E.J. Peaker obit

E.J. Peaker, Actress and Singer in ‘Hello, Dolly!’ and ‘That’s Life,’ Dies at 82

She starred alongside Robert Morse on the latter, a Broadway-style musical comedy program at ABC that impressed critics but lasted just one season. 

She was not on the list.

E.J. Peaker, who portrayed the chatty hat shop assistant, Minnie Fay, in Barbra Streisand’s Hello, Dolly! and starred with Robert Morse on the innovative but short-lived ABC musical comedy show That’s Life, has died. She was 82.

Peaker died May 16 of Alzheimer’s disease at her home in Las Vegas, her husband, pilot and musician Scott Rosen, told The Hollywood Reporter.

August 1968 was quite the whirlwind month for the blond, blue-eyed Peaker, who was finishing up on 20th Century Fox’s adaptation of Hello, Dolly! (1969) — her big-screen debut — while starting work on That’s Life, a Broadway-like hourlong show created by former Honeymooners writer-producer Marvin Marx.

That’s Life was usually taped before a live audience of about 1,600 people on Fridays inside the George Abbott Theater in Manhattan, but to accommodate Peaker’s busy schedule, the first three episodes were done in Hollywood on weekends until the actress wrapped up Hello, Dolly! on the Fox lot in L.A.

A big swing for ABC, That’s Life depicted the meeting, courtship, marriage and parenthood of Morse’s Robert Dickson, a junior executive at a chalk company, and Peaker’s Gloria Quigley, a salesgirl.

The critically admired show broke the fourth wall and featured, songs, dances, comedy sketches and lots of big-name guest stars but was not renewed after one 26-episode season.

The second of eight children, Edra Jeanne Peaker was born on Feb. 22, 1944, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her father, Donald, who owned oil wells and gold mines, and her mother, Augusta, a homemaker, brought the family to Pueblo, Colorado, and she appeared on a telethon when she was 5.

Pueblo “used to be a major steel producing city,” she told The New York Times in 1968. “They would tell us in high school what an important place it was because it would be the second city to be bombed when the country was attacked. That was when I started thinking about leaving.”

After graduating from Centennial High School, she attended the University of New Mexico and, on a scholarship, the University of Vienna, each for a year.

Back in the States, she landed a role in the road company of Bye Bye Birdie and then understudied for Elizabeth Ashley in the original production of Barefoot in the Park, which opened in 1963.

Peaker made her onscreen debut on a 1964 episode of Route 66 and signed a contract with Screen Gems, which put her to work on Occasional Wife, That Girl, The Flying Nun and The Second Hundred Years before her career caught fire in 1968.

She was chosen from more than 200 contenders to play the naïve Minnie, assistant to Marianne McAndrew’s Irene Molloy. (Sondra Lee had originated the role of Minnie on Broadway opposite Carol Channing as Dolly and Eileen Brennan as Irene.)

For Jackie Gleason’s variety show, Marx worked on musical episodes of The Honeymooners that had the Kramdens and the Nortons on a tour of Europe after winning a contest, and he thought a similar musical treatment would work for That’s Life. (Fun fact: The Abbott theater also was where the “classic 39” episodes of The Honeymooners were filmed.)

Morse was riding high after starring in the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway and the big screen, and he and Peaker — who reportedly beat out 150 other actresses for the job — appeared laughing on a cover of TV Guide in December 1968.

Kay Medford and Shelley Berman played Peaker’s onscreen parents, and guest stars included George Burns, Ethel Merman, Liza Minnelli, Rodney Dangerfield, Paul Lynde, Tony Randall, Alan King and Goldie Hawn.

After the demise of That’s Life, Peaker appeared on seven episodes of Love, American Style from 1969-73; performed “Walking Happy” and “It Must Be Him” on a 1970 Disneyland special for NBC that also featured the Osmond Brothers and Kurt Russell; and played a small-torn girl fighting with Anne Archer’s character for the attention of Jon Voight’s wayward boxer in The All-American Boy (1973).

Her TV résumé included installments of Good Morning World, The Odd Couple, Night Gallery, Banyon, Police Woman, Get Christie Love!, The Rockford Files, Barnaby Jones, The Streets of San Francisco, Quincy, M.E., Wonder Woman, Charlie’s Angels, The Greatest American Hero, Madame’s Place and Hunter.

She also appeared 17 times on The Tonight Show and on lots of game shows.

In one of her lasting acting gigs, she portrayed Natalie Schafer (Mrs. “Lovey” Howell) on the 2001 telefilm Surviving Gilligan’s Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three-Hour Tour in History.

