Peggy Lee

Peggy Lee

1920-05-26 – 2002-01-21 (age 81) Jamestown, New York, USA
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Biography

Norma Deloris Egstrom (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002), known professionally as Peggy Lee, was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer and actress, in a career spanning six decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman's big band, she forged a sophisticated persona, evolving into a multi-faceted artist and performer. She wrote music for films, acted, and created conceptual record albums—encompassing poetry, jazz, chamber pop, and art songs.

In 1952 Lee starred in The Jazz Singer, a Technicolor remake of the early Al Jolson part-talkie 1927 film of the same name. In 1955, she played an alcoholic blues singer in Pete Kelly's Blues, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. In 1955 she did the speaking and singing voices for several characters in Disney's Lady and the Tramp: she played the human "Darling", the dog "Peg", and the two Siamese cats "Si and Am". In 1957, Lee guest starred on the short-lived ABC variety program, The Guy Mitchell Show.

Lee continued to perform into the 1990s, sometimes using a wheelchair. After years of poor health, she died of complications from diabetes and a heart attack at the age of 81.

Photos

Known For

Lady and the Tramp
Lady and the Tramp

1955

as Darling / Si / Am / Peg (voice)

Night of 100 Stars III
Stage Door Canteen
Stage Door Canteen

1943

as Benny Goodman Orchestra Singer (uncredited)

Pete Kelly's Blues
Pete Kelly's Blues

1955

as Rose Hopkins

Mr. Music
Mr. Music

1950

as Peggy Lee

The Powers Girl
The Powers Girl

1943

as Peggy Lee - Goodman Band Vocalist (uncredited)

The Jazz Singer
The Jazz Singer

1953

as Judy Lane

Disney's Greatest Lullabies Volume 2
Disney's Greatest Lullabies Volume 2

1986

as (voice) (archive footage)

Disney's Halloween Treat
Disney's Halloween Treat

1982

as Si / Am (voice) (archive footage)

🎦
Man and Cat

2001

as Poor Old Woman

Dean Martin: That's Amore
Dean Martin: That's Amore

2001

as Self (archive footage)

Jazz Ball
Jazz Ball

1956

as Self (archive footage)

Petula
Petula

1970

as Self

Nat King Cole & Friends Unforgettable Hits
Julie's Christmas Special
Julie's Christmas Special

1973

as Self / Sugar Plum Fairy

Queens of Jazz: The Joy and Pain of the Jazz Divas
Judy Garland Duets
Judy Garland Duets

2005

as Self (archive footage)

…Sings Musicals
…Sings Musicals

2012

as Self (archive footage)