Margaret O'Rene "Peggy" Ryan (August 28, 1924 â€" October 30, 2004)
was an American dancer and actress, best known for starring in a
series of movie musicals at Universal Pictures with Donald O'Connor
and Gloria Jean.Ryan joined her parents' vaudeville act, "The Merry
Dancing Ryans", before she was 3 years old, and appeared in her first
film, Wedding of Jack and Jill (1929) when she was 4. She attended
Hollywood Professional School.Her singing, acting, and dancing skills
were noticed by song-and-dance actor George Murphy, who helped her get
a role in 1937's Top of the Town. However, her entry in the book
Vaudeville old & new: an encyclopedia of variety performances in
America, Volume 1 notes, "[B]y then she was outgrowing the kiddie
parts, yet not old enough for the teenage roles."She continued working
in small roles until 1942, when she had a solo number in the feature
film What's Cookin'?. The Gloria Jean-Donald O'Connor-Peggy Ryan team
were a great hit with audiences and exhibitors, and the three teens
made five features together. Her screen character in these films was
usually brash, wisecracking, and boy-crazy. In 1944, Ryan advanced to
more elaborate productions, in support of Jack Oakie and Abbott and
Costello.
was an American dancer and actress, best known for starring in a
series of movie musicals at Universal Pictures with Donald O'Connor
and Gloria Jean.Ryan joined her parents' vaudeville act, "The Merry
Dancing Ryans", before she was 3 years old, and appeared in her first
film, Wedding of Jack and Jill (1929) when she was 4. She attended
Hollywood Professional School.Her singing, acting, and dancing skills
were noticed by song-and-dance actor George Murphy, who helped her get
a role in 1937's Top of the Town. However, her entry in the book
Vaudeville old & new: an encyclopedia of variety performances in
America, Volume 1 notes, "[B]y then she was outgrowing the kiddie
parts, yet not old enough for the teenage roles."She continued working
in small roles until 1942, when she had a solo number in the feature
film What's Cookin'?. The Gloria Jean-Donald O'Connor-Peggy Ryan team
were a great hit with audiences and exhibitors, and the three teens
made five features together. Her screen character in these films was
usually brash, wisecracking, and boy-crazy. In 1944, Ryan advanced to
more elaborate productions, in support of Jack Oakie and Abbott and
Costello.
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