Peggy Knudsen, a stunning blonde actress with a charming and confident on-screen presence, was born to Irish and Norwegian parents, a Duluth fire chief among them. Her early life was marked by a passion for music, as she studied violin as a child, and later showcased her acting skills in school plays. This talent earned her a spot on the CBS daytime radio drama "The Woman in White" at the tender age of nineteen.
Peggy's next move was to Broadway, where she made her debut in a small role in "My Sister Eileen" as a replacement for Jo Ann Sayers. Her big break came when she was signed by Warner Brothers in 1945, after being spotted at the Stage Door Canteen. The studio promptly dubbed her "the lure" and hailed her arrival with fanfare.
Peggy's first significant role was as Mona Mars in the film noir classic "The Lure" (1945),a small but memorable part that earned her critical acclaim. She went on to appear in support of Errol Flynn in "Never Say Goodbye" (1946) and John Garfield in "Humoresque" (1946),solidifying her status as a rising star.
Despite her early promise, Peggy's subsequent career was marked by a series of missteps. Warner Brothers failed to capitalize on her potential, relegating her to one-dimensional roles and loaning her out to other studios. She eventually found better opportunities with Sol M. Wurtzel's B-unit at 20th Century Fox and Monogram, landing lead roles in low-budget films like "Roses Are Red" (1947),"Trouble Preferred" (1948),"Perilous Waters" (1948),and "Half Past Midnight" (1948).
As her film career stalled, Peggy turned to television, becoming a prolific guest star on popular shows like "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" (1952),"Perry Mason" (1957),and "Bat Masterson" (1958). Despite her efforts, she was never able to recapture the stardom she had once seemed destined for.
Peggy's life was marked by a series of challenges, including a debilitating affliction with arthritis that forced her premature retirement from acting in 1965. She spent her later years cared for by her close friend, the actress Jennifer Jones, who also reportedly paid for her medical expenses. Peggy Knudsen passed away in July 1980 at the age of 57, leaving behind a legacy as a talented but ultimately underappreciated actress.
