Peggy Lipton
Born: 1946-08-30 in New York City, New York, USA
Died: 2019-05-11
Known For: Acting
Biography
Peggy Lipton (born Margaret Ann Lipton; August 30, 1946 – May 11, 2019) was an American actress and model who rose to fame in the late 1960s. She is best known for two major television roles: Julie Barnes on The Mod Squad (1968-1973) and Norma Jennings on Twin Peaks (1990-1991, 2017). She began modeling at age 15 and signed with Ford Agency. Her early struggles with stuttering led her to become introverted, though she found that acting helped her overcome this challenge. Her breakthrough came with The Mod Squad, where she played Julie Barnes, one of three hippie undercover cops. The show was groundbreaking for its time, addressing contemporary social issues and featuring an interracial cast. Her performance earned her four Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe Award. In 1974, she married music producer Quincy Jones, making them one of the most prominent interracial couples in the entertainment industry at that time. They had two daughters: Kidada Jones (born 1974) and Rashida Jones (born 1976). After marrying Jones, Lipton largely stepped away from acting to focus on her family. They divorced in 1989. She returned to acting, performing in many TV roles, including Norma Jennings in David Lynch's Twin Peaks. She passed away in 2019 at age 72 from colon cancer. Her memoir "Breathing Out" (2005) detailed her life experiences, including her battles with anxiety and her journey in the entertainment industry. She is remembered as a cultural icon of the 1960s and early 1970s, particularly for her role in The Mod Squad, which helped break down racial barriers on television.
Filmography
2025
- Quincy Jones, Music Man as Self (archive footage)
2018
- Quincy as Self
2017
- A Dog's Purpose as Adult Hannah
- There's... Johnny! as Evelyn Greenfield
2016
- Angie Tribeca as Peggy Tribeca
2014
- Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces as Norma Jennings
2012
- House of Lies as Phoebe Van Der Hooven
2010
- When in Rome as Priscilla (Beth's Mom)
2008
- Crash as Susie
2007
- Rules of Engagement as Fay
2006
- Psych as Scarlett Jones
2005
2003
2001
- Alias as Olivia Reed
- Jackpot as Janice
- Reflections on the Phenomenon of Twin Peaks as Self
- Postcards From The Cast as Self
- An Introduction to David Lynch as Self
- Quincy Jones: In the Pocket as Self
2000
- Skipped Parts as Laurabel Pierce
- Intern as Roxanne Rochet
- The '70s as Gloria Steinem
1999
- Popular as Kelly Foster
1997
- The Postman as Ellen March
1996
- Justice for Annie as Carol Mills
1994
- Deadly Vows as Nancy Weston
1993
- Angel Falls as Hadley Larson
1992
- Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me as Norma Jennings
1991
- True Identity as Rita
1990
- Twin Peaks as Norma Jennings
- Wings as Miss Laurie Jenkins
- Fatal Charm as Jane Sims
1989
- Twin Peaks as Norma Jennings
- Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects as Kathleen Crowe
1988
- I'm Gonna Git You Sucka as Minor Role (uncredited)
- Purple People Eater as Mom
- War Party as TV Correspondent
- Addicted to His Love as Assistant DA
1984
- I Love Quincy as Self
1983
- The Hitchhiker as Helen
1979
- The Return of Mod Squad as Julie Barnes
1968
- The Mod Squad as Julie Barnes
- Blue as Laurie Kramer
1967
- The Invaders as Bride
- Mosby's Marauders as Oralee Prentiss
1965
- The F.B.I. as Girl in Museum
- The John Forsythe Show
1964
- Bewitched as Secretary
- The Hollywood Palace as Self - Singer
1963
1962
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- The Virginian as Dulcie Colby
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour as Mary Winters
1954
- The Wonderful World of Disney as Oralee Prentiss