SYDNEY, Australia — Australian actor Michael Pate, who appeared in more than 50 films and was a regular guest star on American TV shows in the 1950s and ’60s, died Monday of respiratory failure, health officials said. He was 88.

Pate died at Gosford Hospital in the state of New South Wales after being admitted with pneumonia.

Born in Sydney in 1920, Pate began his career as a writer and broadcaster for Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio before moving to the U.S.

He spent almost 20 years there, guest starring in various Westerns and a number of popular TV shows including “Batman,” “Mission: Impossible,” “Get Smart” and “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”

Pate said he worked with stars including Marlon Brando, David Niven, John Wayne and Randolph Scott. He returned to Australia in the late 1960s to act, write and direct. From 1971, he starred in the Australian crime drama “Matlock Police,” for which he won a Penguin Award for best actor.

He also won two Logie Awards — Australian TV awards — for production and adapted the award-winning screenplay for the movie “Tim,” starring Mel Gibson.