Melody Patterson, a star in the 1960s television series "F Troop," died last week from multiple organ failure at a nursing home. She was 66.
Patterson portrayed Wrangler Jane on the show that ran from 1965 to 1967,
said Variety. One of her "F Troop" co-stars, Larry Storch, confirmed the Thursday death with a Facebook post on Friday.
It's with a heavy heart that we can let you know our beloved Wrangler Jane, Melody Patterson passed away today. Our hearts are sad today. RIP Sweet Melody. We love you.
Posted by Larry Storch on Friday, August 21, 2015
Patterson appeared on other popular television shows of the era, including "The Monkees," "Adam-12" and "Green Acres," said Variety. The celebrity publication added that Patterson also appeared in episodes of "Hawaii Five-0," which starred her then-husband James MacArthur.
"F Troop" was a Western comedy on ABC set after the Civil War than ran in syndication for decades. She auditioned for the part at 15, telling producers she was 18,
said The Hollywood Reporter.
"She was extremely independent," Patterson said of her Wrangler Jane character in the book "Drive-in Dream Girls: A Galaxy of B-Movie Starlets of the Sixties." "She owned her own store, she ran the mail and she could outride and outshoot anybody else in town. She was a very self-reliant teenager, which I always saw her as."
Patterson also performed for Vietnam troops on the Armed Forces Radio show "The Cycle Savages" in 1969, which also starred Bruce Dern.
Fans shared their condolences on social media.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.