A FANTASTICALLY RARE SKETCH BY B-MOVIE ACTRESS PEGGY STEAART ON 8 1/2 X 11 SHEET OF PAPER FOLDED
Peggy Stewart was an American actress known for her roles in Western B movies and television series.
Florida-born Peggy O'Rourke's parents divorced when she was very young. Peggy's mother eventually married a wealthy attorney named Stewart, and Peggy took his name. She grew up in Atlanta (where she developed the athletic skills she would later demonstrate in her many westerns for Republic Pictures). On a family vacation to Los Angeles to visit her grandmother, Peggy, as a lark, attended classes at a dramatic school, but the acting bug hit her hard and when it was time to return to Atlanta, Peggy talked her mother into letting her staying with her grandmother. As luck would have it, a resident of the apartment building they lived in was character actor Henry O'Neill, who took a liking to Peggy and got her cast in her first film, Wells Fargo (1937). She picked up a few more small roles, and acquitted herself so well the parts started getting bigger and she was working more often. She married actor Don 'Red' Barry in 1940, and was eventually signed by Republic Pictures, Barry's studio, to make westerns and serials. In three years, Peggy did almost 30 films at Republic, most of them westerns. She appeared in two of the studio's more successful serials, but when Republic assigned her to another one, she protested. She didn't particularly like working in serials, preferring the feature westerns, which didn't take as long to film. Eventually, the struggle with Republic got to the point where Peggy asked for her release, and she got it. Although she wanted to start doing films other than westerns, she had made so many at Republic that she found herself basically unable to find work in any other genre. She freelanced for Monogram, Allied Artists, PRC and other small studios until she was picked up by Columbia--which immediately put her into serials. She eventually decided to leave the film business, and did so in 1953. She did do some television work (mostly westerns!) while raising her family, and also performed in the Los Angeles theatrical community. She kept her hand in the film business, making occasional appearances in some lower-budget westerns, made-for-TV movies and inexpensive horror pictures.
Peggy Stewart (born Peggy O'Rourke; June 5, 1923 – May 29, 2019) was an American actress known for her roles in Western B movies and television series.[1]
Early life Stewart was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, where she was raised, the daughter of John Francis O'Rourke and Frances Velma (McCampbell) Splane, who were from Bessemer, Alabama.[2][3] She distinguished herself as a swimming champion in high school;[2] in the 1930s, her family moved to California, where she met character actor Henry O'Neill who recommended her to Paramount Pictures executives who were looking for a new actress for the part of Joel McCrea's teenage daughter in Wells Fargo (1937).[2] Her work in the film led to numerous other film roles.[2]
Career
In April 1944, Stewart signed a contract with Republic Pictures and began starring in Western B movies opposite such actors as Allan Lane, Sunset Carson, and Wild Bill Elliott.[1] During that time she played in several episodes of Adventures of Red Ryder. She usually played the part of the tough heroine, rather than a passive girl needing to be saved.[1] From 1944 to 1951 she starred in 35 films, most of which were Westerns and film serials. She also starred with Gene Autry several times during that period. as well as appearing on several episodes of The Cisco Kid, including "Oil Land", which first aired on October 10, 1950.
In 1949, she played alongside Jim Bannon in Ride, Ryder, Ride. She again played the part of heroine to Bannon in 1949, starring in The Fighting Redhead. In 1952 she starred with Bill Elliott in Kansas Territory. In 1957, she had a minor role on CBS's Have Gun – Will Travel episode "The Outlaw". In 1958, she was cast as Etta Jackson, the romantic interest of the painter Hurley Abbott, played by Brad Johnson, in the episode "The Underdog" of the ABC/Desilu western series, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, with Hugh O'Brian in the title role.
Later years
Her career slowed in the 1960s, and by the 1970s she was residing in Studio City, California. Stewart won the Golden Boot Awards in 1984. Semi-retired, Stewart still continued to act on occasion. She played a minor part in a 1993 episode of Seinfeld titled "The Implant", in which she portrayed the aunt of George Costanza's girlfriend.
Stewart played Pam Beesly's grandmother, Mee-Maw, in a 2009 episode of The Office and reprised the role in a 2010 episode. In 2012, she played Grandma Delores in Adam Sandler's comedy film, That's My Boy.
