BP
Baby Peggy
Actor, Writer, Additional Credits
Born October 29, 1918Died February 24, 2020 (101 years)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Diana Serra Cary (born Peggy-Jean Montgomery, October 29, 1918 – February 24, 2020), known as Baby Peggy, was an American child film actress, vaudevillian, author and silent film historian. At the time of her death, she was the last living film star of the Silent Era of Hollywood.
Montgomery, as she then was, was one of the three major American child stars of the Hollywood silent film era along with Jackie Coogan and Baby Marie. Between 1921 and 1923 she made over 150 short films for the Century Film Corporation. In 1922 she received over 1.2 million fan letters, and by 1924 she had been dubbed The Million Dollar Baby for her $1.5 million annual salary ($22 million in 2018). Despite her childhood fame and wealth, she found herself poor and working as an extra by the 1930s.
Having an interest in both writing and history since her youth, Montgomery found a second career as an author and silent film historian in her later years under the name Diana Serra Cary. She was the author of several books including her historical novel, The Drowning of the Moon, and was an advocate for child actors' rights.
Cary died at her home in Gustine, California at the age of 101.
Diana Serra Cary (born Peggy-Jean Montgomery, October 29, 1918 – February 24, 2020), known as Baby Peggy, was an American child film actress, vaudevillian, author and silent film historian. At the time of her death, she was the last living film star of the Silent Era of Hollywood.
Montgomery, as she then was, was one of the three major American child stars of the Hollywood silent film era along with Jackie Coogan and Baby Marie. Between 1921 and 1923 she made over 150 short films for the Century Film Corporation. In 1922 she received over 1.2 million fan letters, and by 1924 she had been dubbed The Million Dollar Baby for her $1.5 million annual salary ($22 million in 2018). Despite her childhood fame and wealth, she found herself poor and working as an extra by the 1930s.
Having an interest in both writing and history since her youth, Montgomery found a second career as an author and silent film historian in her later years under the name Diana Serra Cary. She was the author of several books including her historical novel, The Drowning of the Moon, and was an advocate for child actors' rights.
Cary died at her home in Gustine, California at the age of 101.
Known For
Filmography
2020 | Showbiz Kids · as Self (as Diana Serra Cary) |
2012 | Clara Bow: Hollywood's Lost Screen Goddess · as Herself |
2012 | Baby Peggy, the Elephant in the Room · as Herself |
2011 | Fragments: Surviving Pieces of Lost Films · as Herself |
2007 | Girl 27 · as Self |
2004 | Cecil B. DeMille: American Epic · as Self - Interviewee |
2000 | Child Stars: Their Story · as Self |
1999 | Clara Bow: Discovering the It Girl · as Self - Clara's Co-Star In 'helen's Babies' |
1998 | E! Mysteries & Scandals (TV Series) · as Self |
1987 | Biography (TV Series) · as Self |
1982 | Hollywood's Children · as Self |
1973 | Tomorrow with Tom Snyder (TV Series) · as Self |