Maggie Peterson Biography – Maggie Peterson Wiki
Maggie Peterson born Margaret Ann Peterson was an American actress and singer. She was best known for playing Charlene Darling on The Andy Griffith Show. She also portrayed the character of Doris in the episode “A Girl for Goober” (1968). Aside from The Andy Griffith Show, she also appeared on other TV shows such as Love American Style, Green Acres, Gomer Pyle USMC, and The Odd Couple. She appeared in an episode of Mayberry R.F.D. as Edna, a cafe waitress; in the 1986 film Return to Mayberry; as the innocent Rose Ellen in the 1969 film The Love God?, starring next to Don Knotts; and in the 1968 film Angel in My Pocket. Peterson landed a role as Susie, the coffee shop waitress on The Bill Dana Show, another spin-off from The Danny Thomas Show, which aired from September 1963 to January 1965.
In 1954 at a Capitol Records convention, Dick Linke (manager of Andy Griffith and Jim Nabors) heard her singing and was so impressed with her, that he encouraged her to come to New York. So in 1958 after graduating high school Peterson and the group did just that. They landed a number of stints on the Perry Como Show and the Pat Boone Show, and in 1959 they released their album “It’s the Happiest Sound.” Soon after, the band broke up and went back home.
A short time later, Peterson joined another group, The Ernie Mariani Trio (later renamed Margaret Ann and the Ernie Mariani Trio). The group traveled for several years and had stints in resort areas such as Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, and Reno, where Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack were often seen in the audience while Peterson performed. It was while she was on tour that she was discovered by The Andy Griffith Show director Bob Sweeny and producer Aaron Ruben.
For The Andy Griffith Show, Peterson initially read for the role of Ellie Walker, a love interest for Sheriff Andy Taylor, but the role went to Elinor Donahue. Soon after, she was selected to play the role of Charlene Darling. The only daughter of Briscoe Darling, she had a crush on Sheriff Taylor (“Pa, can’t I even just look at the pretty man?”). Peterson would later return to The Andy Griffith Show in its final season, in “A Girl For Goober,” as Doris was the dating interest of Ken Berry’s character.
The Darlings, including Briscoe’s four boys (played by The Dillards bluegrass band), lived in the mountains and came to town on many occasions. When in town, they enjoyed playing music with Andy. One of Charlene’s favorite songs is “Salty Dog.” The ones that made her cry were “Slimy River Bottom,” “Boil that Cabbage Down”, and “Keep Your Money in Your Shoes and it Won’t Get Wet.” Ernest T. Bass had his eyes on Charlene and believed he had courting rights because her marriage to Dud Wash had been performed by Sheriff Andy Taylor acting as a justice of the peace, not by a preacher. He tried to steal her away on the day they were to be remarried by a preacher. Threatening the gathering with a high-powered rifle, he runs off with the fully veiled “bride.” While Charlene and Dud are hurriedly married by the preacher, Ernest T. discovers the person in the veil is really Barney Fife. Charlene and Dud had a daughter together, Andilina. They tried to betroth Andilina to Opie as it was customary in their family. Briscoe called off the engagement of Opie and Andilina when he discovered there was witchery in the Taylor family.
According to Jim Clark of The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club, the three songs on which Charlene performed on the show can be found on the album Songs That Make Me Cry. In April 2008 The Darlings received a star on the Missouri Walk of Fame in Marshfield, Missouri. Peterson and Darlings/Dillards band members Dean Webb and Mitch Jayne were on hand representing The Darlings. In May 2016 and also May 2019, Peterson appeared as a guest of honor at the Mayberry In The Midwest Festival in Danville, Indiana.
Maggie Peterson Age
She was born on January 10, 1941, in Greeley, Colorado, United States, and died on May 15, 2022. She was 81 years.
Maggie Peterson Husband
In 1968, while she was singing as an opening act for Andy Griffith at a casino in Lake Tahoe, Peterson met jazz musician Gus Mancuso who was playing bass in a lounge act. The two married and were together until his death. The couple spent a number of years in Los Angeles, where she worked doing commercials until they decided to settle in Las Vegas where Peterson worked as a location scout for film and television.
Maggie Peterson Children
There is no information on whether she had any children of her own.
Maggie Peterson Family
She was the youngest of four children, Peterson was born to Arthur and Tressa Hill Peterson. Her father was a doctor and her mother a homemaker. She grew up in a musical family. While growing up in Colorado, she has said her earliest memories were of music. Peterson, her brother Jim and two of Jim’s friends formed a small group called the Ja-Da Quartet. They would ride around in the back of a pickup truck singing to people.
Maggie Peterson Death
She died on May 15, 2022, at the age of 81. Her Facebook and GoFundMe pages confirmed in a statement written by her niece Amy Royer and nephew Ben Eaton that “she passed peacefully in her sleep with her family present” Sunday afternoon.
“Maggie’s health took a turn for the worse after the death of her husband Gus [Mancuso, revered Las Vegas musician] and we are relieved that we were able to move her home to be close to family for her last days,” the statement continued. “We will be planning a private service for Maggie in the next few weeks.”
In the final update written on the crowdfunding page that announced her death, Peterson’s family wrote, “Maggie wanted this community to know how much you meant to her over the past three years. Despite being in Las Vegas and away from her family, your love and devotion helped her to not feel alone. She made many mentions to us about how she couldn’t believe how generous you all were. You truly made a positive impact on her life and helped her during some very difficult times.”
Maggie Peterson Cause of Death
She died in her sleep, surrounded by family and friends, on May 15, 2022, aged 81. She had been in declining health following the death of her husband Gus in 2021.
