PEGGY-JEAN MONTGOMERY, 101 YEARS OLD

It’s a common occurrence for actors to start their careers early. One such name worth noting would be Peggy-Jean Montgomery. Before she even knew about things like student loans, Peggy was discovered by a director when she was around just a year old. Perhaps her parents’ connections to the entertainment industry played a part in this.

Born October 29, 1918, and going by the stage name “Baby Peggy,” Peggy appeared in around 150 short comedy films between 1921 and 1924. It didn’t take long before she became one of the most sought-after child stars of Hollywood’s silent film era. After a couple more years, Peggy thought it was finally high time to say goodbye to Hollywood and its bright lights. Following her work as a bookstore clerk and gift shop manager, the former actress spent the rest of her later years as a writer and silent film historian. She also released her first novel, The Drowning of the Moon, when she was already 99.