Peggy King, the beloved singer and actress who became one of television’s most recognizable faces during Hollywood’s golden age, has died at 96 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
The entertainer died Sunday, October 25, at the Saunders House assisted living facility in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, her longtime publicist, Alan Eicher, confirmed.
Known to generations of viewers as “Pretty Perky Peggy King,” she enjoyed a remarkable career that took her from the biggest television variety shows of the 1950s to Hollywood movies, recording studios and the Academy Awards stage.
King became a household name as a regular performer on NBC’s The George Gobel Show from 1954 to 1957. Her warm personality and singing talent made her a popular fixture on the program, where comedian George Gobel gave her the playful nickname that followed her throughout her career.
Her growing fame earned her a 1955 Emmy nomination for Best Female Singer. That same year, she performed “Count Your Blessings” at the Academy Awards, and in 1958, she helped host the Emmy Awards.
As television entered its golden age, King shared the spotlight with some of entertainment’s biggest legends, appearing on programs hosted by Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Jack Benny, Perry Como, Steve Allen and Milton Berle. She also appeared on American Bandstand, Maverick and Dragnet.
Her Hollywood career included appearances in The Bad and the Beautiful, Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy and the 1957 thriller Zero Hour!, a film that later helped inspire the comedy classic Airplane!
But one of the most fascinating chapters of King’s career involved a song that became a major hit for another singer.
Composer Arthur Hamilton originally wrote the now-famous ballad “Cry Me a River” for King. However, Columbia Records executive Mitch Miller refused to allow her to record it. The song eventually became a signature hit for Julie London, leaving King with one of music history’s notable missed opportunities.
Despite that setback, King enjoyed considerable recording success of her own. She released popular albums, including Wish Upon a Star and Girl Meets Boy, and recorded songs such as “Make Yourself Comfortable.”
Born February 16, 1930, in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, King began singing professionally on Cleveland radio before performing with prominent big bands. Her talent eventually brought her to Hollywood, where she signed a contract with MGM in 1952.
Unlike many stars whose careers faded after television’s early years, King continued performing for decades. She remained active on stages in Philadelphia, New York and Los Angeles well into her 80s, and released her final album, Songs a la King, in 2016.
Her contributions to entertainment earned her a place in the Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2010. She was also among the earliest entertainers honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
King is survived by her daughter, Suzy Rudofker, and son-in-law, Dwain Goforth.
Her death marks the loss of another celebrated performer from an era when live variety shows, beloved television personalities and classic American songs helped shape the entertainment industry for generations.
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