Peggy King, 'George Gobel Show' star, dies at 96 from Alzheimer's

Peggy King, a 1950s television and recording star, died Sunday at the Saunders House Assisted Living facility in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease, her publicist Alan Eicher confirmed. She was 96. King was a regular on the “George Gobel Show” from 1954 to 1957, where Gobel nicknamed her “Pretty Perky Peggy King.”

King’s career spanned the early days of television variety programming, a time when live performance was the norm and female singers were rare fixtures on prime‑time. After a successful stint on radio, she moved to TV, bringing her big‑band vocal style to a national audience. Her presence helped shape the format of the half‑hour comedy‑music hybrid that defined the era, and her recordings with Capitol and Decca added to the post‑war popular music catalog.

Beyond Gobel’s show, King released several singles that charted modestly, including “The Man with the Golden Arm” and “Mona Lisa.” She appeared in the 1956 film “The Girl Can't Help It” and toured with big‑band leaders such as Benny Goodman. Colleagues remember her as professional and warm; TV historian David Weinstein called her “a bright, reliable talent who bridged the gap between radio’s golden age and TV’s rise.” Her publicist said she remained a beloved figure for fans who grew up watching her on early TV.

King’s passing closes a chapter on a generation of entertainers who helped define mid‑century American culture. Her family plans a private service, and the Television Academy has said it will consider a tribute at its next ceremony. Archives of her performances are being preserved by the Paley Center for Media, ensuring that future audiences can still hear the “pretty perky” voice that once lit up living rooms across the nation.