He earned a master's degree at Stanford University in 1970, where he was a classmate of The Sopranos creator David Chase.

As a director, Patterson worked for several television studios, including HBO and CBS.

He directed episodes of The Sopranos, Providence, The Practice, Carnivàle, Family Law, Six Feet Under, CSI, CHiPs, Magnum P.I., Hill Street Blues, The Guardian, and the pilot episode of Law & Order.

He also directed more than 12 television movies, usually thrillers and crime stories, including A Deadly Silence (1989) and Seduced By Madness (1996).

He was married to Casey Kelley, but they later divorced; they had two children named Mary and Charlie Patterson.