Patricia Morrow, the actress who portrayed Rita Jacks on the 1960s ABC primetime drama "Peyton Place," was seen in Los Angeles on Monday, July 20, marking her first public appearance in over three decades. Now 82, Morrow stepped away from her successful acting career in television and film to pursue a career in law. Morrow, a Los Angeles native, began her Hollywood career at the age of nine, appearing in the syndicated drama series "I Led 3 Lives." She later secured a role in Alfred Hitchcock's 1956 film "The Wrong Man" and starred in the 1964 musical film "Surf Party."
Her most notable role was on "Peyton Place," where she initially signed on for a few episodes but stayed for four years due to the character's popularity. She reprised the role of Rita Jacks in the revival series "Return to Peyton Place" from 1972 to 1974 and in the TV movie "Peyton Place: The Next Generation" in 1985.
After "Peyton Place" concluded in 1969, Morrow shifted her focus to volunteering with Los Angeles youth on probation. This experience sparked an interest in law, leading her to study at Glendale University College of Law, from which she graduated in the 1970s.
Morrow's earlier film credits include "Ma and Pa Kettle at Home" (1954), "Artists and Models" (1955), "The Bad Seed" (1956), and "The Wrong Man" (1956).
She previously dated her "Peyton Place" onscreen husband, Christopher Connelly. Morrow married producer Carl Lance Brisson in 1975, later divorcing in 1982, and adopted her daughter, Marielle Margaret Morrow. The actress maintained a more private life in recent decades, having last been seen publicly over 30 years ago.
