Peggy McCay
Encyclopedia
Peggy McCay is a long-time American
actress with a career lasting over sixty years in film and television. Although she has acted in numerous productions, she best known for playing Caroline Brady
, a role she originated and has played since February 1983 on the long-running NBC drama Days of our Lives
.
before accepting her first major role as the heroine Vanessa Dale
on the soap opera Love of Life
. The show premiered in 1951 and made McCay an overnight star. After four years of working five days a week on the series, she left in 1955 to pursue other options. She was soon cast in an episode of the CBS
anthology series, Appointment with Adventure
.
She played in four feature films in the late 1950s before landing a lead role in 1962 in the 26-episode sitcom Room for One More
with Andrew Duggan
, Ronnie Dapo
, Tim Rooney
, and Jack Albertson
. She portrayed Anna Perrott Rose, who originally wrote a memoir on her family life. In the same year, she also starred in the feature film Lad, A Dog. She guest starred in various programs too, including Jack Palance
's circus drama, The Greatest Show on Earth
, and Jason Evers
's drama series about college
life, Channing
, both on ABC (1963–1964).
McCay returned to daytime television in 1964 as one of the leads in ABC
's The Young Marrieds
. When the show went off the air in 1966, she was written into the storyline on ABC's other daytime soap, General Hospital
, playing the role of Iris Fairchild until early 1970.
In the 1970s, McCay played parts in miniseries such as Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years
and How the West Was Won
. She also played a major role in the movie and television series The Lazarus Syndrome
, During the late 1970s and early 1980s, had a recurring role as Marion Hume in the CBS drama Lou Grant
.
McCay may be best-known as Caroline Brady
on the daytime soap Days of our Lives
. First appearing on the program in February 1983, she signed a long-term contract with the serial in 1985 and has appeared on a regular basis ever since. She was nominated for Daytime Emmy Award
s in 1986 and 1987, and in 1991 won a Primetime Emmy Award
for her guest starring role in the episode State of Mind, of the series, The Trials of Rosie O'Neill
, starring Sharon Gless
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress with a career lasting over sixty years in film and television. Although she has acted in numerous productions, she best known for playing Caroline Brady
Caroline Brady
Caroline Brady is a fictional character from the NBC soap opera Days of our Lives, a long-running serial drama about working class life in the fictional United States town of Salem. The character still remains a large part of the current storylines. Created by writer Margaret DePriest, the role was...
, a role she originated and has played since February 1983 on the long-running NBC drama Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
.
Biography
McCay graduated from Barnard CollegeBarnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
before accepting her first major role as the heroine Vanessa Dale
Vanessa Dale
Vanessa "Van" Dale Raven Sterling, was the main character and the lead heroine in the now-defunct American Soap Opera Love of Life. She was originally played by Peggy McCay; then by actress Bonnie Bartlett and Audrey Peters played Vanessa to the show's end.-The Good Sister:Vanessa, or "Van" as she...
on the soap opera Love of Life
Love of Life
Love of Life is an American soap opera which aired on CBS Daytime from September 24, 1951 to February 1, 1980. It was created by Roy Winsor, whose previous creation Search for Tomorrow had premiered three weeks before Love of Life, and who would go on to create The Secret Storm two and a half years...
. The show premiered in 1951 and made McCay an overnight star. After four years of working five days a week on the series, she left in 1955 to pursue other options. She was soon cast in an episode of the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
anthology series, Appointment with Adventure
Appointment with Adventure
Appointment with Adventure is a half-hour adventure/dramatic anthology television series broadcast live on CBS from 1955-1956. The program has no host. It aired at 10 p.m...
.
She played in four feature films in the late 1950s before landing a lead role in 1962 in the 26-episode sitcom Room for One More
Room for One More (TV series)
Room for One More is a short-lived 1962 ABC situation comedy, principally starring Andrew Duggan and Peggy McCay as the heads of the Rose family. Its humor derives from their decision to augment their existing family with two adopted children...
with Andrew Duggan
Andrew Duggan
-Career:During World War II, Duggan was in the 40th Special Services Company, led by actor Melvyn Douglas in the China Burma India Theater of World War II. His contact with Douglas later led to his performing with Lucille Ball in the play Dreamgirl. He developed a friendship with Broadway...
, Ronnie Dapo
Ronnie Dapo
Ronnie Dapo is an American former child actor who appeared in supporting roles in such television series as ABC's Room for One More and CBS's The New Phil Silvers Show .-Acting career:...
, Tim Rooney
Tim Rooney
Timothy Hayes Yule was an American actor and voice actor. He was the second son of actor Mickey Rooney and suffered from a muscle disease known as dermatomyositis....