Personal life
In her latter decades, Stewart appeared regularly as a guest speaker at Western film festivals.[2] From 1993 till her death, Stewart appeared as a special guest at the annual Lone Pine Film Festival.[4]
Stewart was married twice. In 1940 she married actor Don "Red" Barry; the marriage ended in divorce in 1944.[2] She was married to actor Buck Young from 1953 until his death on February 9, 2000.[5]
Her sister, Patricia Ann O'Rourke, was married to the actor Wayne Morris.[6]
She died in May 2019 at the age of 95.[7][8][9][10]
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role(s) Notes
1937 Wells Fargo Alice MacKay
1938 White Banners Sally's friend Uncredited
Little Tough Guy Rita Belle
That Certain Age Mary Lee
Little Tough Guys in Society Jane
1939 Man About Town Mary, chorus girl Uncredited
5th Ave Girl Katherine's girlfriend Uncredited
Everybody's Hobby Bunny
1940 Star Dust College girl Uncredited
All This, and Heaven Too Helen Lexington
1941 Back Street Freda Smith
1942 Sleepytime Gal Dancer
1943 Girls in Chains Terry, convict Uncredited
1944 Tucson Raiders Beth Rogers
Silver City Kid Ruth Clayton
Stagecoach to Monterey Jessie Wade
Cheyenne Wildcat Betty Lou Hopkins
Code of the Prairie Helen Matson
Firebrands of Arizona Poppy Calhoun
Sheriff of Las Vegas Ann Carter
1945 Utah Jackie
The Vampire's Ghost Julia Vance
Oregon Trail Jill Layton
Bandits of the Badlands Hallie Wayne
Marshal of Laredo Judy Bowers
Rough Riders of Cheyenne Melinda Sterling
The Tiger Woman Phyllis Carrington
1946 The Phantom Rider Doris Shannon
Days of Buffalo Bill Molly Owens
California Gild Rush Hazel Parker
Sheriff of Redwood Valley Molly
Alias Billy the Kid Ann Marshall
Red River Renegades Julia Bennett
Conquest of Cheyenne Cheyenne Jackson
The Invisible Informer Rosalind Baylor
Stagecoach to Denver 'Beautiful', fake May Barnes
1947 Son of Zorro Kate Wells
Trail to San Antone Kit Barlow
Vigilantes of Boomtown Molly McVey
Rustlers of Devil's Canyon Bess
Messenger of Peace Evangeline Lockley
1948 Tex Granger Helen Kent
Dead Man's Gold June Thornton
Frontier Revenge Joan De Lysa
Ride, Ryder, Ride! Libby Brooks
1949 Desert Vigilante Betty Long
The Fighting Redhead Sheila O'Connor
1950 Cody of the Pony Express Linda Graham
1951 Pride of Maryland Christine Loomis
1952 The Black Lash Joan De Lysa
Kansas Territory Kay Collins
Montana Incident Clara Martin
1961 When the Clock Strikes Mrs. Pierce
Gun Street Mrs. Knudson
The Clown and the Kid Sister Grace
1967 The Way West Mrs. Turley
1970 The Animals Mrs. Emily Perkins
1972 Pickup on 101 Car Family of Four
1973 Terror in the Wax Museum Second chairwoman
1975 White House Madness Rosemary Woods
1976 Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw Hattie Baker
1977 Black Oak Conspiracy Virginia Metcalf
1979 The Fall of the House of Usher Barmaid
1980 Beyond Evil Lady patient
1981 The Boogens Victoria Tusker
2004 Big Chuck, Little Chuck Liz
2010 The Runaways Grandma Oni
The Bang Evelyn Short film
2011 Dadgum, Texas Pearl Ruth Anna 'MiMa' Magee
2012 That's My Boy Grandma Delores Spirou Final film role
Partial Television Credits
Year Title Role Notes
1950-1953 The Cisco Kid various characters 5 episodes
1950 The Gene Autry Show Ellie March Episode: "The Peacemaker"
1951 The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok Jane Episode: "Pony Express vs. Telegraph"
1952 The Roy Rogers Show Eileen Barton/Myra Fuller 2 episodes
Gang Busters Violet Fairchild Episode: "The Case of Willie Sutton, pt. 1"
The Living Bible Woman at the Tomb Episode: "The Lord Is Risen"
1953 The Range Rider Mrs. Brant Episode: "The Black Terror" (uncredited)
1956 The Millionaire Mary Episode: "The Betty Perkins Story"
1957-1958 The Silent Service First nurse/Sister Mary
1957 Have Gun – Will Travel Edna Raleigh Episode: "The Brothers"
1958-1959 The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp Elsa Johnson/Etta Jackson 2 episodes
1959 Peter Gunn Wilma Baxter
Yancy Derringer Karen Ogilvie
Not for Hire Nadine
