E.J. Peaker, 1944 – 2026

Perky blonde musical-comedy actress E.J. Peaker, 82, died on May 16. I remember her best as Robert Morse’s costar on the experimental 1960s musical-comedy show That’s Life; she also played Minnie Faye in the movie version of Hello, Dolly! Peaker (her birth name was Edra Jean, but “E.J.” fit the required 1960s kookiness) appeared on Broadway in Barefoot in the Park, and did a lot of Off-Broadway and regional shows as well. From the 1960s-90s she was ubiquitous on TV, whenever a cute, smart blonde was needed (and Arlene Golonka or Sue Ane Langdon were not available): showing up in Occasional Wife, That Girl, The Flying Nun, The Second Hundred Years, Night Gallery, Police Woman, The Rockford Files, Wonder Woman, Charlie’s Angels; her last role was as Natalie Schafer in the 2001 TV movie Surviving Gilligan’s Island. In later years, Peaker became a homeless advocate in California.