Peggy McCay
ON SOAP OPERA DIGEST AND WEEKLY ONLINE
SOAP STAR STATS
Peggy McCay (Caroline, DAYS)
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Peggy McCay (Caroline Brady, DAYS)
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Vital Statistics
- Birthdate:
- November 3
- Hails From:
- New York, NY
- Years on Show:
- 1983; 1985-2003; 2004-present
- Awards:
- Won the Prime-time Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in 1991 for her role on The Trials Of Rosie O'Neill. Was also nominated for Prime-time Emmys in 1986 and 1993, and was nominated for Daytime Emmys for Lead Actress in 1986 and 1987.
THE 411
Growing up in New York City gave Peggy McCay plenty of opportunities to pursue her interest in acting. While she was in high school, she performed in several plays, including Omnibus and Playhouse 90.
After high school, she attended Barnard College of Columbia University, where she continued to study theater. Immediately after graduating from college, she won a role in a Kraft Theater Show; soon after, she became the youngest person to be a part of the Margo Jones Repertory Theater. From 1951-55, she had her first daytime gig, playing Vanessa in the New York-based LOVE OF LIFE.
McCay eventually moved to Los Angeles, where she was put under contract by Warner Brothers. Though her comedy ROOM FOR ONE MORE never became a huge hit, she landed a steady series of guest-starring roles on popular prime-time shows, including THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, PERRY MASON, THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR and BEN CASEY. She also played Susan on THE YOUNG MARRIEDS from 1964-66 and Iris on GENERAL HOSPITAL from 1967-70.
Throughout the '70s, McCay worked frequently, appearing on nearly every nighttime hit from BONANZA and GUNSMOKE to THE WALTONS and ARCHIE BUNKER'S PLACE. During this decade, the actress also dealt with alcoholism, which she was fortunately able to overcome.
In 1983, she first joined DAYS as Brady matriarch, Caroline. The role was fleshed out in 1985, and in 1986, viewers learned the shocking truth: that Caroline cheated on Shawn Brady with Victor Kiriakis — and Bo was Victor's biological son. McCay's work in that storyline earned her Daytime Emmy nominations for Lead Actress in 1986 and 1987.
Meanwhile, the actress was also getting noticed for her work in prime-time. Though she was now a regular on DAYS, she still guest-starred on many nighttime series. In 1986, she received a Prime-time Emmy nomination for her role on CAGNEY AND LACEY, giving her the unique honor of being nominated for both Prime-time and Daytime Emmys in the same year.
McCay finally won a Prime-time Emmy in 1991 for her work in THE TRIALS OF ROSIE O'NEILL. Meanwhile, she remained in Salem and continued to do prime-time, films and TV movies. Though she's received many Emmy nominations, she's been instrumental in trying to make the voting process more fair.
While she hasn't always had a frontburner storyline, McCay has retained a steady presence on DAYS as a member of its core family. Fans were shocked in 2003 when Caroline was suddenly killed by Marlena in a surprising tale — and were relieved when it turned out Marlena wasn't the murderer and Caroline was alive, after all.
Recently, McCay wowed both viewers and critics as she portrayed Caroline's grief in the wake of Shawn's death, proving that she still has what it takes to shine on-screen.
ET CETERA
Five Random Facts
— Has worked with James Dean, Eli Wallach, Geraldine Page and Marilyn Monroe
— Is a devoted animal rights activists and does work for several animal rights organizations, including PETA, Last Chance for Animals and Actors and Others for Animals.
— Studied at the Braille Institute in Los Angeles to prepare for her role as a blind woman in the TV movie SILK HOPE.
