Peggy Knudsen

Peggy Knudsen

actress

Peggy Knudsen was born on Apr 22, 1923 in USA. Peggy Knudsen's big-screen debut came with A Stolen Life directed by Curtis Bernhardt in 1946. Peggy Knudsen is known for The Case of the Dangerous Robin directed by James Goldstone, Jean Blake Fleming stars as Phyllis Collier and Rick Jason as Robin Scott. The most recent award Peggy Knudsen achieved is Walk of Fame. The upcoming new tvshow Peggy Knudsen plays is The Case of the Dangerous Robin - Season 1 which will be released on Oct 18, 1960.

A knockout curvaceous screen siren with a smart, confident air, Peggy Knudsen had the blonde pulchritude and the presence to make it in Hollywood. Somehow, stardom eluded her. The daughter of a Duluth fire chief, she had studied violin as a child and later showed some promise acting in school plays. Her mother consequently moved the family to Chicago, where Peggy got her start on the CBS daytime radio drama "The Woman in White". Aged nineteen, she then made her way to Broadway to debut in a small part in "My Sister Eileen", as replacement for Jo Ann Sayers. Movies eventually beckoned, and, in 1945, Peggy was signed by Warner Brothers after being 'spotted' at the Stage Door Canteen. The studio publicity machine promptly heralded her arrival by nicknaming her "the lure". Peggy's first significant role was as Mona Mars in the film noir classic Le grand sommeil (1946). She replaced the original actress when the part was recast when the film was re-shot to add sizzle to the Bogart/Bacall vehicle. Though a small part, Peggy received good critical notices. She was then cast in support of Errol Flynn in Ne dites jamais adieu (1946) and John Garfield in Humoresque (1946).Despite these A-grade films, her subsequent career turned out to be somewhat desultory. Warners had a not undeserved reputation for often failing to effectively cast (rather than typecast) their starlets. With Peggy, they missed the boat altogether. In the absence of suitable vehicles, she was first relegated to playing one-dimensional hard-boiled toughs or the proverbial 'other woman', then loaned out. With Sol M. Wurtzel's B-unit at 20th Century Fox (and, subsequently, at Monogram) she fared rather better, finally getting to play leads. However, her films, -- Roses Are Red (1947), Trouble Preferred (1948), Perilous Waters (1948) and Half Past Midnight (1948) -- were little seen low budget affairs. Unsurprisingly, Peggy turned towards television, becoming a prolific guest star on such prime time shows as The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952), Perry Mason (1957) and Bat Masterson (1958). A projected co-starring role in a 1962 sitcom, entitled "Howie", never came to pass, as CBS refused to acquire the pilot episode. Nonetheless, for her contribution to TV, Peggy was awarded a Star on the 'Walk of Fame' on Hollywood Boulevard in 1960, perhaps scant consolation for missing out on stardom. A debilitating affliction with arthritis brought about her premature retirement from acting in 1965. She spent much of her sadly few remaining years cared for by her close friend, the actress Jennifer Jones, who also reputedly paid for her medical expenses. Peggy died in July 1980, aged 57.

  • Birthday

    Apr 22, 1923
  • Place of Birth

    Duluth, Minnesota, USA

Known For

Awards

1 wins & 0 nominations

Walk of Fame
1960
Television
Winner - Star on the Walk of Fame

Movies & TV Shows

All
Movies
TV Shows