[3] Early in her career, Patterson acted on radio in Chicago and sang for dance bands.

Her work on Broadway also included Strange Bedfellows (1948), The Ivy Green (1949), I Know My Love (1949), Ring Round the Moon (1950), The Long Days (1951), Lace on Her Petticoat (1951), The Seven Year Itch (1952, in which she played Helen Sherman), Double in Hearts (1956), Speaking of Murder (1956), Make a Million (1958), and Romantic Comedy (1979).

Other film credits include The Buddy Holly Story, All of Me (1984), and An Affair to Remember (1957).

Patterson portrayed Ma Ketchum in Nichols,[6]: 762  Maggie McCloud in The Governor & J.J.,[6]: 410  Ilene in the NBC drama Berringer's,[6] and Margaret Brimble in Doc Elliott on ABC.

She made guest appearances on Appointment with Adventure, New Comedy Showcase, The Defenders, Ben Casey, Maude, Family, Ironside, Charlie's Angels, S.W.A.T., Barnaby Jones, The Dukes of Hazzard, The Waltons, The Rockford Files, In the Heat of the Night and St.