Actress, Folk Figure. A performer on both stage and film, she is probably best remembered for her knack of marrying (and divorcing) rich men. Born Marguerite Upton, she was raised under poor circumstances in Southside Virginia, and moved to New York at 16 to join the Ziegfeld Follies. Divorced twice by age 20, her stage name evolved gradually, "Hopkins" and "Joyce" being the second and third of her six husbands. Peggy made her silver screen bow with the 1916 "The Turmoil", and was only to appear in a few Hollywood movies, the best known being "The Skyrocket" (1926), and her only talkie, "International House" (1933). Regular fodder for the gossip columnists, she never refused an interview request, usually meeting reporters while scantily attired; in 1923, she caused a scandal by dancing nude in "Earl Carroll's Vanities". Peggy had a talent for getting and spending money (she once owned the Portugese Diamond, which is now in the Smithsonian); at the height of her notoriety, she was found in song lyrics (Rodgers and Hart's "I've Got Five Dollars", Cole Porter's "Why Shouldn't I" and "Couldn't Compare to You"), but as she became obese, alcoholic, and debt-ridden in her 40s, she was a common butt of nightclub jokes. Withdrawing from public view, she entered her final marriage at 60, and died of throat cancer. Peggy is said to be the inspiration for 'Lorelei Lee' in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"; she published an autobiography in which it is difficult to tell fact from fiction, her story being told much more reliably in Constance Rosenblum's 2000 "Gold Digger: The Outrageous Life of Peggy Hopkins Joyce". Of her philosophy, she said simply: "Better to be mercenary than miserable".
Actress, Folk Figure. A performer on both stage and film, she is probably best remembered for her knack of marrying (and divorcing) rich men. Born Marguerite Upton, she was raised under poor circumstances in Southside Virginia, and moved to New York at 16 to join the Ziegfeld Follies. Divorced twice by age 20, her stage name evolved gradually, "Hopkins" and "Joyce" being the second and third of her six husbands. Peggy made her silver screen bow with the 1916 "The Turmoil", and was only to appear in a few Hollywood movies, the best known being "The Skyrocket" (1926), and her only talkie, "International House" (1933). Regular fodder for the gossip columnists, she never refused an interview request, usually meeting reporters while scantily attired; in 1923, she caused a scandal by dancing nude in "Earl Carroll's Vanities". Peggy had a talent for getting and spending money (she once owned the Portugese Diamond, which is now in the Smithsonian); at the height of her notoriety, she was found in song lyrics (Rodgers and Hart's "I've Got Five Dollars", Cole Porter's "Why Shouldn't I" and "Couldn't Compare to You"), but as she became obese, alcoholic, and debt-ridden in her 40s, she was a common butt of nightclub jokes. Withdrawing from public view, she entered her final marriage at 60, and died of throat cancer. Peggy is said to be the inspiration for 'Lorelei Lee' in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"; she published an autobiography in which it is difficult to tell fact from fiction, her story being told much more reliably in Constance Rosenblum's 2000 "Gold Digger: The Outrageous Life of Peggy Hopkins Joyce". Of her philosophy, she said simply: "Better to be mercenary than miserable".
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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