Peggy Moran (born Mary Jeanette Moran, October 23, 1918 – October 24, 2002) was an American film actress who appeared in films between 1938 and 1943.

Peggy Moran
Moran in Spring Parade (1940)
Born
Mary Jeanette Moran

(1918-10-23)October 23, 1918
DiedOctober 24, 2002(2002-10-24) (aged 84)
OccupationActress
Years active1938–1943
Spouse
(m. 1942; died 1988)
Children2
FatherEarl Moran

Early years

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Born Marie Jeanette Moran on October 23, 1918, in Clinton, Iowa,[1] Moran was the daughter of Earl Moran, an artist specializing in pin-ups for calendars and magazines, and dancer Louise Scott, formerly a member of the Denishawn Dance Company.[2][3]

Moran's family moved to Hollywood when she was 5.[4][2][3] She attended the Micheltorina School and John Marshall High School,[5][6][7][8] graduating in 1937.[3]

Career

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Moran's film career began at Warner Bros. in the late 1930s.[9] She starred in a number of B movies, including The Mummy's Hand (1940), Slightly Tempted (1940), Horror Island (1941), Treat 'Em Rough (1942), and King of the Cowboys (1943), and played smaller parts in A pictures, such as the "first cigarette girl" in Ninotchka (1939). After marrying director Henry Koster on October 29, 1942,[10][11][12] a bust of Moran was featured in every picture her husband directed. After her marriage, Moran retired from acting and appeared in only one other film; a documentary made in 2000.[13] The existing bust did not fit the period of one film, so Koster had a new bust made at a cost of $4000. Films also used "silhouettes, cameos, paintings, and even photographs" of Moran.[14]

Personal life

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Koster and Moran had two sons. After Koster retired in 1966, the couple traveled extensively until his death in 1988.[2]

Death

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On October 24, 2002, only one day after her 84th birthday, Moran died of complications from injuries she had suffered in a car accident on August 26, 2002. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered at sea.[15]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1938 Gold Diggers in Paris Golddigger Alternative title: The Gay Impostors
Boy Meets Girl New York operator Uncredited
Secrets of an Actress Actress Waiting to See Carstairs Uncredited
Campus Cinderella Co-Ed Uncredited
Girls' School Myra
The Sisters Girl Uncredited
1939 Rhythm of the Saddle Maurine McClune
King of the Underworld Young Man's Wife Scenes deleted
Zenobia Party Guest Uncredited
Alternative title: Elephants Never Forget
Winter Carnival Viola
Ninotchka First Cigarette Girl Uncredited
Little Accident Tall Girl Uncredited
First Love Girl at School Uncredited
The Big Guy Joan Lawson Alternative title: Warden of the Big House
1940 West of Carson City Millie Harkins
Oh Johnny, How You Can Love Kelly Archer
Danger on Wheels Pat O'Shea
Alias the Deacon Phyllis Alternative title: The Hillbilly Deacon
Hot Steel Babe Morrison
I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby Linda Carroll
Argentine Nights Peggy
The Mummy's Hand Marta Solvani
Spring Parade Irene
Slightly Tempted Judy Ross
One Night in the Tropics Mickey Fitzgerald
Trail of the Vigilantes Barbara Thornton
1941 Double Date Penny Kirkland
Horror Island Wendy Creighton
Hello, Sucker Rosalie Watson
Flying Cadets Kitty Randall
1942 Treat 'Em Rough Betty Newman
There's One Born Every Minute Helen Barbara Twine
Drums of the Congo Enid Waldron
The Mummy's Tomb Uncredited
Seven Sweethearts Albert "Al" Van Maaster Alternative title: Tulip Time
1943 King of the Cowboys Judy Mason

References

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  1. ^ Thomassini, Christine (2003). Magill's Cinema Annual. Gale Research International. p. 553. ISBN 1558624597.
  2. ^ a b c Vallance, Tom (November 4, 2002). "Peggy Moran". The Independent. Archived from the original on January 23, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c Mank, Gregory William (2005). Women in Horror Films, 1940s. McFarland. p. 39. ISBN 9780786423354. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  4. ^ Underhill, Duncan (June 29, 1941). "Formula For Success: Make Yourself Indelible". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 16. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  5. ^ "Queen and Gallant Escort". Los Angeles Evening Express. June 5, 1931. p. 7. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  6. ^ "H. H. S. Artist Wins Chest Poster Prize". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. November 10, 1936. p. 16. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  7. ^ "'Lady Luck' Smiles on Acting Tyro". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. January 26, 1938. p. 10. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  8. ^ "Marshall High Holds Alumni Dance This Week". Lincoln Heights Bulletin-News. December 4, 1947. p. 14. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  9. ^ Lentz, Harris M. III (2003). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2002: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. ISBN 9780786452071. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  10. ^ Associated Press (November 3, 1942). "Peggy Moran, Actress, Wed". The Minneapolis Star. p. 8. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  11. ^ "Marriages". The Billboard. November 14, 1942. p. 27. ProQuest 1032285699. KOSTER-MORAN — Henry Koster, movie director, to Peggy Moran, actress, in Las Vegas, Nev., October 29.
  12. ^ "Transition". Newsweek. November 16, 1942. p. 8. ProQuest 1796835362. Married: Peggy Moran, 24, actress, to Henry Koster, 39, film director; secretly, in Las Vegas, Oct. 29.
  13. ^ "Peggy Moran". telegraph.co.uk. October 29, 2002. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
  14. ^ See, Kay (October 7, 1953). "Wife Kept in Public Eye but at Big Cost". Press-Telegram. California, Long Beach. p. B 10. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  15. ^ Oliver, Myrna (October 31, 2002). "Peggy Moran, 84; Horror Film Scream Queen". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
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