Remembering Peggy Webber: A Century of Voice in Radio and Film

Peggy Webber, a celebrated radio actress whose extensive career spanned numerous iconic roles, passed away at the age of 100 in Napa, California. Her son, Rob Sinskey, confirmed that she died of natural causes on Saturday at an independent living facility, where she had relocated after evacuating her home during the 2025 wildfires.

Webber's illustrious career included an impressive array of performances across thousands of radio episodes. She is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Ma Friday, the mother of Jack Webb's iconic character Joe Friday, in the original Dragnet series. Her collaborations extended to legendary figures such as Orson Welles, for whom she played Lady Macduff in his 1948 adaptation of Macbeth, and Alfred Hitchcock, who cast her in The Wrong Man (1956) as an insurance clerk whose mistaken identity claim sets the plot in motion.

Born Margaret Webber on September 15, 1925, in Laredo, Texas, she began her showbiz journey at a young age, performing during silent movie intermissions. By age 11, she was working on radio in San Antonio, eventually moving to Hollywood after her father's death. Her big break came when she audibly impressed CBS executives with her impersonations during an audition, leading to a prolific career.

Throughout her career, Webber lent her voice to numerous radio dramas, including The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Story of Dr. Kildare, and Escape. She described her hectic schedule, often managing multiple soap operas at once, stating, "I’d be running from one studio to the other, never eating. It was a very wearing thing." Her dedication and versatility allowed her to take on over 150 different characters across more than 2,500 broadcasts, as noted in a 1946 Time magazine article.

Webber also made her mark on television, guest-starring in episodes of the revived Dragnet series in the 1960s and appearing in various shows such as Gunsmoke, The Waltons, and I Spy. Notably, she co-owned The New Hope Inn in Santa Monica with Ted Cassidy, known for his role in The Addams Family, and later founded the California Artists Radio Theatre in 1984, which revived classic radio dramas.

In her later years, Webber reflected on her long-standing commitment to radio work, stating in a 2015 interview, "I’ve had a certain kind of dedication since I was young… It’s a responsibility." She is survived by her son, daughters Patricia and Teresa, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Webber's legacy as a pioneering voice in radio drama and film will undoubtedly endure in the hearts of many.

Source: www.hollywoodreporter.com