Paterson, William, 1919-2003

William Paterson, born on July 7, 1919, in Buffalo, New York, graduated from Brown University in 1941, with honors in English Literature. While at Brown University, he joined the Sock and Buskin Drama Club and spent his summer breaks acting in productions at the Pine Grove Playhouse in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania. After graduation, he joined the United States Army for four years, including nine months of active combat in Europe. He earned a Bronze Star for meritorious service and a Purple Heart after being wounded during the Battle of the Bulge. He was also awarded five Campaign Stars. During this period, Paterson was briefly married to Patricia Best.

After his return home from military service, Paterson joined the Cleveland Playhouse. During his fourth year there he married Cora Beams, a hair stylist who sometimes worked on Playhouse productions. In addition to performing in various Playhouse productions, he took time out to act in four national tours of his own one-man biographical shows, portraying Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. and Benjamin Franklin, among others.

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