Patricia McPherson was born November 27th 1954 in Oak Harbor, Washington. Her father was a high ranking naval officer. She spent several years in France when her father was sent to Paris, and later studied advertising at the university in Florida and California. She then became a very successful model and worked as a magazine graphic artist. She then turned to acting.
Her first credited appearance was in 1978 in the short film Libra this was followed by a number of small roles and unaccredited appearances before landing the role that stuck her front and centre on the Cult Faction radar.
In 1982 McPherson took on the role of Dr. Bonnie Barstow in a new high-tec TV series known as Knightrider. Bonnie was an instant fan favourite and also gained rave reviews for being a positive female role model, especially as she was a gifted computer expert and mechanic. She appeared in season one on Knightrider but was replaced in Season 2 by April Curtis (played by Rebecca Holden).
Fans were outraged that McPherson was gone from the show and campaigned to bring her back. This campaign was backed by Knightrider stars David Hasselhoff and Edward Mulhare. The result? Bonnie was back for Season 3 in 1984 and remained with the show until it ended in 1986.
McPherson has made guest appearances in a variety of television shows including Starman, Murder She Wrote, MacGyver, Matlock, and Star Trek: The Next Generation in the season 1 episode entitled “Angel One” as Ariel.
McPherson retired from acting in 1991, although she made a cameo appearance as a Regent in Warehouse 13 in 2009. She remains active in conserving wildlife and the forests; her efforts have included helping in attempts to preserve the Ballona Wetlands in southern California and working with the Ballona Wetlands Trust to sue the Playa Vista community for failure to take action concerning methane.
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