Peggy Rea
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.
Known For
All Movies (27)
- Devil in a Blue Dress1995 · as Carter’s Secretary
- Nothing But the Truth1995 · as Flora
- A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion1993 · as Rose
- Made in America1993 · as Alberta
- Love Field1992 · as Mrs. Heisenbuttel
- In Country1989 · as Mamaw
- Curfew1989 · as Mrs. Mary Cox
- Hamburger: The Motion Picture1986 · as Mrs. Cratchmatter
- Fun and Games1980 · as Rose
- The Great Cash Giveaway Getaway1980 · as Motel Owner
- A Rainy Day1979 · as Mrs. Jewels
- The Cracker Factory1979 · as Pomeroy
- The Gift of Love1978 · as Mrs. Mooney
- Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid1978 · as Woman on Train
- Lipstick1976 · as Reporter
- Promise Him Anything1975 · as Mother
- Win, Place or Steal1975 · as Josephine
- Blood Sport1973 · as Mrs. Birdsong
- Hunter1973 · as Helen Shaw's Friend
- The Night Stalker1972
- What's the Matter with Helen?1971 · as Mrs. Schultz
- Cold Turkey1971 · as Mrs. Proctor
- The Learning Tree1969 · as Miss McClintock
- Valley of the Dolls1967 · as Neely O'Hara's Vocal Coach (uncredited)
- Strange Bedfellows1965 · as Mavis Masters
- Looking for Love1964 · as Relative (uncredited)
- 7 Faces of Dr. Lao1964 · as Mrs. Peter Ramsey
All TV Shows (61)
- The Single Guy1995 · as Aunt Heidi
- Grace Under Fire1993
- Grace Under Fire1993 · as Jean Kelly
- Step by Step1991 · as Ivy Baker
- Monsters1988 · as Babs
- MacGyver1985 · as Angry Woman At Airport
- The Golden Girls1985 · as Mrs. Contini
- The Dukes of Hazzard1979 · as Lulu (Coltrane) Hogg
- Busting Loose1977
- Quincy, M.E.1976
- Charlie's Angels1976 · as Bridget
- Ellery Queen1975
- Bronk1975
- Paper Moon1974
- The Magician1973 · as Emma
- ABC Afterschool Special1972 · as Mrs. Atwater
- The Waltons1972
- The Waltons1972 · as Rose Burton
- All in the Family1971 · as Bertha
- The Odd Couple1970 · as Miss Rykof
- The Immortal1970
- Medical Center1969 · as Landlady
- Marcus Welby, M.D.1969 · as Mrs. Baker
- Here's Lucy1968 · as Maude
- Adam-121968 · as Sandra Quillan
- Mannix1967
- Ironside1967
- Mission: Impossible1966 · as Cleaning Woman
- Family Affair1966
- Run, Buddy, Run1966
- The Wild Wild West1965
- Gidget1965
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E.1964 · as Revivalist
- Burke's Law1963 · as Sylvia Lewis
- The Patty Duke Show1963
- Ben Casey1961
- Dr. Kildare1961 · as Dorothy Gitner
- Dr. Kildare1961 · as Nurse Helen O'Hara
- Dr. Kildare1961 · as Nurse Carrie
- 77 Sunset Strip1958
- The Donna Reed Show1958
- Have Gun, Will Travel1957
- Have Gun, Will Travel1957 · as Lulu
- Have Gun, Will Travel1957 · as Peggy
- Have Gun, Will Travel1957 · as Widow
- Have Gun, Will Travel1957 · as Jean Mosely
- Gunsmoke1955 · as Shopkeeper (uncredited)
- Gunsmoke1955 · as Lady
- Gunsmoke1955 · as Dress Shop Owner
- Gunsmoke1955 · as Mrs. Roniger
- Gunsmoke1955 · as Rosey
- Gunsmoke1955 · as Bess Roniger
- I Love Lucy1951 · as Nurse
- I Love Lucy1951 · as Dorothy
- I Love Lucy1951 · as Susan
- I Love Lucy1951 · as Clubwoman
- The Red Skelton Show1951 · as Miss Katie
- The Red Skelton Show1951 · as Big Bertha Kropnik
- The Red Skelton Show1951 · as Housewife
- The Red Skelton Show1951 · as Woman Grocery Shopper
- The Red Skelton Show1951 · as Woman on Street