Peggy King, Singer and ‘George Gobel Show’ Star of Television’s Golden Age, Dies at 96

Peggy King, a television star and singer who rose to prominence in the 1950s, has died. She was 96.

King died Sunday after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, her publicist Alan Eicher announced. She had been residing at the Saunders House assisted living facility in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.

King was best known for her appearances on The George Gobel Show from 1954 to 1957, where Gobel nicknamed her “Pretty Perky Peggy King.” She won an Emmy in 1955 for best female singer for her television work. She also co-hosted the 1958 Emmy Awards.

Throughout the 1950s, King appeared on numerous variety programs, including The Bob Hope Show, American Bandstand, The Steve Allen Show, The Jack Benny Program and The Perry Como Show. She also guest-starred on classic television series including Maverick and Dragnet.

King signed a contract with MGM in 1952, leading to a singing cameo in Vincente Minnelli’s film The Bad and the Beautiful, in which she performed “Don’t Blame Me.” She later appeared in the 1955 horror-comedy Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy.

As for as her music career, King performed “Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)” at the 1955 Academy Awards. After Columbia Records executive Mitch Miller signed her to a long-term contract, she released two best-selling albums, Wish Upon a Star and Girl Meets Boy. DownBeat and Billboard named her best new singer for 1955–56.

Composer Arthur Hamilton wrote “Cry Me a River” for King, but Miller refused to let her record it. King later performed the song throughout her career.

Born Feb. 16, 1930, in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, King graduated from Ravenna High School in Ohio. She began singing on radio in Cleveland before joining the bands of Charlie Spivak, Ray Anthony and Ralph Flanagan.

In 2010, King was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame. She also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Feb. 8, 1960, among the first group of honorees.

King was married three times.

She is survived by her daughter, Suzy Rudofker, and son-in-law Dwain Goforth.