This past Saturday would have marked the 91st birthday of Days of Our Lives star Peggy McCay 91st birthday.
While she was mostly known to soap fans mostly for her role on DAYS, she had a long and storied career that began way back in 1949 on TV’s Kraft Theater.
DAYS fans know her best as Caroline, a role she took on in 1983, but it was hardly her first soap role. That was 30 years earlier as Vanessa Dale on Love of Life in 1953.
From there, she went on to guest on several TV series in the 1950s including Studio One in Hollywood, Lux Video Theatre, The Californians, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. She appeared in The Case Against Brooklyn with Darren McGavin as well as other films.
The 1960s brought even more top-notch appearances on shows like 77 Sunset Strip, The Andy Griffith Show, Perry Mason, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Fugitive, and many others. The ’60s also brought more soap roles — Susan Garret on The Young Marrieds from 1946-66 and she played Iris Fairchild on General Hospital from 1967-70.
The 1970s were also good to the talented actress. She appeared on shows like Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Rookies, Marcus Welby, M.D., and Barnaby Jones. She appeared in 13 episodes of Gibbsville and several episodes of How the West Was Won.
She also appeared in the film The Lazarus Syndrome with Lou Gossett, Jr., and brought her character to the TV series.
The late 70s to early 80s, she played Marian Hume on Lou Grant for nine episodes. Plenty more guest spots continued well into the ’80s and ’90s, even after she joined DAYS.
She was nominated for three Primetime Emmys for outstanding guest performer on Cagney & Lacey, Supporting Actress in a mini-series for Woman on the Run: The Lawrencia Bembenek Story, and won for her guest actress in The Trials of Rosie O’Neill.
She was also nominated for five Daytime Emmys.
Days of our Lives (DOOL) airs weekdays on NBC. Check your local listings for airtimes.
Video Credit: juby1951
Video Credit: Kazzia70
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