— Is the governor to the Board of the Television Academy
— Is a vegetarian
Former Soap Roles
GENERAL HOSPITAL (Iris Fairchild, 1967-70)
THE YOUNG MARRIEDS (Susan Garrett, 1964-66)
LOVE OF LIFE (Vanessa ‘Van' Dale Raven Sterling (1951-1955)
TV Roles
JUDGING AMY (Phyllis Younger, 2000)
PROVIDENCE (Dorothy Chenoweth, 1999)
PROFILER (Melinda Gillespie,1997)
L.A. LAW (Patricia Holtz, 1993)
THE COMMISH (Mrs. O'Grady 1992)
THE TRIALS OF ROSIE O'NEILL (Irene Hayes, 1991)
HARDBALL (1990)
AMITYVILLE: THE EVIL ESCAPES (Helen Royce, 1989)
WINNIE (Mrs. McKenna, 1988)
CAGNEY & LACEY (Mrs. Carruthers, 1985; Mrs. Lonelyhearts, 1982)
HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN (Louise, 1985)
HARDCASTLE AND McCORMIC (Dr. Coley, 1985)
AIRWOLF (Mrs. Taggart, 1984)
NIGHT COURT (Louise Kerr, 1984)
NEWHART (Flo McKenna, 1983)
ST. ELSEWHERE (Claire Fields, 1983)
THE JEFFERSONS (Shriley Schneider, 1983)
THE POWERS OF MATTHEW STAR (Alice Wellman, 1983)
LOU GRANT (Marian Hume, 1978-82)
QUINCY M.E. (Irene Jordan, 1982; nun, 1978)
ARCHIE BUNKER'S PLACE (Margaret, 1979)
THE LAZARUS SYNDROME (Stacy, 1979)
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (Dr. Davis, 1978)
LOGAN'S RUN (Dr. Mildred Krim, 1977)
KOJAK (Mrs. Smith, 1977)
ABC AFTERSCHOOL SPECIAL (Mrs. Calder, 1977)
MOST WANTED (1976)
GIBBSVILLE ( Mrs. Malloy, 1976)
BARNABY JONES (Rose Ballinger, 1975; Mrs. Tatum, 1974; Mrs. Benedict, 1973)
MEDICAL STORY (1975)
S.W.A.T. (Laura Huston,1975)
THE WALTONS (Mrs. Thomas, 1974)
THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO (Nurse, 1974)
MARCUS WELBY, M.D. (1972 and1974)
THE F.B.I. (Margaret Collins, 1971; Helen Lowe, 1970; Marie Lennan, 1966)
THE ROOKIES (Mrs. Sloan, 1972)
LONGSTREET (Mrs. Ames, 1972)
GUNSMOKE..(Pene Lynott, 1971; Mrs. Cooter, 1970; Fiora Clell, 1958)
BONANZA (Pat Griswold, 1971)
THE INTERNS (1970)
PROFILES IN COURAGE (Margaret, 1964)
SLATTERY'S PEOPLE (Evelyn Breland, 1964)
BEN CASEY (Doris Farrow, 1964)
THE GREAT ADVENTURE (Mrs. Callaway, 1964)
THE FUGITIVE (Ann Guthrie, 1964)
THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR
THE VIRGINIAN (Helen Hammond Judson, 1963)
REDIGO (Jessie Graham, 1963)
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH (Anne, 1963)
PERRY MASON (Margaret Layton, 1963; Stephanie / ... (2 episodes, 1958-1963)
LARAMIE (Martha Halloran, 1963)
HAWAIIAN EYE (Helena Ogden, 1963; Lucy McDowell, 1962; Julia Tyler Brand, 1962; Dr. Grace Stanley, 1960)
THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW(Sharon DeSpain, 1963)
FBI CODE 98 (Deborah Cannon, 1963)
THE WIDE COUNTRY (Mildred Price, 1962)
SURFSIDE 6 (Nicole Crane, 1962; Ann Wayne, 1961)
ROOM FOR ONE MORE (Anna Rose, 1962)
77 SUNSET STRIP .... Fay Dakota, 1961; Eunice Rice, 1960)
LAWMAN (1961)
THE ROARING '20S (Libby Norton, 1961)
MAVERICK (Kiz, 1960; Polly Goodin, 1960; Melissa ‘Missy' Maybrook, 1959)
PLAY OF THE WEEK (1959)
THE DAVID NIVEN SHOW (Ann Thompson, 1959)
MATINEE THEATER (Jane Wilson (1956-58)
