Pines People- Patrik Moreton
1942-1995
His Story
Patrik Moreton was born in northern India . He lived in India until the age of five, and then moved to London where he grew up. He was an ex actor who was an original member of the England’s National Youth Theater. At the age of 21 Moreton got himself a job as stage manager at the Theater Royal in Windsor. After four years he gave up on the dreams of acting and pursued a career in the hair world. He started designing wigs , and found his gift. He started working in a salon in Mayfair. There he made his first cover hairstyle for the English version of Cosmopolitan magazine as well as numerous ad’s and occasional Fashion shows.
His History
Patrik Moreton decided to travel to New York where he had established contacts. He was closely involved with Max Factor and L’Oreal cosmetics. After straightening out his visa he began doing shows at Manhattan Theater Club. His first big break was the Show Yentl with John Shea. He decided to write a simple letter to someone who’s work he admired. Her name was Patricia Zipprodt, a three time Tony winner for costume design for such shows as Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof, Pippin, and Sunday in the Park with George.
He knew that the costume designer selects the hair designer. He did the same with an agent and found one of the best Arnold Weissberger. This valuable contact launched Moreton to become hair & makeup artist for Broadway shows: Pippin, The Elephant Man with David Bowie, Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof, Little Foxes,My Fair Lady, and Sunday in the Park with George to name a few. He found Fire Island Pines and spent summers there for over 12 years.
Comedian Jim David, Patrik, & Actor Christopher Plummer.
He would enact his alter ego Hollywood star Marlene Dietrich. He would use this to help many charitable events in the Pines.
There with friends Aldyn McKean, David Merrill, Robert Donnelly, Kendall Lynn, and Tom Signorelli; Patrikhosted many parties at their home “Sailor House” on the east end. Most famous was “Hollywood Shore Leave.”
He was close with his many celebrity clients like actor Christopher Plummer and wife Elaine (seen here in 1984) and would invite them out to Fire Island.
His favorite work were his private clients at his studio. Especially the cancer clients who were undergoing chemotherapy he would do wigs for. It was his greatest challenge to reproduce someone’s own hair. Patrik passed from AIDS in 1995.
