Diana Serra Cary, famously known as Baby Peggy, was born Peggy-Jean Montgomery on October 29, 1918, and passed away on February 24, 2020. She was an iconic American child actress, vaudevillian, author, and a dedicated historian of silent films. At the time of her death, she was one of the last surviving stars from Hollywood's Silent Era.
Baby Peggy emerged as a prominent figure in the early 1920s, becoming one of the three leading child actors alongside Jackie Coogan and Baby Marie. Between 1921 and 1923, she starred in over 150 short films produced by Century Film Corporation. Her popularity soared, and by 1922, she received more than 1.2 million fan letters. In 1924, she earned the nickname "The Million Dollar Baby," reflecting her astonishing annual salary of $1.5 million, equivalent to approximately $22 million today. However, despite her early success, Cary faced financial difficulties in the 1930s, ultimately working as an extra in films.
Later in life, Cary reinvented herself as an author and silent film historian, adopting the name Diana Serra Cary. She penned several works, including the historical novel "The Drowning of the Moon," and became a passionate advocate for the rights of child performers. Cary passed away peacefully at her home in Gustine, California, at the remarkable age of 101.