, and Jack Albertson
Jack Albertson
Jack Albertson was an American character actor dating to vaudeville. A comedian, dancer, singer, and musician, Albertson is perhaps best known for his roles as Manny Rosen in The Poseidon Adventure , Grandpa Joe in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Amos Slade in the 1981 animated film The Fox...
. She portrayed Anna Perrott Rose, who originally wrote a memoir on her family life. In the same year, she also starred in the feature film Lad, A Dog. She guest starred in various programs too, including Jack Palance
Jack Palance
Jack Palance , was an American actor. During half a century of film and television appearances, Palance was nominated for three Academy Awards, all as Best Actor in a Supporting Role, winning in 1991 for his role in City Slickers.-Early life:Palance, one of five children, was born Volodymyr...
's circus drama, The Greatest Show on Earth
The Greatest Show on Earth (TV series)
The Greatest Show on Earth is an American drama series starring Jack Palance about the American circus, which aired on ABC from September 17, 1963, to April 28, 1964...
, and Jason Evers
Jason Evers
Jason Evers was an American actor.Evers was born Herb Evers in New York City, New York. After quitting high school to join the United States Army, Evers was so inspired by stars like John Wayne that he decided to try acting...
's drama series about college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
life, Channing
Channing (TV series)
Channing is an American drama series that aired on American Broadcasting Company from September 18, 1963 to April 8, 1964...
, both on ABC (1963–1964).
McCay returned to daytime television in 1964 as one of the leads in ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's The Young Marrieds
The Young Marrieds
The Young Marrieds was an American daytime soap opera which aired on ABC from October 5, 1964, to March 25, 1966.The program was created by James Elward and written by Elward with Frances Rickett. Authors John Pascal and Francine Pascal also wrote for the series. It was produced in Hollywood by...
. When the show went off the air in 1966, she was written into the storyline on ABC's other daytime soap, General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
, playing the role of Iris Fairchild until early 1970.
In the 1970s, McCay played parts in miniseries such as Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years
Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years
Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years is a made-for-television movie that was a sequel to the previous year's Eleanor and Franklin. Originally airing on March 13, 1977, it was part of a two-part biopic directed by Daniel Petrie based on Joseph P. Lash's Pulitzer prize-winning biography...
and How the West Was Won
How the West Was Won (TV series)
How the West Was Won is an American western television series that featured an all star cast that included: James Arness, Eva Marie Saint, Fionnula Flanagan, Bruce Boxleitner, G. W. Bailey, Trisha Noble, William Shatner, Jack Elam, Woody Strode, Anthony Zerbe, Richard Kiley, Lloyd Bridges,...
. She also played a major role in the movie and television series The Lazarus Syndrome
The Lazarus Syndrome
- Cast :*Louis Gossett Jr. as Dr. MacArthur St. Clair*Ronald Hunter as Joe Hamill*E.G. Marshall as Dr. Mendel*Sheila Frazier as Gloria St. Clair*Lara Parker as Denice*Peggy Walton-Walker as Mrs. Hamill*René Enríquez as Mr...
, During the late 1970s and early 1980s, had a recurring role as Marion Hume in the CBS drama Lou Grant
Lou Grant (TV series)
Lou Grant is an American television drama series starring Ed Asner in the titular role as a newspaper editor. Unusual in American television, this drama series was a spinoff from a sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Aired from 1977 to 1982, Lou Grant won 13 Emmy Awards, including "Outstanding Drama...
.
McCay may be best-known as Caroline Brady
Caroline Brady
Caroline Brady is a fictional character from the NBC soap opera Days of our Lives, a long-running serial drama about working class life in the fictional United States town of Salem. The character still remains a large part of the current storylines. Created by writer Margaret DePriest, the role was...
on the daytime soap Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
. First appearing on the program in February 1983, she signed a long-term contract with the serial in 1985 and has appeared on a regular basis ever since. She was nominated for Daytime Emmy Award
Daytime Emmy Award
The Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming...
s in 1986 and 1987, and in 1991 won a Primetime Emmy Award
Primetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
for her guest starring role in the episode State of Mind, of the series, The Trials of Rosie O'Neill
The Trials of Rosie O'Neill
The Trials of Rosie O'Neill is an American television drama series, which aired on CBS from 1990 to 1992. The show starred Sharon Gless as Fiona Rose "Rosie" O'Neill, a lawyer working in the public defender's office for the City of Los Angeles...
, starring Sharon Gless
Sharon Gless
Sharon Marguerite Gless is an American character actress of stage, film and television, who is best known for her roles as Maggie Philbin on Switch , as Sgt. Christine Cagney in the police procedural drama series Cagney & Lacey and as Debbie Novotny in the Showtime cable television series Queer...
.