Gunsmoke Mrs. Phillips Episode: "Fawn"
1960 National Velvet Mrs. Anderson
Hotel de Paree Martha Holcombe
Pony Express
1961 Gunsmoke Fran Hacker Episode: "The Long, Long Trail"
The Rebel Sarah Wallace
Have Gun – Will Travel Sarah Holt Episode: "The Outlaw"
The Americans Mrs. Gilroy Episode: "The Guerrillas"
Lassie Mrs. Johnson Episode: "Lassie and the Greyhound"
The Twilight Zone Grace Stockton Episode: "The Shelter"
1964 Gunsmoke Daisy Huckaby Episode: "The Promoter"
The Fugitive Mrs. Franklin
1965 Daniel Boone Ida Morgan
1967 Hondo Mrs. Malcolm
1969 The Mod Squad Mrs. Kane
1970 Ironside Mrs. Knudson
1972 The Smith Family Mrs. Dennison Episode: "Off Duty Cop"
Sarge Mrs. Whitman
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors Mrs. Norman
Mission Impossible Screaming Woman Episode: "TOD-5"
1973 The Stranger Inner council member TV movie (uncredited)
1974 Emergency! Martha Felt/Claire Freeman 2 episodes
1975 Baretta Teacher
1980 Taxi Buyer
Quincy, M.E. Mrs. Ethel Sullivan
1981 The Adventures of Nellie Bly Mrs. Long
1984 Trapper John, M.D. Mrs. Rogers Episode: "My Son the Doctor"
The A-Team Miriam Klein Episode: "It's a Desert out There"
1985 Hollywood Beat Judge
1987 Werewolf Evelyn Storm Episode: "Blood Ties"
1993 Seinfeld Aunt May Episode: "The Implant"
1998 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Ms Barton Episode: "Band Candy"
1999 Beverly Hills, 90210 Mrs. Fike Episode: "Baby, You Can Drive My Car"
2000 Charmed Lilian Episode: "Ex-Libris"
The Norm Show Myrtle Episode: "Laurie Loses It"
2001 Tippi Episode: "Promblems"
Popular Old lady Episode: ""
Yes, Dear Old lady Episode: "Halloween"
2007 My Name Is Earl Dotty Lake Episode: "Buried Treasure"
2007-2008 The Riches Cherien's mother 8 episodes
2008 NCIS Elderly lady Episode: "Collateral Damage"
2009 Weeds Ingrid Episode: "Su-Su-Sucio"
FlashForward Secretary Episode: "Black Swan" (uncredited)
Operating Instructions Older lady TV movie
2009-2010 The Office Pam's Meemaw Sylvia 2 episodes
2010 Justified Mrs. Inez Davis Episode: "The Hammer"
Community Agnes Episode: "Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design"
2014 Getting On Mrs. Decker Episode: "No Such Thing as Idealized Genitalia"
Growing up in Florida, American actress Peggy Stewart naturally gravitated to the water, and distinguished herself as a swimming champ in high school. Her family moved to California in the mid '30s, where she made the acquaintance of character actor Henry O'Neill. Aware that Paramount Pictures was looking for a new face to play the part of Joel McCrea's and Frances Dee's daughter in Wells Fargo (1936), O'Neill recommended Stewart. The assignment led to numerous other roles for the teenaged actress, who by the end of 1940 was not only established in Hollywood but the wife of actor Don "Red" Barry (Stewart was also the sister-in-law of another actor, Wayne Morris). At about the time her marriage was breaking up in 1944, Stewart signed with Republic Studios, where, starting with Tucson Raiders (1944), she became resident leading lady for many of Republic's western stars. She also appeared in serials at Republic but preferred westerns because the shooting schedules were shorter and she was able to wear a more varied wardrobe. Leaving Republic in 1948, she freelanced until 1953, when she briefly gave up acting to become a casting director at NBC television; she also married again, to actor Buck Young. As the '50s progressed Stewart eased back into acting, but only in roles that would provide a challenge to her. In 1974, she won the Los Angeles Drama Circle award for her stage performance in Picnic. Long retired, Peggy Stewart has in the last two decades become one of the favorite guest speakers on the nostalgia convention and western film festival circuit
Margaret O'Rourke was born in West Palm Beach, Florida in 1923 to John and Frances O'Rourke. After a divorce, her mother moved the family to Atlanta, and she married John Stewart, a lawyer. It was then that Peggy began using the last name of Stewart.