In 1986, the Los Angeles Times wrote about her efforts to aid the homeless in Encino, and she, with the help of publicist David Mirisch, helped raise millions of dollars for charity over the years, her husband noted.

In addition to Rosen, whom she married about eight years ago, survivors include her son, David, and her siblings, Howard, Donna, Hannah and Donald. A memorial is set for Aug. 22 in Pueblo.

She also was married to screenwriter Bob Zampino from 1965 until their 1977 divorce and to accountant Steven Lee Salko from 1977 until his death in 2010.

 

Actress

Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History (2001)

Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History

7.4

TV Movie

Natalie Schafer

2001

 

Lauren Holly, Burt Reynolds, and Benjamin Bratt in The Last Producer (2000)

The Last Producer

4.7

Rosie

2000

 

Dreamrider (1993)

Dreamrider

5.6

Mrs. Jennings

1993

 

Joe Alaskey, Maureen Flannigan, Doug McClure, and Donna Pescow in Out of This World (1987)

Out of This World

7.3

TV Series

Carla

1991

1 episode

 

Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer in Hunter (1984)

Hunter

6.9

TV Series

Claire Prossi

1990

1 episode

 

The Banker (1989)

The Banker

4.9

Renee

1989

 

Private Road: No Trespassing (1988)

Private Road: No Trespassing

6.0

Video

Virginia Milshaw

1988

 

Michael Paré and Michael Beck in Houston Knights (1987)

Houston Knights

7.3

TV Series

Lee Benson

1988

1 episode

 

CBS Schoolbreak Special (1984)

CBS Schoolbreak Special

6.9

TV Series

Barbara Kopchek

1987

1 episode

 

Fire in the Night (1985)

Fire in the Night

4.9

Mary Swanson

1985

 

Wayland Flowers in Madame's Place (1982)

Madame's Place

6.7

TV Series

Carla St. James

1982

1 episode

 

Graduation Day (1981)

Graduation Day

4.8

Blondie

1981

 

The Greatest American Hero (1981)

The Greatest American Hero

7.3

TV Series

Reseda Rose Blake

1981

1 episode

 

Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, and Jaclyn Smith in Charlie's Angels (1976)

Charlie's Angels

6.6

TV Series

Donna Dawson

1978

1 episode

 

Wonder Woman (1975)

Wonder Woman

7.0

TV Series

Lois

1978

1 episode

 

The Krofft Supershow (1976)

The Krofft Supershow

7.2

TV Series

Dr. Stewart (segment "Bigfoot and Wildboy")

1977

2 episodes

 

Ray Young and Joseph Butcher in The Krofft Supershow (1976)

Bigfoot and Wildboy

6.5

TV Series

Dr. Stewart

1977

1 episode

 

Jack Klugman in Quincy, M.E. (1976)

Quincy, M.E.

7.3

TV Series

Michelle Rowan

1977

1 episode

 

Lee Majors in The Six Million Dollar Man (1973)

The Six Million Dollar Man

7.1

TV Series

Danny's Sister

1977

1 episode

 

The Streets of San Francisco (1972)

The Streets of San Francisco

7.3

TV Series

Beth HerrickMinor Role

1972–1976

2 episodes

 

Jo Ann Harris, Shelly Novack, and Robert Stack in Most Wanted (1976)

Most Wanted

6.8

TV Series

Meg Warren

1976

1 episode

 

Claude Akins, Frank Converse, and Merle Haggard in Movin' On (1974)

Movin' On

7.3

TV Series

Mary Ellen

1976

1 episode

 

Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones (1973)

Barnaby Jones

7.0

TV Series

Sheila Wild

1976

1 episode

 

The Four Deuces (1975)

The Four Deuces

4.2

Lori Rogers - the Songbird

1975

 

Noah Beery Jr. and James Garner in The Rockford Files (1974)

The Rockford Files

8.2

TV Series

Jeannie Szymczyk

1975

1 episode

 

Teresa Graves in Get Christie Love! (1974)

Get Christie Love!

6.5

TV Series

Connie Sawyer

1975

1 episode

 

Angie Dickinson in Police Woman (1974)

Police Woman

6.6

TV Series

Kathy Brooks

1974

1 episode

 

Arch Whiting in Run, Joe, Run (1974)

Run, Joe, Run

7.4

TV Series

Mrs. Barnes

1974

1 episode

 

Stuart Margolin and Julie Newmar in Love, American Style (1969)

Love, American Style

6.8

TV Series

CarolVeraChristie ...

