Peggy Lee

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.

Known For

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Merv Griffin Show

What's My Line?

Wogan

The Carol Burnett Show

All Movies (27)

Peggy Lee: Things Are Swingin'2021 · as Singer
Queens of Jazz: The Joy and Pain of the Jazz Divas2013 · as Self (archive footage)
…Sings Musicals2012 · as Self (archive footage)
Jazz Voice - The Ladies sing Jazz Vol.22006 · as Self (archive footage)
Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook2005 · as (archive footage)
Judy Garland Duets2005 · as Self (archive footage)
Fever: The Music of Peggy Lee2004
Man and Cat2001 · as Poor Old Woman
Dean Martin: That's Amore2001 · as Self (archive footage)
Night of 100 Stars III1990 · as Self
Disney's Greatest Lullabies Volume 21986 · as (voice) (archive footage)
Disney's Halloween Treat1982 · as Si / Am (voice) (archive footage)
Lady and the Tramp: A Lesson in Sharing Attention1978 · as Darling (voice)
Julie's Christmas Special1973 · as Self / Sugar Plum Fairy
Petula1970 · as Self
President Kennedy's Birthday Salute1962 · as Self
Big Night Out: The Peggy Lee Show1961
Jazz Ball1956 · as Self (archive footage)
Pete Kelly's Blues1955 · as Rose Hopkins
Lady and the Tramp1955 · as Darling / Si / Am / Peg (voice)
The Jazz Singer1953 · as Judy Lane
Mr. Music1950 · as Peggy Lee
Jasper in a Jam1946 · as Harp (singing voice)
Jasper and the Beanstalk1945 · as Harp
Stage Door Canteen1943 · as Benny Goodman Orchestra Singer (uncredited)
The Powers Girl1943 · as Peggy Lee - Goodman Band Vocalist (uncredited)
Nat King Cole & Friends Unforgettable Hits— · as Self (archive footage)

All TV Shows (32)

Wogan1982 · as Self
Dinah!1974 · as Self
The Bobby Darin Show1973
The Julie Andrews Hour1972 · as Self
The Pearl Bailey Show1971 · as Self
The Johnny Cash Show1969 · as Self
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour1969 · as Self
The Carol Burnett Show1967 · as Self
The Carol Burnett Show1967 · as Self - Guest
The Carol Burnett Show1967 · as Self - Musical Guest
The Carol Burnett Show1967 · as Self - Guest / Various Characters
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.1966 · as Packer Jo
The Hollywood Palace1964 · as Self
The Judy Garland Show1963 · as Self
The Danny Kaye Show1963 · as Self
The Merv Griffin Show1962 · as Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
The Big Party1959 · as Self
The Bob Crosby Show1958
DuPont Show of the Month1957 · as Self
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show1956 · as Self
The Steve Allen Show1956 · as Self
The Steve Allen Show1956 · as Self - Singer
The George Gobel Show1954 · as Self
The Oscars1953 · as Self
General Electric Theater1953 · as Natalia Cory
The Colgate Comedy Hour1950 · as Self
The Bob Hope Show1950 · as Self
What's My Line?1950 · as Self
Cavalcade of Bands1950
Cavalcade of Stars1949
The Ed Sullivan Show1948 · as Self