Peggy Webber


Peggy Webber is an American actress and writer who has worked in film, stage, television, and radio.

Early years

The daughter of a wildcat oil driller, Webber was born in Laredo, Texas. Before she was three years old, she was entertaining audiences at intermission times in theaters.
In 1942, she graduated from Tucson High School, where she was active in dramatics.

Film

Webber's screen debut came in the 1946 film Her Adventurous Night. In 1948, she played Lady Macduff in Orson Welles' adaptation of Macbeth. Her other notable roles include Mrs. Alice Rice in the 1952 film Submarine Command and Miss Dennerly in The Wrong Man, directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Radio

Webber debuted on radio at age 12 on WOAI in San Antonio, Texas. Her vocal talents for radio were highlighted in Time magazine's August 5, 1946, issue. The Radio: Vocal Varieties article noted, "In three years, her latex voice has supplied radio with 150 different characters on some 2,500 broadcasts."
Programs on which she was heard included The Dreft Star Playhouse, Dragnet, The Woman in My House, Pete Kelly's Blues, Dr. Paul, The Damon Runyon Theater, and The Man Called X. In 1979, she played many characters on Sears Radio Theater. She is the founder of California Artists Radio Theatre.
The September 8, 2019, episode of The Big Broadcast highlighted her career and included a recent interview in which she mentioned her current projects.

Television

Webber appeared on a number of television programs including Dragnet, and the followup series, Dragnet 1967. She portrayed Elise Sandor in Kings Row on ABC in 1955–56. She played the part of Ella McIntyre in the 1956 Quicksand episode of “Cheyenne”. She also played abused sister Flora Stancil in the 1957 Gunsmoke episode "Cheap Labor".

Writing, directing, and producing

Webber wrote and directed "some 250 stage plays, radio and television programs." She was writer and producer for Treasures of Literature, an early television program. In her later years, she was responsible for writing, directing, and producing "hundreds of new audio programs."

Recognition

Webber received the 2014 Norman Corwin Award for Excellence in Audio Theatre, "which celebrates a lifetime of achievement in this sonic art." She was the first woman so honored. Her program Treasure of Literature was named "Most Popular Television Program – 1949" by the Television Academy.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNote
1952–1955DragnetPeg Ruskin / Virginia Sterling / Leona Perry / Police dispatcher / Roberta Salazar
1955The Public DefenderMrs. Gayley
1955MedicStell Ramsey
1955The WhistlerDenise Clark
1955Big TownCarla Jackson
1955Matinee TheatreCathy
1956FrontierMeg Horn
1956Damon Runyon TheatreClaire Simpson
1956Front Row CenterKathy Mullin
1956CheyenneElla McIntyre
1956Climax!Inez Harley
1956Chevron Hall of StarsMartha
1956The MillionaireMildred Kester
1957Jane Wymann Presents the Fireside TheatreMrs. Helding
1957The Ford Television TheatreMrs. Wane
1957Zane Grey TheatreNorah
1957GunsmokeFlora Stancil
1957The Walter Winchell FileMary
1957–1960M SquadMary Nichols / Amy Pryor
1958Panic!Fran Pulaski
1959Wagon TrainMillie Collins
1959Wanted: Dead or AliveMinnie Lee Blake
1959Man Without a GunKate Hutchins
1959TrackdownNora
1960Law of the PlainsmanHattie Mullen
1960The RebelJuanita Flynn
1962LaramieMartha Grundy
1967I SpySister Agatha
1967–1970Dragnet 1967Jean Sawyer / Mrs. Atkins / Alice Philbin / Mrs. Mary Tucker/ Mrs Eunice Rustin /
Marian Stanley / Mrs. Peggy Lassin / Janet Ohrmund
1968The New Adventures of Huckleberry FinnOld Lady / MaidenVoice
1969The SurvivorsWife on TV
1969Marcus Welby, M.D.Mrs. Ross
1971–1972Night GalleryOld Crone / First Phone Operator
1971–1973Adam–12Mrs. Rule / Mary Grant
1976The WaltonsEva Hadley
1977Emergency!Helen Phillips
1978Project U.F.O.Emma Smith / Helen Carson
1981Bossom BuddiesDr. Fritzly
1982Quincy M.E.Woman
1983–1984The SmurfsElderberryVoice
2005The InsideMama BunchEpisode: "Everything Nice"