Ryan, Peggy (1924–2004)

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Ryan, Peggy (1924–2004)

American actress, singer and dancer. Born Margaret O'Rene Ryan, Aug 28, 1924, in Long Beach, CA; dau. of vaudeville dancers; died Oct 30, 2004, in Las Vegas, Nevada; m. James Cross (actor), 1945 (div. 1952); m. Ray McDonald (dancer), 1953 (div. 1957); Eddie Sherman (novelist and columnist for Honolulu Advertiser) 1958; children: (1st m.) James "Spike" Cross (songwriter, died 1987); (2nd m.) dau. Kerry McDonald English; (3rd m.) Sean Sherman (adopted).

At 3, made theatrical debut in parents' vaudeville act, The Dancing Ryans; made film debut at 6 in The Wedding of Jack and Jill (1930); was a song-and-dance ingenue in a score of movies, including Follow the Boys, Mister Big, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, Patrick the Great, The Merry Monahans, Bowery to Broadway, and All Ashore, among others; also appeared in The Grapes of Wrath (1940); retired and ran a dancing school; in later years, appeared on tv as Jack Lord's secretary Jenny on "Hawaii Five-O."