Peggy Rea
Known for Acting · 69 credits
- Born
- 1921-03-31
- Died
- 2011-02-05
- Place of birth
- Los Angeles, California, USA
- Also known as
- Peggy Rae
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
TV Shows (42)
Ironside
1967
MacGyver
1985
as Angry Woman At Airport
The Donna Reed Show
1958
Charlie's Angels
1976
as Bridget
Mission: Impossible
1966
as Cleaning Woman
The Red Skelton Show
1951
as Miss Katie / Big Bertha Kropnik / Housewife / Woman Grocery Shopper / Woman on Street
The Waltons
1972
as Rose Burton
Adam-12
1968
as Sandra Quillan
Have Gun, Will Travel
1957
as Lulu / Peggy / Widow / Jean Mosely
The Wild Wild West
1965
Mannix
1967
Quincy, M.E.
1976
Burke's Law
1963
as Sylvia Lewis
I Love Lucy
1951
as Nurse / Dorothy / Susan / Clubwoman
Dr. Kildare
1961
as Dorothy Gitner / Nurse Helen O'Hara / Nurse Carrie
The Odd Couple
1970
as Miss Rykof
The Golden Girls
1985
as Mrs. Contini
Gunsmoke
1955
as Shopkeeper (uncredited) / Lady / Dress Shop Owner / Mrs. Roniger / Rosey / Bess Roniger
All in the Family
1971
as Bertha
Marcus Welby, M.D.
1969
as Mrs. Baker
Step by Step
1991
as Ivy Baker
Ben Casey
1961
Family Affair
1966
The Dukes of Hazzard
1979
as Lulu (Coltrane) Hogg
Grace Under Fire
1993
as Jean Kelly
Medical Center
1969
as Landlady
Here's Lucy
1968
as Maude
ABC Afterschool Special
1972
as Mrs. Atwater
77 Sunset Strip
1958
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964
as Revivalist
Ellery Queen
1975
Monsters
1988
as Babs
The Single Guy
1995
as Aunt Heidi
The Patty Duke Show
1963
Gidget
1965
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Mrs. Lacy
The Magician
1973
as Emma
Paper Moon
1974
Bronk
1975
Busting Loose
1977
The Immortal
1970
Run, Buddy, Run
1966
Movies (27)
The Night Stalker
1972
Devil in a Blue Dress
1995
as Carter’s Secretary
Love Field
1992
as Mrs. Heisenbuttel
Lipstick
1976
as Reporter
Valley of the Dolls
1967
as Neely O'Hara's Vocal Coach (uncredited)
Made in America
1993
as Alberta
Strange Bedfellows
1965
as Mavis Masters
Nothing But the Truth
1995
as Flora
7 Faces of Dr. Lao
1964
as Mrs. Peter Ramsey
Looking for Love
1964
as Relative (uncredited)
Fun and Games
1980
as Rose
Cold Turkey
1971
as Mrs. Proctor
Win, Place or Steal
1975
as Josephine
In Country
1989
as Mamaw
The Learning Tree
1969
as Miss McClintock
The Gift of Love
1978
as Mrs. Mooney
Hamburger: The Motion Picture
1986
as Mrs. Cratchmatter
A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion
1993
as Rose
What's the Matter with Helen?
1971
as Mrs. Schultz
Promise Him Anything
1975
as Mother
Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid
1978
as Woman on Train
Curfew
1989
as Mrs. Mary Cox
Blood Sport
1973
as Mrs. Birdsong
Hunter
1973
as Helen Shaw's Friend
The Cracker Factory
1979
as Pomeroy
The Great Cash Giveaway Getaway
1980
as Motel Owner
A Rainy Day
1979
as Mrs. Jewels
About Peggy Rea
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 disapp… With 69 credits spanning from 1951 to 1995, Peggy Rea has appeared in 27 films and 42 TV shows.
Fans searching for Peggy Rea movies, Peggy Rea filmography, or the latest projects starring Peggy Rea can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Peggy Rea Movies
- The Night Stalker (1972)
- Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) — as Carter’s Secretary
- Love Field (1992) — as Mrs. Heisenbuttel
- Lipstick (1976) — as Reporter
- Valley of the Dolls (1967) — as Neely O'Hara's Vocal Coach (uncredited)
Where to Watch Peggy Rea Films
Most Peggy Rea movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Peggy Rea, check our movies catalogue and browse page.