Peggy Dow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peggy Dow
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Dow in Modern Screen magazine (1952)
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| Born |
Peggy Josephine Varnadow
March 18, 1928 Columbia, Mississippi, U.S.
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| Other names | Peggy V. Helmerich |
| Education | University of Southern Mississippi Northwestern University |
| Occupation | Film actress |
| Years active | 1949–1952 |
| Spouse(s) |
Walter Helmerich III
(m. 1951; died 2012) |
| Children | 5 |
Peggy Dow, born Peggy Josephine Varnadow on March 18, 1928, is an American who used to be an actress. She had a short but notable career in Hollywood movies from 1949 to 1952. She is well-known for her roles as Nurse Kelly in the film Harvey (1950) and Judy Greene in Bright Victory (1951). After her acting career, she became a generous supporter of many good causes.
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Early Life and Education
Peggy Dow was born in Columbia, Mississippi. When she was four years old, her family moved to Covington, Louisiana. She attended Gulf Park College in Gulfport, Mississippi for high school and junior college. This school is now part of the University of Southern Mississippi.
Later, she went to Northwestern University in Illinois. She studied at Northwestern's School of Speech and acted in college plays. She earned her degree from Northwestern in 1948 when she was 20 years old.
Acting Career Highlights
After college, Peggy Dow did some modeling and worked in radio for a short time. A talent agent noticed her, and she appeared on a television show in February 1949. Soon after, Universal Studios offered her a seven-year contract to act in movies.
Dow made nine films during her career. Some of her most famous roles include Nurse Kelly in Harvey (1950). In this movie, she acted alongside famous stars like James Stewart and Josephine Hull. She also co-starred with Arthur Kennedy in Bright Victory (1951). Arthur Kennedy was nominated for an Oscar for his role in that film.
In 1951, Dow also had leading roles in two family-friendly movies: Reunion in Reno and You Never Can Tell.
Life After Acting
After just three years in the movie business, Peggy Dow decided to retire from acting. In 1951, she married Walter Helmerich III. He was an oil driller from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Walter later became the president of his family's business, Helmerich & Payne.
Peggy and Walter were married for 60 years until his passing in 2012. They had five sons together. After leaving Hollywood, Peggy Dow became very active in supporting libraries and other charitable organizations.
Several honors are named after her because of her generous support. The Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award is given every year to a well-known author by the Tulsa Library Trust. The drama school at the University of Oklahoma is also named in her honor. Additionally, an auditorium at Northwestern University School of Communication's Annie May Swift Hall bears her name.
Film and TV Appearances
- Your Show Time (TV anthology series) (1949)
- Undertow (1949)
- Woman in Hiding (1950)
- Shakedown (1950)
- The Sleeping City (1950)
- Harvey (1950)
- Bright Victory (1951)
- You Never Can Tell (1951)
- Reunion in Reno (1951)
- I Want You (1951)
- The Cases of Eddie Drake (TV series) (1952)
See also
In Spanish: Peggy Dow para niños
