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Penny Edwards

Real name: Millicent Maxine Edwards

1928 - 1998


Another of the post World War II heroines, Penny Edwards made about two dozen films, initially working at Warners and Universal in the 1940s.

She was under a term players contract at Republic Pictures from May, 1950 through October, 1951 - this simply meant that for security and a regular paycheck, Republic could utilize her as much as they wanted. At Republic, she did mostly westerns - six with Roy Rogers and one each with Rex Allen and Allan Lane.

Where did the nickname "Penny" come from? She was christened Millicent. Since her name ended in "cent", she got the nickname "Penny".

Several folks have asked if Penny Edwards was the mother of actress Debra Winger, and the answer is "no".  In 1951, Penny married Ralph Winters, a studio casting exec. They had two daughters, Rebecca and Deborah. Deborah Winters (not Winger) went on to do some movies and TV work. Penny and Ralph Winters divorced in 1958.

During the 1950s-early 1960s, Penny appeared in TV shows as well as television commercials. In December, 1964, she married Jerry Freidman and they had a son David. However, that marriage did not last.

In later years, she guested at several western film festivals. Penny passed away from lung cancer on August 26, 1998.

  Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on:
Penny Edwards: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0250271/
Penny's daughter Deborah Winters: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0935922/


The Los Angeles Times newspaper website has the obituary on Penny: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-sep-02-mn-18851-story.html

There's a Sunset Carson interview with Peggy on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0bEy_QtoJg

There's 1943-1946 credits for Penny at the Internet Broadway Database: https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/penny-edwards-71033

There's some large photos of Penny at a genealogy website managed by Don Bova. Penny was Bova's wifes Aunt. Go to: http://sites.rootsweb.com/~aliatotex/appendix12.html


(Courtesy of Ed Phillips)




(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above - Penny Edwards at one of the film conventions during the 1970s.




(Courtesy of Ron Bates)

Above and below are images of Republic heroine Penny Edwards at the 1997 Lone Pine Film Festival saluting Republic Pictures. Thanks to Ron Bates for these photos. Ron recalls that he and Penny had a pleasant conversation and she autographed a photo of her signing, "Ron, I'll be your leading lady anytime" after Ron told her she was his favorite Roy Rogers costar.


(Courtesy of Ron Bates)



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