHIRLEY BROUN

RECENTLY the industry farewelled one of its most revered leading ladies in Audrey Hepburn when she was laid to rest after a long illness.

Successful Australian actor and industry icon, Michael Pate, who worked with Audrey in `Green Mansions', shot in the early 1960s by MGM, said the industry had lost a charming, well educated, gracious person whom he admired. "And, it was so sad to see her die so young," Michael said from his Sydney home.

Green Mansions also starred Anthony Perkins, with whom Michael appeared in the river boat scenes as a young Franciscan monk. "The majority of my scenes were with Anthony, but Audrey often came onto the sets to watch us. Her husband, Mal Ferrer, was our director," he said.

But Michael had actually been introduced to Audrey some years before while she was filming `Sabrina Fair' (1954) - sometimes referred to as simply `Sabrina', at Paramount Studios. Her co-star was William Holden, who had just finished in the starring role in `Escape From Fort Bravo', the original screenplay for which had been written by Michael Pate and his brother.

UPDATE 2012: MICHAEL PATE (Edward John Pate) was born in the Sydney suburb of Drummoyne on February 26, 1920 and died on September 1, 2008 in Gosford. He left a wife, Felippa Rock and son, Christopher Pate. Michael Pate was a well-known Australian actor, writer and director who appeared in many movies and television series, both in Australia and the USA.

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