Neva Louise Patterson, born on February 10, 1920, near Nevada, Iowa, was an American actress whose career spanned radio, stage, television, and film. Raised on a farm, she was the daughter of mailman George Patterson and seamstress Marjorie Byers Patterson. She moved to New York City after high school, initially working as a secretary before pursuing a career in acting.

Her career began with work on radio in Chicago and singing for dance bands before transitioning to the stage. She made her Broadway debut in 1947 with the play The Druid Circle. Her Broadway career included notable productions such as Strange Bedfellows (1948), Ring Round the Moon (1950), and The Seven Year Itch (1952), in which she played Helen Sherman.

Her first film role was in Taxi (1953), and she went on to appear in many films, including An Affair to Remember (1957), Desk Set (1957), David and Lisa (1962), The Buddy Holly Story (1978), and All of Me (1984).

She had a prolific television career, with roles in series such as "The Governor & J.J." (1969), "Nichols" (1971), and "Doc Elliott" (1974). She also guest-starred in numerous popular shows such as Cagney and Lacey, Charlie's Angels, The Dukes of Hazzard, and St. Elsewhere. Her role as Eleanor Dupres in the miniseries "V" (1983) and its sequel "V: The Final Battle" (1984) gained her a dedicated fanbase.

In her personal life, Neva Patterson was married three times. Her first marriage to Thomas Gallagher ended in divorce in 19481. She then married Michael Ellis March in 1953, but they divorced in 1956. Her third marriage was to writer James Lee in 1957, and they remained together until his death in 2002. She had two children with Lee.

Neva Patterson passed away on December 14, 2010, in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, at the age of 90 due to complications from a broken hip.