1969–1973

7 episodes

 

Jon Voight in The All-American Boy (1973)

The All-American Boy

5.2

Janelle Sharkey

1973

 

Banyon (1971)

Banyon

7.7

TV Series

Jan Shelton

1972

1 episode

 

Getting Away from It All (1972)

Getting Away from It All

5.8

TV Movie

Alice Selby

1972

 

Glenn Ford, Edgar Buchanan, Victor Campos, Sandra Ego, Peter Ford, and Taylor Lacher in Cade's County (1971)

Cade's County

7.1

TV Series

Gerri Randell

1971

1 episode

 

Rod Serling in Night Gallery (1969)

Night Gallery

7.9

TV Series

Nurse (segment "A Matter of Semantics")

1971

1 episode

 

Jack Klugman and Tony Randall in The Odd Couple (1970)

The Odd Couple

7.9

TV Series

Julie

1971

1 episode

 

Walter Matthau and Barbra Streisand in Hello, Dolly! (1969)

Hello, Dolly!

7.1

Minnie Fay

1969

 

Larry Hagman, E.J. Peaker, and Jessica Walter in Three's a Crowd (1969)

Three's a Crowd

6.9

TV Movie

Ann Carson

1969

 

Robert Morse and E.J. Peaker in That's Life (1968)

That's Life

8.1

TV Series

Gloria Quigley DicksonGloria Quigley

1968–1969

26 episodes

 

Goldie Hawn, Joby Baker, Billy De Wolfe, Julie Parrish, and Ronnie Schell in Good Morning World (1967)

Good Morning World

6.7

TV Series

Genevieve

1968

1 episode

 

The Second Hundred Years (1967)

The Second Hundred Years

7.6

TV Series

Annie

1967

1 episode

 

Sally Field in The Flying Nun (1967)

The Flying Nun

6.5

TV Series

Diane

1967

1 episode

 

That Girl (1966)

That Girl

7.3

TV Series

Sheila Harmon

1966

1 episode

 

Occasional Wife (1966)

Occasional Wife

7.3

TV Series

Ginger Snap

1966

1 episode

 

George Maharis and Martin Milner in Route 66 (1960)

Route 66

7.7

TV Series

Olivia Devereaux

1964

1 episode

 

Producer

Broken Promises: Taking Emily Back (1993)

Broken Promises: Taking Emily Back

6.3

TV Movie

associate producer

1993

 

Soundtrack

Walter Matthau and Barbra Streisand in Hello, Dolly! (1969)

Hello, Dolly!

7.1

performer: "Dancing" (1964), "Elegance" (1964), "Finale" (Medley) (1964) (uncredited)

1969

 

Robert Morse and E.J. Peaker in That's Life (1968)

That's Life

8.1

TV Series

performer: "Dear World"

1968

1 episode

 

Self

Mike Douglas in The Mike Douglas Show (1961)

The Mike Douglas Show

7.0

TV Series

Self - Actress

1968–1971

3 episodes

 

The Game Game

7.0

TV Series

Self

1969–1970

2 episodes

 

He Said, She Said

5.8

TV Series

Self

1970

1 episode

 

Johnny Carson in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

8.5

TV Series

Self - Guest

1968–1970

4 episodes

 

Walt Disney in The Magical World of Disney (1954)

The Magical World of Disney

8.3

TV Series

Self

1970

1 episode

 

Regis Philbin and Bob Crane in Philbin's People (1969)

Philbin's People

4.4

TV Series

Self

1970

1 episode

 

Della (1969)

Della

8.9

TV Series

Self

1970

1 episode

 

Larry Blyden, Peggy Cass, Bill Cullen, and Bill Leyden in You're Putting Me On (1969)

You're Putting Me On

TV Series

Self - Panelist

1969

35 episodes

 

Personality (1967)

Personality

5.8

TV Series

Self

1969

1 episode

 

Gene Rayburn in The Match Game (1962)

The Match Game

7.5

TV Series

Self - Team Captain

1969

5 episodes

 

Allen Ludden's Gallery (1969)

Allen Ludden's Gallery

4.7

TV Series

Self

1969

1 episode

 

You Don't Say (1963)

You Don't Say

6.8

TV Series

Self

1969

5 episodes

 

The Joey Bishop Show (1967)

The Joey Bishop Show

7.1

TV Series

Self

1969

1 episode

 

The Hollywood Stars of Tomorrow Awards

TV Special

Self

1967

 

Archive Footage

Bruce Lee in Hollywood Screen Tests: Take 2 (2001)

Hollywood Screen Tests: Take 2

7.4

TV Special

Self (archive footage, uncredited)

2001

 

Sally Field in The Flying Nun (1967)

The Flying Nun

6.5

TV Series

Diane (archive footage, uncredited)

1968–1969

2 episodes