Peggy wound up in California in the 1930s, and an early movie role was playing the teenage daughter of Joel McCrea in WELLS FARGO (1936).
On September 7, 1940, she married Republic Pictures western hero Don "Red" Barry, and son Michael was born November 18, 1943. The marriage was short-lived and the divorce of Peggy and Don Barry was finalized on April 12, 1944.
By the mid 1940s, Peggy Stewart was the resident heroine at Republic to cowboy stars Wild Bill Elliott, Sunset Carson, Allan Lane, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. She was under a term players contract(s) at Republic from April, 1944 through March, 1947 - this simply meant that for security and a regular paycheck, Republic could utilize her as much as they wanted. From 1944 - 1951, she appeared in about 35 films at Republic, most of which were serials and westerns.
After her Republic contract ended, Peggy did leading lady duty in oaters with Charles Starrett, Lash LaRue, Whip Wilson, and Jim Bannon.
And she also did cliffhangers - she had the female lead in THE PHANTOM RIDER (Republic, 1945), SON OF ZORRO (Republic, 1947), TEX GRANGER (Columbia, 1948), and CODY OF THE PONY EXPRESS (Columbia, 1949).
In the 1950s and later, Peggy worked on many TV programs including CISCO KID, HAVE GUN - WILL TRAVEL, WILD BILL HICKOK, and GUNSMOKE. Western and serial fan Mark Tourin spotted Peggy in a Seinfeld episode. According to IMDb she appeared as 'Aunt May' in an episode titled 'The Implant', which was first aired in 1990. Mark remembers her doing a great job 'playing it straight' as the aunt of the temporary girl friend of George Costanza at a wake, of all things.
In 1953, Peggy married actor Buck Young (1920 - 2000), and they had two children, Greg and Abigail. Buck Young did many TV jobs, including a role as "Sergeant Whipple" in the mid 1960s Gomer Pyle show.
Peggy was honored with a Golden Boot Award at the 1984 ceremonies. And fans appreciated her smile and bubbly personality when she guested at many western film / nostalgia conventions.
Peggy's sister, Olympic swimmer Patricia O'Rourke, was married to World War II Navy flier / hero Wayne Morris, who did many films for Warners as well as a series of westerns in the 1950s for Monogram / Allied Artists.
When I was growing up in Georgia during the early 1950s, I recall that westerns were among the first films released to TV. Republic Pictures had their Hollywood Television Service releasing arm, and among the movies on the little screen were the Bill Elliott / Red Ryder adventures ... and Peggy Stewart was in a lot of those. I was pleasantly surprised that she frequently played a savvy, smart and tough heroine who often was hot-tempered ... she was definitely NOT the passive leading lady that was typical in the low budget western.
95 year old Peggy Stewart passed away on May 29, 2019.
Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Peggy Stewart: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829726/
Daniel Neyer's "The Files of Jerry Blake" serial website has more on Peggy's four cliffhangers: https://filesofjerryblake.com/serial-heroines/peggy-stewart/
Long time ago, Sunset Carson and Jerry Whittington were developing a series called "Sunset Carson's Hollywood Nostalgia Theater". Here's Sunset's interviews with Peggy Stewart:
Peggy Stewart interview (about 7 minutes long): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEV7njKmEgY
Peggy Stewart Interview (about 8 minutes long): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gevkNdiwMQ8
Death notices:
Hollywood Reporter website: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/peggy-stewart-dead-leading-lady-westerns-at-republic-pictures-was-95-1216791
Santa Clarita Valley Signal newspaper: https://signalscv.com/2019/06/western-actress-peggy-stewart-dies-at-95/
The Life & Times of Hollywood website: https://thelifeandtimesofhollywood.com/actress-peggy-stewart-dies-at-95-from-1937s-wells-fargo-to-seinfeld-to-adams-sandlers-grandmother-in-thats-my-boy-over-80-years-in-film/
Family Search has the September 7, 1940 Los Angeles marriage license of 30 year old Donald Barry (born Houston, Texas) and 17 year old Peggy Stewart (born West Palm Beach, Florida). First marriage for both, and their occupations were Actor and Actress. His parents were Louis Acosta (born Lafayette, Louisiana) and Emma Murray (born Houston, Texas). Her parents were John P. Stewart (born Georgia) and Frances McCampbell (born Alabama). Republic Pictures director George Sherman was the witness:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93H-C969-7?i=1825&cc=1804002
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93H-C9D5-D?i=1826&cc=1804002
Family Search also has the California Birth Index for the son of Don Barry and Peggy Stewart - Michael Orourke Barry Deacosta was born November 18, 1943 in the Los Angeles area: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V27Q-MZV
(From Old Corral collection)
Peggy with Sunset Carson
(From Old Corral collection)
Peggy with Gene Autry
(Courtesy of Les Adams)
Left is a blurb about Don Barry's marriage to Republic heroine Peggy Stewart, and director Georgie Sherman was their best man. From the pressbook for Barry's THE PHANTOM COWBOY (Republic, 1941) which was released in early 1941. The pairing was short-lived and trade publications had coverage:
September 11, 1940 Variety had a marriage announcement: "Peggy Stewart to Donald Barry, in Glendale, Cal., Sept. 7 (1940)."
November 24, 1943 Variety had a birth announcement: "Mr. and Mrs. Don Barry, son, Hollywood, Nov. 18 (1943). Father is cowboy star at Republic; mother was Peggy Stewart of the films."
May 27, 1944 Billboard had the divorce announcement: "Peggy Stewart, actress from Donald Barry, cowboy actor, in Hollywood April 12 (1944)."
(From Old Corral collection)
Above from right to left are Bill Elliott, Alice Fleming, Peggy Stewart and Bob Steele (as the "Reno Kid") in the Red Ryder adventure SHERIFF OF REDWOOD VALLEY (Republic, 1946).
(From Old Corral collection)
From L-to-R are Tom London, Allan Lane with Peggy Stewart in his arms, whiskered Emmett Lynn, Pierce Lyden, and in the front is Bobby Blake as Little Beaver. Lobby card from RUSTLERS OF DEVIL'S CANYON (Republic, 1947), one of the Red Ryder adventures. Did I mention that Peggy wasn't the typical passive heroine?
(Courtesy of Minard Coons)
In the above lobby card from THE FIGHTING REDHEAD (Eagle Lion, 1950) are Jim Bannon (as Red Ryder) and Peggy Stewart, the heroine in many great Republic westerns. Peggy was the leading lady in two of the four Bannon / Red Ryder adventures. Does the guy on the left look familiar? Think the LONE RANGER TV show ... and John Hart who played the masked man for one season.
(Courtesy of Minard Coons)
Above are Jim Bannon (as Red Ryder) and Peggy Stewart in a lobby card from RIDE, RYDER, RIDE (Eagle Lion, 1949).
(From Old Corral collection)
Above - Wild Bill Elliott is re-united with Republic leading lady Peggy Stewart in KANSAS TERRITORY (Monogram, 1952), one of Elliott's best from his post Republic days. He's back wearing a brace of stag-handled six shooters. Note the "Filmed in Glorious SEPIA TONE" blurb on this lobby card.
(Courtesy of Minard Coons)
Above - a 1970s photo of Peggy Stewart, great heroine and love interest in many Republic horse operas. Minard Coons mentioned that Peggy resided in Studio City, California, a couple of blocks from where I. Stanford Jolley lived.
(Courtesy of Larry Blanks)
Above - Larry Blanks with Republic leading lady, Peggy Stewart, circa 1992? at one of the annual film/nostalgia conventions in Atlanta.
(Courtesy of Donn & Nancy Moyer)
Above - Republic heroine Peggy Stewart and Donn Moyer at the 2000 Lone Pine Festival.
(Courtesy of Virginia Herrick & Dick Madigan)
Above are Peggy Stewart and Virginia Herrick guesting at the 2002 Charlotte Western Film Fair.