The Colbys/Constance Colby Patterson

Constance Patterson
The Colbys
Actor	Barbara Stanwyck
First Appearance	6x03 - The Californians
Last Appearance	1x13 - Checkmate
Series Billing

Constance Patterson (nee Colby) is a fictional character on the ABC primetime soap opera, The Colbys. She was portrayed by Barbara Stanwyck during the show's first season.

Character Information

Constance Colby is a woman with class, a dream of most men but a woman who intimidates them. This elderly lady, of silver hair and a heart of gold, had a fulfilled life, didn't have children of her own, but gave herself completely to the Colby family. That is the reason why everyone adores her, except Sable who still respects her.

She decides to give her shares of Colby Enterprises, headed by Jason, to her nephew Jeff Colby. This one action causes a series of events that changes future of the family business. Her sister-in-law, Sable Colby, is unhappy to learn Constance is giving the shares to Jeff because Sable feels they rightfully belong to her son, Miles.

Constance had already been suffering from short-term memory loss and forgetfulness when Sable decides to exploit the problem. Sable sets out to prove Constance's estate should be placed under a court trusteeship because of mental incompetence. This jeopardizes Sable's own marriage to Jason Colby who is pressured into having his sister declared incompetent.

The power of her mind and spirit often helps the family, especially her brother Jason. She led an exciting and fulfilled life. The last years, she dedicated to a cowboy Hutch Corrigan, who doesn't like the wealth and the glamour of the Colby's, but loves her dearly. The two of them will die in a plane crash on their way to India. Conny's death was a bitter loss to Jason, but also to Jeff and Fallon, who owed their reunion to her.

She is a beautiful lady who left a permanent mark in the lives of the Colby family.

Quotes

• Conny to Sable: I feel sorry for you!
• Conny to Zach: Enjoy it, Mr. Powers, because, as long as I am alive, you will never see this room again from behind that desk. Never!!!
• Conny to Sable: But, you do, Sable, you do. Almost exactly - half.