Peggy King, a prominent entertainer during television’s early decades, passed away following an extended illness with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 96 years old at the time of her death, which occurred on Sunday at an assisted living facility in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, according to her publicist.
King achieved widespread recognition during the 1950s through her appearances on The George Gobel Show, where she performed regularly from 1954 to 1957 and earned the on-air nickname “Pretty Perky Peggy King.” Her work in television earned her an Emmy Award in 1955 for best female singer. Beyond that series, King made guest appearances on numerous variety and dramatic programs of the era, including offerings hosted by Bob Hope, Perry Como, Jack Benny, and Steve Allen, as well as episodes of series such as Maverick and Dragnet.
Her career extended into film and recording. After signing with MGM in 1952, King secured a singing role in the Vincente Minnelli production The Bad and the Beautiful and later appeared in the 1955 comedy Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy. As a recording artist, King released albums through Columbia Records and performed at major industry events, including a rendition of “Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)” at the Academy Awards ceremony in 1955. Music publications recognized her contributions to the industry, with DownBeat and Billboard naming her best new singer for the 1955–56 period.
King’s early career began in radio broadcasting in Cleveland before she performed with several dance orchestras. She was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and later graduated from Ravenna High School in Ohio. In recognition of her contributions to entertainment, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Feb. 8, 1960, and was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame in 2010.
Survivors include her daughter, Suzy Rudofker, and son-in-law Dwain Goforth. King was married three times throughout her life.
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