Singer and TV star Peggy King dies aged 96

Left · 2Peggy King, a singer and television star of the 1950s, died on Sunday 25 October 2026 aged 96 after a battle with Alzheimer's disease. 1 2 Left · 2She died at the Saunders House assisted living facility in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, and her publicist, Alan Eicher, confirmed her death. 1 2 Left · 2King was a regular on "The George Gobel Show" from 1954 to 1957, where Gobel dubbed her "Pretty Perky Peggy King", a nickname that stayed with her. 1 2

Left · 2In 1955 she received an Emmy recognition for best female singer; Variety says she was nominated, while The Hollywood Reporter says she won. She co-hosted the 1958 Emmy Awards. 1 2 Left · 2She also appeared on programmes including Bob Hope's show, "American Bandstand", "The Steve Allen Show", "The Jack Benny Program" and "The Perry Como Show", and had dramatic roles on "Maverick" and "Dragnet". 1 2 Left · 2She signed with MGM in 1952, which led to a singing cameo in Vincente Minnelli's "The Bad and the Beautiful"; she later appeared in "Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy". Variety says she sang on the soundtrack album, and The Hollywood Reporter says she performed "Don't Blame Me". 1 2

Left · 2She performed "Count Your Blessings" at the 1955 Academy Awards. Columbia Records' Mitch Miller signed her to a long-term contract, and she made two best-selling albums, which The Hollywood Reporter names as "Wish Upon a Star" and "Girl Meets Boy". 2 1 Left · 2Composer Arthur Hamilton wrote "Cry Me a River" for her, but Miller would not let her record it. 1 2 Left · 2She was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers (of Philadelphia) Hall of Fame in 2010 and was among the first group honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 1 2

Left · 2King was born on 16 February 1930 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, graduated from Ravenna High School, and began singing on radio in Cleveland. Her last released recording was the 2016 album "Songs a la King". She is survived by her daughter, Suzy Rudofker, and son-in-law, Dwain Goforth. 1 2