Emmy Nominated Actor Peggy King Dies At 96

Published Oct 25, 2026, 6:11 PM EDT

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King, a singer and actor who became a household name on TV during the 1950s through her appearances on The George Gobel Show, died at the age of 96. King passed away on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Saunders House Assisted Living in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, after a battle with Alzheimer's disease. Her death was confirmed by her publicist.

The iconic star rose to fame when she became a regular performer on NBC's The George Gobel Show, appearing on the variety series between 1954 and 1957. Her time with the show introduced her to audiences across the country and helped establish her as both a talented singer, actor, and TV personality.

During her time on The George Gobel Show, the actor adopted the nickname Pretty Perky Peggy King, which remained connected to her throughout her career. Her success on the series earned her a nomination for Best Female Singer at the 1955 Emmy Awards. Three years later, she returned and hosted the Emmy Awards in 1958.

Aside from her work on the hit NBC show, King was featured in a lot of popular TV series and movies in the industry during her era. She has been in The Jack Benny Program, The Perry Como Show, The Garry Moore Show, The Steve Allen Show, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. She also appeared on American Bandstand, What's My Line?, and The Kraft Music Hall with Milton Berle.

In 1952, King signed a contract with MGM, giving her the opportunity to act and sing in Hollywood films. She was featured in Vincente Minnelli's critically acclaimed drama The Bad and the Beautiful, which starred Kirk Douglas (Jonathan Shields) and Lana Turner (Georgia Lorrison). She was also included in the soundtrack.

King later landed a role in the 1955 horror movie Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy. Two years later, she played a flight attendant in the 1957 thriller Zero Hour!, which starred Dana Andrews (Lt. Ted Stryker) and Linda Darnell (Ellen Stryker). The movie was one of the films that inspired the comedy Airplane!, which was released in 1980.

King received several honors throughout her time in the entertainment industry. She was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for an impressive career. In 2010, she was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame for her work in broadcasting. The star was also named Best New Singer of 1956 by DownBeat and Billboard.

ScreenRant's condolences go out to King's family and loved ones during this difficult time.