Peggy Shannon was an American actress who is best known for her roles in films such as The Secret Call, This Reckless Age, and Hotel Continental.
Personal and Family Life
Peggy Shannon was born as Winona Sammon on January 10, 1907, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She had a brief marriage to actor Alan Davis in 1926, which ended in divorce in 1940. Shortly after, she married Al Roberts, a cameraman. Her personal life was marred by struggles with alcoholism, which affected both her career and relationships.
Career
Shannon began her career as a chorus girl in The Ziegfeld Follies after being discovered in New York City. She gained attention and was signed by Paramount in 1931, but her career declined due to personal issues, including her drinking problems. Although she starred in several films during the 1930s, such as This Reckless Age and Hotel Continental, she often faced difficulties working with others in the industry.
Death and Legacy
Peggy Shannon passed away on May 11, 1941, from a heart attack at the age of 34. She was found slumped over a table, which revealed the toll that her alcoholism had taken on her health. Tragically, her second husband, Al Roberts, committed suicide just weeks after her death, and she is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, with an epitaph that reads “That Red Headed Girl, Peggy Shannon.”
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| The House Across the Bay | 1940-03-01 | Alice |
| Blackwell’s Island | 1939-01-24 | Pearl Murray |
| Turn Back the Clock | 1933-08-25 | Elvina Evans Wright / Elvina Evans Gimlet |
| The Case of the Lucky Legs | 1935-10-05 | Thelma Bell |
| Hotel Continental | 1932-02-21 | Ruth Carleton |
| Fixer Dugan | 1939-04-21 | Aggie Moreno |
| Night Life of the Gods | 1935-03-01 | Daphne Lambert |
| Girl Missing | 1933-03-04 | Daisy Bradford |
| Back Page | 1933-11-07 | Jerry Hampton |
| Ellis Island | 1936-11-04 | Betty Parker |
| Youth on Parole | 1937-10-04 | Peggy |
| Society Girl | 1932-05-29 | Judy Gelett |
| The Painted Woman | 1932-08-20 | Kiddo |
| False Faces | 1932-10-12 | Elsie Fryer |
| Deluge | 1933-08-17 | Claire Arlington |
| The Road to Reno | 1931-09-25 | Lee Millet |
| The Amazing Mr. Williams | 1939-11-22 | Kitty (uncredited) |
| This Reckless Age | 1932-01-09 | Mary Burke |
| Triple Justice | 1940-09-22 | Susan |
| Girls on Probation | 1938-10-22 | Inmate Ruth |
| The Women | 1939-09-01 | Mrs. Jones (uncredited) |
| Silence | 1931-08-29 | Norma Davis / Norma Powers |
| The Adventures of Jane Arden | 1939-03-18 | Lola Martin |
| The Devil’s Mate | 1933-08-20 | Nancy Weaver |
| Cafe Hostess | 1940-01-11 | Nellie |
| The Secret Call | 1931-07-24 | Wanda Kelly |
| Touchdown! | 1931-11-15 | Mary Gehring |
| Fury of the Jungle | 1933-10-23 | Joan Leesom |
| Dad for a Day | 1939-10-20 | Mary Baker, Mickey’s mother |