Patricia Crowley, ‘Please Don’t Eat the Daisies’ star, dies at 91 in Los Angeles

Patricia Crowley

Hollywood is mourning the loss of Patricia Crowley, the actress who brought warmth, wit, and quiet resilience to screens for decades. Patricia, remembered fondly for her role in NBC’s 1960s comedy Please Don’t Eat the Daisies, died Sunday in Los Angeles at the age of 91. Her son, Jon Hookstratten, confirmed the news, saying she passed of natural causes.

A Star of Screens Big and Small

Patricia made her film debut in the Paramount comedy Forever Female (1953), holding her own alongside Ginger Rogers and William Holden. She quickly became a familiar face, showing up in Martin & Lewis comedies Money From Home (1953) and Hollywood or Bust (1956), the latter marking the duo’s final outing together.

By 1956, Patricia was starring opposite Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck in Douglas Sirk’s There’s Always Tomorrow. In 1960, she delivered a striking performance as Jeffrey Hunter’s wife in Key Witness, directed by Phil Karlson.

Still, for many television fans, Patricia will always be Joan Nash — the busy suburban mom of four boys and one oversized sheepdog — in Please Don’t Eat the Daisies. The show ran from 1965 to 1967, giving Patricia a role that mirrored the humor and chaos of family life in the suburbs.

Television’s Familiar Face

Patricia’s television journey stretched across decades. She charmed audiences as Lloyd Bridges’ love interest in Joe Forrester during the mid-1970s and later stirred drama on ABC’s Dynasty, playing Emily Fallmont in 1986 until her character met a tragic end.

Also read: Aaron Tveit and Ericka Hunter Yang tie the knot in intimate wedding- See pics

Family and Legacy

Patricia married entertainment executive Andy Friendly in 1986, and before that, she was the wife of Ed Hookstratten, the powerful attorney who represented Elvis Presley, Johnny Carson, and Vin Scully.

Survived by Andy and her children, Patricia leaves behind not just a body of work but a reputation for grace in an industry not always known for it. From screwball comedies to soap operas, Patricia moved through Hollywood’s eras with ease, leaving audiences smiling, gasping, and sometimes even crying.