Iconic TV Singer Peggy King Dies at 96 After Long Illness

Peggy King, a prominent vocalist and television personality of the 1950s, died at age 96 after a prolonged struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, according to her publicist. She spent her final days at the Saunders House assisted-living residence in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. King rose to fame as a regular on The George Gobel Show from 1954 to 1957, where she was affectionately dubbed “Pretty Perky Peggy King” and won a 1955 Emmy for best female singer.

Her résumé includes guest spots on The Bob Hope Show, The Steve Allen Show, and classic series such as Maverick and Dragnet, as well as film roles with MGM, including a cameo in The Bad and the Beautiful. Signed to Columbia Records, she released the popular albums Wish Upon a Star and Girl Meets Boy, and was named best new singer by DownBeat and Billboard in 1955-56. Honors later included a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 1960 and induction into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame in 2010. She is survived by her daughter Suzy Rudofker and son-in-law Dwain Goforth.