Larger than life leading lady on stage and television. Familiar to Kiwi viewers on television shows such as Close to Home, Pukemanu and later in Australia on the The Flying Doctors. Active on stage until failing eyesight in her early seventies forced her to retire from the profession.
Her work on the New Zealand small screen included:
- A Going Concern (1975-76)
- All Earth to Love (1963)
- Close to Home (1975-83)
- Immigrants, the (1976)
- Moynihan (1975-77)
- Pukemanu (1971-72)
- Shark in the Park (1989-91)
- Today at One (1975-76)
Arts Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson paid the tribute to her life and career on the occasion of her death
"Dame Pat Evison was one of our most well-known and well-loved actresses for her television roles in groundbreaking series, but she was also a pioneer in New Zealand theatre," Mr Finlayson said. "She was one of the first New Zealand theatre students to receive a scholarship to study overseas, at the Old Vic Theatre School in London."
"She was also an important part of television history in this country, acting in Pukemanu, the first continuing drama series ever produced in New Zealand.
Dame Pat acted in a number of early Downstage Theatre productions in Wellington. Her performance in the Samuel Beckett play Happy Days was described by director Bruce Mason as the "finest event in New Zealand Theatre".
Her autobiography Happy Days in Muckle Flugga was published by HarperCollins in 1998
She received the OBE in 1980 and was created Dame of the British Empire in 1993.
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