THE ADVENTURES OF JIM BOWIE (Malvina Creel; Nekeeta, 1957)
ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS (Myra Herbert, 1957)
THE COURT OF LAST RESORT .... (Darlene Fitzgerald, 1957)
ROBERT MONTGOMERY PRESENTS (1957)
ARMSTRONG CIRCLE THEATER (Mrs. Robertshaw (1956-57)
STUDIO ONE (Claire, 1957)
GOODYEAR TELEVISION PLAYHOUSE (Sue, 1956)
APPOINTMENT WITH ADVENTURE (1955)
THE UNITED STATES STEEL HOUR (Agatha, 1955)
OMNIBUS (Hilde, 1954)
HALLMARK HALL OF FAME (1952)
SOMERSET MAUGHAM TV THEATER (1951)
THE PHILCO TELEVISION PLAYHOUSE (1949)
TV Movie Roles
JAMES DEAN (Emma Dean, 2001)
SILK HOPE (1999)
ALIEN NATION: THE UDARA LEGACY (Avra, 1997)
WOMAN ON THE RUN: THE LAWRENCIA BEMBENEK STORY (Virginia Bembenek, 1993)
DEADLY CARE (Mrs. Halloran, 1987)
MEMORIAL DAY (Mrs. Gibbs, 1983)
WAIT TILL YOUR MOTHER GETS HOME (Cynthia Peters, 1983)
TWO OF A KIND (Nurse Harris, 1982)
MARK, I LOVE YOU (Margaret Hamilton, 1980)
FIGHTING BACK (Ellen Bleier, 1980)
MRS. R'S DAUGHTER (Mrs. Burroughs, 1979)
BUD AND LOU (1978)
LOOSE CHANGE (Mrs. Berenson, 1978)
HOW THE WEST WAS WON (Maggie Taylor, 1978)
GOOD AGAINST EVIL (Irene, 1977)
ELEANOR AND FRANKLIN: THE WHITE HOUSE YEARS (Grace Tully, 1977)
A DEATH OF INNOCENCE (Helen McCloud, 1971)
THE CITY (Mrs. Lockney, 1971)
Film Roles
The Irish Vampire Goes West (Aunt Margaret, 2007)
Daddy's Girl (Grandmother, 1996)
No Man's Land (Benjy's Mom, 1987)
Murphy's Romance (Mrs. Willis, 1985)
UFOria (Celia Martin, 1985)
Second Thoughts (Dr. Martha Carpenter, 1983)
Bustin' Loose (Gladys Schuyler, 1981)
Promises in the Dark (Miss Pritikin, 1979)
Lad: A Dog (Elizabeth Tremayne, 1962)
The Case Against Brooklyn (Jane Harris, 1958)
Uncle Vanya (Sofia, 1957)
From the Desk of Margaret Tyding (1956)
MEMORABLE MCCAY
"I just couldn't handle the stuff — and I was the last one to know it. All my friends knew. I was okay for seven, maybe eight years, and then it got worse and worse. I couldn't focus on anything. In a way, it destroyed a lot of my career. I was definitely going to die, but I didn't know how to stop." — On being a former alcoholic, Soap Opera Digest 6/12/98
"I'd love to say, 'Sorry kids, we can't baby-sit today. We're off to Paris.' But we never do. I think we must have high-rise bunk beds because at one point, we were watching five kids at once." — On her and Frank Parker's (ex-Shawn, DAYS) characters being used to watch the other characters' kids, Digest, 4/22/97
"I used to be so snooty — unrealistic. I was so used to working and had so many contracts at CBS, Warner Brothers and whatever that I was such a snob. I said, 'Actors who don't work, how can they call themselves actors?' And then my turn came [laughs]. It came after a series I did at Warner Brothers called ROOM FOR ONE MORE and then after that I just couldn't seem to get a job. It just absolutely amazed me." — Digest, 7/15/86
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
www.peggymccay.com
