An only child, Patrice Munsel was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. Her father, Audley J. Munsil, was a local dentist. She attended Lewis and Clark High School before leaving at age fifteen, accompanied by her mother, to study in New York City, coached by Giacomo Spadoni (1884–1960).
Her surname at birth was spelled "Munsil." Munsel first sang at the Metropolitan at age 17, in March 1943. She made her official Metropolitan debut on December 4, 1943, at the age of 18, singing Philine in Mignon. Her first opera contract was for three years at $40,000 per year.
With other appearances she was making around $100,000 annually.
Perhaps best known for the role of Adele in Die Fledermaus, she performed 225 times at the Metropolitan. Sir Rudolf Bing called her a "superb soubrette" and implied that she was the world"s best.
Her opera roles included Rosina in The Barber of Seville and Despina in Cosi fan Tutte. Munsel appeared on many other television shows during her career, including the role of Marietta (Countess d"Altena) in the January 15, 1955 live telecast of the operetta Naughty Marietta.
She also portrayed the title role in the 1953 film Melba, which chronicled the life of the great opera singer, Dame Nellie Melba.
Munsel made frequent television appearances on The Bell Telephone Hour, and was the central singer in the Camp Fire Girls" famous television commercial and song "Sing Around the camp fire (join the Camp Fire Girls)", aired in the mid-1960s. Munsel ended her career as an opera singer in 1981, and began to perform in musical comedies. In 1952, Munsel married Robert C., an advertising and public-relations executive, producer, and writer
The younger two children were born prematurely.
Munsel and co-wrote a 2005 memoir of "s life entitled The Diva & I. of January 31 1958 episode at Internet Archive.
