Peggy Allenby

Peggy Allenby, born Eleanor Byrne Fox on February 1, 1896, in New York City, was an American actress whose career spanned stage, film, television, and radio. She attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart and began her theatrical work in Nashville before establishing herself as a Broadway performer. Allenby appeared on Broadway from 1917 to 1949, with credits including Two Strangers From Nowhere, The Little Spitfire, The Sap, Schemers, Find Daddy, and The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden. In 1949, she stepped into the role of Willy Loman's wife in Death of a Salesman, replacing Mildred Dunnock in that production.

Allenby maintained an active presence in radio from 1930 to 1950, lending her voice to broadcasts including Second Husband, Young Doctor Malone, David Harum, and Road of Life. She portrayed Mrs. Brown, the mother of the title character, on the comedy serial Claudia, which was based on a character created by author Rose Franken, and she played the mother in The Nichols Family. She also held the title role in Phyl Coe Radio Mysteries.

Her television work included appearances on Cosmopolitan Theater, The Philco Television Playhouse, First Love, Studio One, and The United States Steel Hour. She became particularly associated with the CBS soap opera Edge of Night, where she portrayed Mattie Lane Grimsley from 1956 until her death in 1966.

In her personal life, Allenby was married to actors John McGovern and Robert Armstrong. Her marriage to McGovern produced two children, John Jr. and Eleanor. She died on March 23, 1966, at Park West Hospital following a short illness, at the age of 70.