Peggy Shannon

Actress

Born: Jan 10, 1907
nationality: American

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Career

Active 1923 – 1940

Biography

About Peggy Shannon

Edited by the community

Peggy Shannon was an American actress born Winona Sammon on January 10, 1907, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She attended Catholic school, where she became friends with child actress Madge Evans. While visiting her aunt in New York, the sixteen-year-old was discovered by producer Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., who hired her as a chorus girl in The Ziegfeld Follies. The red-haired beauty was later promoted as "the new Clara Bow" when she signed a contract with Paramount Studios in 1931. She took over Clara Bow's role in The Secret Call after Bow suffered a nervous breakdown, and she starred in films like This Reckless Age and Hotel Continental, both released in 1932. Her career, however, never fully took off, and she developed a reputation for being difficult to work with.

After her movie contract was not renewed, Shannon tried returning to Broadway. By that time, she had a serious drinking problem and was fired from the play The Light Behind the Shadow. She continued to appear in small parts in B-movies such as Youth on Parole (1937) and Cafe Hostess (1940). She married actor Alan Davis in 1926, but they divorced in 1940. She then married camera man Al Roberts in October of the same year. On May 11, 1941, her husband returned home from a trip to find Peggy slumped over the kitchen table. She had died of a heart attack at age 34. An autopsy revealed a serious liver ailment caused by her alcoholism. Three weeks after her death, Albert committed suicide. Peggy is buried at Hollywood Forever cemetery in Hollywood, California, with the epitaph "That Red Headed Girl, Peggy Shannon" on her tombstone.

Profile details

Personal

Died: Sunday 11th of May 1941 (age 34)
Years Active: 1923-1940 (started around 16 years old; 17 years active)
Birthplace: United States
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Sexuality: Straight

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Frequently asked

How did Peggy Shannon get her start in show business?

At sixteen, while visiting her aunt in New York, she was discovered by producer Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., who hired her as a chorus girl in The Ziegfeld Follies.

What happened to Peggy Shannon's career after her contract with Paramount?

After her contract was not renewed, she returned to Broadway but was fired from a play due to her drinking. She later took small parts in B-movies before her death.

How did Peggy Shannon's personal life end?

She married Al Roberts in October 1940, but died of a heart attack on May 11, 1941. Three weeks after her death, her husband Al Roberts committed suicide.

Did you know

Peggy Shannon was born Winona Sammon and changed her name when she entered show business.
She was discovered by Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. and became a chorus girl in The Ziegfeld Follies.
She was promoted as "the new Clara Bow" and even took over a role from Clara Bow after Bow had a nervous breakdown.
Her tombstone at Hollywood Forever cemetery reads "That Red Headed Girl, Peggy Shannon".