Peggy Rea

Peggy Rea

1921-03-31 – 2011-02-05 (age 89) Los Angeles, California, USA
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Biography

Peggy Jane Rea was a Los Angeles-born American actress known for her many roles in television, often playing matronly characters.

Before she became an actress, Rea left UCLA to attend business school. She landed a job as a production secretary at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the 1940s. Later, she was an assistant to writer-musician Kay Thompson until Thompson dropped her in April 1948. Some of the points of discord apparently included Rea's insistence on staying at the Algonquin Hotel (rather than Essex House, where Thompson was staying), and disappearing, on at least one occasion, on the eve of their New York opening to see Born Yesterday on Broadway without telling Thompson. The time had come for Peggy to make her mark as the character actress she was born to be.

She quickly landed on her feet with a supporting role in the National Road Company production of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire (as Eunice Hubbell, 1948–1949) starring Anthony Quinn. Thompson severed ties with Rea, however the younger woman kept in touch with other members of Thompson's family, including Thompson's mother, brother and younger sister, with whom she enjoyed cordial relations.

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Known For

Devil in a Blue Dress
Devil in a Blue Dress

1995

as Carter’s Secretary

The Night Stalker
Made in America
Made in America

1993

as Alberta

Fun and Games
Fun and Games

1980

as Rose

Cold Turkey
Cold Turkey

1971

as Mrs. Proctor

Love Field
Love Field

1992

as Mrs. Heisenbuttel

Valley of the Dolls
Valley of the Dolls

1967

as Neely O'Hara's Vocal Coach (uncredited)

In Country
In Country

1989

as Mamaw

Lipstick
Lipstick

1976

as Reporter

Hamburger: The Motion Picture
Hamburger: The Motion Picture

1986

as Mrs. Cratchmatter

A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion
Strange Bedfellows
Strange Bedfellows

1965

as Mavis Masters

Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid
Curfew
Curfew

1989

as Mrs. Mary Cox

What's the Matter with Helen?
What's the Matter with Helen?

1971

as Mrs. Schultz

7 Faces of Dr. Lao
7 Faces of Dr. Lao

1964

as Mrs. Peter Ramsey

The Cracker Factory
The Cracker Factory

1979

as Pomeroy

The Gift of Love
The Gift of Love

1978

as Mrs. Mooney

Looking for Love
Looking for Love

1964

as Relative (uncredited)

Hunter
Hunter

1973

as Helen Shaw's Friend