Posted on: Tuesday, November 9, 2004
Dancer and 'Five-O' actress Peggy Ryan
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Peggy Ryan, who had a recurring role on CBS' "Hawaii Five-O" and teamed with dance partner Donald O'Connor in movie musicals, has died at age 80 in Las Vegas.
Ryan played Jenny Sherman, secretary to Jack Lord's Steve McGarrett, in the Honolulu police drama "Hawaii Five-O" from 1969 through 1976.
She also teamed with O'Connor in such movie musicals as "This Is the Life" and "When Johnny Comes Marching Home."
Ryan died Oct. 30 in Las Vegas' Sunrise Hospital, said hospital spokeswoman Cheryl Smith. The cause was complications from two strokes, friend Dottie Fusch said.
Ryan, who had taught tap dancing and produced revues in Las Vegas for the last several years, was teaching and performing until several days before entering the hospital, Fusch said.
Ryan danced and acted in more than two dozen films, but her most memorable roles were with O'Connor. The duo was known for high-energy, complex routines in films such as 1943's "Mister Big" and 1944's "Chip Off the Old Block," "The Merry Monahans" and "Bowery to Broadway."
Her final movie was "All Ashore" with Mickey Rooney in 1953.
Her career covered both sides of the stage lights — as a dance school instructor, a frequent performer, and a choreographer for musicals at Honolulu Community Theatre (which now is Diamond Head Theatre).
One of her innovations was the sand dance number in a 1975 Honolulu Community Theatre production of Meredith Willson's "Music Man," which featured John Rampage, current artistic director of the theater group, and attracted the composer of the musical to a performance.
Ryan was the ex-wife of Midweek and former Advertiser columnist Eddie Sherman.
She was born Margaret O'Rene Ryan on Aug. 28, 1924, in Long Beach, Calif. By age 3, she was dancing professionally in her parents' vaudeville act.
Ryan's TV appearances included the 1948 premieres of two variety shows, Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Town" and Milton Berle's "Texaco Star Theater."
Ryan is survived by her daughter, Kerry English, son, Sean Sherman, and five grandchildren.
Advertiser staff writer Wayne Harada and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
