Penny Edwards (actress)

Millicent Maxine Edwards (August 24, 1928 – August 26, 1998) was an American actress who performed on stage, in films, and on television.

Penny Edwards
Penny Edwards, 1945
Penny Edwards in 1945
Born
Millicent Maxine Edwards

(1928-08-24)August 24, 1928
Jackson Heights, Queens, New York City, U.S.
DiedAugust 26, 1998(1998-08-26) (aged 70)
Friendswood, Texas, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1947–1961
Spouse(s)
Ralph H. Winters
​
​
(m. 1951; div. 1958)​

Jerry Friedman
(m. 1964; div. 19??)[1][2]
Children3, including Deborah Winters

Early years

She was born Millicent Maxine Edwards in Jackson Heights, Queens,[3] New York.[4] After moving to Florida, she graduated from Miami Edison High School.[5]

Career

When she was 12 years old, Edwards danced in Let's Face It,[3] and at the age of 14, she appeared on Broadway as a dancer in Ziegfeld Follies of 1943. Her other Broadway credits include Laffing Room Only (1944) and The Duchess Misbehaves (1946).[6]

Edwards' film debut came in My Wild Irish Rose (1947).[3] She also appeared in the films Trail of Robin Hood, Spoilers of the Plains, Heart of the Rockies, In Old Amarillo, North of the Great Divide, Sunset in the West, Street Bandits, and Missing Women, among others.

In the late 1940s, Edwards toured the United States for 14 months, performing in vaudeville.[3]

Public response to Edwards' appearance with Roy Rogers in Sunset in the West (1950) led to her receiving a long-term contract with Republic Pictures.[3]

In the 1950s, Edwards appeared on television in Westerns and mystery programs.[2] Edwards appeared as Nan Gable in the 1958 episode, "Two-Gun Nan", on the syndicated television anthology series, Death Valley Days.

In 1954, Edwards announced her retirement from acting "to do the Lord's work in whatever way He wills."[7] She and her husband, Ralph Winters, planned to join the Seventh-day Adventist Church.[8] In 1956, though, she appeared as Molly Crowley in the TV Western series Cheyenne in the episode titled "Johnny Bravo" that was released as a feature film called The Travelers. She also appeared as Sally Jo Beale opposite George Montgomery playing the title role in "Wagon Train" S1 E17 "The Jesse Cowan Story" which aired in July 1957. She acted as a guest star on various American television series until 1961.

Personal life and death

Edwards was divorced from Ralph H. Winters and Jerry Friedman.[2] She had a son and two daughters, one of whom is actress Deborah Winters.[9] Edwards died of lung cancer on August 26, 1998, in Friendswood, Texas, at the age of 70.[2][3]

Partial filmography

References
  1. "Penny Edwards - Cowboy Heroine". www.b-westerns.com.
  2. Oliver, Myrna (September 2, 1998). "Penny Edwards; Actress Appeared in Numerous Movies, TV Shows". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. A 20. Retrieved June 11, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. Tom Vallance (September 4, 1998). "Obituary: Penny Edwards". The Independent. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  4. Willis, John; Monush, Barry (2000). Screen World 1999. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 331. ISBN 9781557834119. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  5. "Johnnie Johnston, Penny Edwards on Radio Show". The Miami News. Florida, Miami. November 11, 1949. p. 27. Retrieved June 11, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  6. "Penny Edwards". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on June 11, 2018. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  7. "Actress Is Quitting To Begin Religious Work, She Reports". Miami Daily News-Record. Oklahoma, Miami. Associated Press. April 2, 1954. p. 2. Retrieved June 11, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  8. "Actress quits films". The New York Times. Associated Press. April 3, 1954. p. 20. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  9. Bergan, Ronald (September 10, 1998). "Meanwhile, back at the ranch . . ". The Guardian. England, London. p. 20. Retrieved July 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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