
Acting
Born March 31, 1921 · Los Angeles, California, USA
Peggy Jane Rea was a Los Angeles-born American actress known for her many roles in television, often playing matronly characters. Before she became an actress, Rea left UCLA to attend business school. She landed a job as a production secretary at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the 1940s. Later, she was an assistant to writer-musician Kay Thompson until Thompson dropped her in April 1948. Some of the points of discord apparently included Rea's insistence on staying at the Algonquin Hotel (rather than Essex House, where Thompson was staying), and disappearing, on at least one occasion, on the eve of their New York opening to see Born Yesterday on Broadway without telling Thompson. The time had come for Peggy to make her mark as the character actress she was born to be. She quickly landed on her feet with a supporting role in the National Road Company production of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire (as Eunice Hubbell, 1948–1949) starring Anthony Quinn. Thompson severed ties with Rea, however the younger woman kept in touch with other members of Thompson's family, including Thompson's mother, brother and younger sister, with whom she enjoyed cordial relations.

Devil in a Blue Dress
1995

Nothing But the Truth
1995

A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion
1993

Made in America
1993

Love Field
1992

In Country
1989

Curfew
1989

Hamburger: The Motion Picture
1986

Fun and Games
1980

The Great Cash Giveaway Getaway
1980

A Rainy Day
1979

The Cracker Factory
1979

The Gift of Love
1978

Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid
1978

Lipstick
1976

Promise Him Anything
1975

Win, Place or Steal
1975

Blood Sport
1973

Hunter
1973

The Night Stalker
1972

What's the Matter with Helen?
1971

Cold Turkey
1971

The Learning Tree
1969

Valley of the Dolls
1967

Strange Bedfellows
1965

Looking for Love
1964

7 Faces of Dr. Lao
1964