Lenka Peterson (born Betty Ann Isacson; October 16, 1925 – September 24, 2021) was an American theater, film, and television actress.
Early years Peterson was born in Omaha, Nebraska, a daughter of Swedish and Hungarian immigrants. Her father was Swedish, and her mother was Hungarian. She majored in drama at the University of Iowa.
Career
Peterson had the role of Corliss Archer in a USO-sponsored troupe that performed on military bases in Japan, the Philippines, and other places in the Pacific. In the mid-1940s, she acted with the Berkshire Playhouse stock theater in New Hampshire. She later acted on stage in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Boston, Massachusetts; and Providence, Rhode Island.
One of the first members admitted to New York City's Actors Studio, Peterson's Broadway portrayals included Ella in Sundown Beach (1948), Maude in The Grass Harp (1952), Kitty in The Time of Your Life (1955), Sally and Mary in All the Way Home (1960), Rose in Nuts (1980), and Sarah in Quilters (1984).
Peterson was nominated for a 1985 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in Quilters. She guest starred in such early television productions as Hallmark Hall of Fame (1952), The Philco Television Playhouse (1955), and Actors Studio (1949 and 1950).
On television, she portrayed Faye Banister on the NBC drama Young Dr. Malone (1958), Martha Skerba on the ABC serial A Time for Us (1964), Doris Bonino on the NBC comedy Bonino (1953) and Eve Morgan on the ABC comedy Love, Sidney (1981) and was a cast member of the series Herb Shriner Time (1951), Search for Tomorrow, playing Isabel Moore in 1962 and Evelyn Reedy in 1977, A Flame in the Wind, Another World as Marie Fenton from 1983 to 1984 and later Lorna Devon's adopted grandmother, and Code of Vengeance. She also played Grandmom in the American Playhouse production of John Updike's story, Pigeon Feathers in 1988.
Personal life and death On May 8, 1948, Peterson married Daniel O'Connor in Omaha, Nebraska. Peterson was the mother of actress Glynnis O'Connor and Darren O'Connor (and three more children) by O'Connor, who died in 2015.
Peterson died at her home in Roxbury, Connecticut. She was 95.
Filmography +FilmsYearTitleRoleNote2006All the King's MenSavannah Clerk2006Waltzing Anna2000CheatersMrs. Plecki1995JeffreyChurch Lady 21992Live WireGwen1988Fatal Judgement Martha Busek1987DragnetGranny Mundy1987PalsBetty1985Code of VengeanceIone Flowers1984Why Me?Leola Mae's Mother1980Headin' for BroadwayMrs. Richards1980Seizure: The Story of Kathy MorrisMusic Teacher1976LifeguardMrs. Carlson1975Returning HomeMrs. Parish1975First Ladies Diaries: Rachel JacksonMrs. Robards1975The RunawaysMrs. Wilson1975Someone I TouchedEnid ABC Movie of the Week1973The Werewolf of WashingtonSenator Joan1973Duty BoundMrs. Brook1970HomerMrs. Edwards1964Black Like MeLucy Horton1961Special for Women: The Glamour TrapHousewife1955The Phenix City StoryMary Jo Patterson1951Take Care of My Little GirlRuth Gates1950Panic in the StreetsJeanette +TelevisionYearTitleRoleNote2003Law & Order: Special Victim UnitMelanie DunneEpisode: Choice2000WonderlandEpisode: 20/20 Hindsight1992–1996Law & OrderAnn Schoenberg / OliviaEpisodes: Survivor, Star Struck1994The Crosby MysteriesLouise TaftEpisode: Expert Witness1992Civil WarsByrdie DaviesEpisode: Ocean White with Phone1988L.A. LawJulia ClarentEpisode: Chariots of Meyer1988American PlayhouseGrandmomEpisode: Pigeon Feathers1987Kate & AllieStreet WomanEpisode: Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?1986Hill Street BluesMarshaEpisode: Suitcase1986General HospitalEdna1985Search for TomorrowGrace Blake1985Code of VengeanceIone Flowers1983Another WorldMarie Fenton1981–1982Love, SidneyLaurie's MotherEpisodes: Visitors from Smoot, Just Folks1981Ryan's HopeNurse Grandy1977Quincy M.E.Amanda StoddardEpisode: Tissue of Truth1976Kingston: ConfidentialLaura FrazierEpisode: Frazier1974–1975KojakDr. Barbara Kirk / Dr. KirkEpisodes: I Want to Report a Dream, Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die1975The RookiesPhyllis WirlEpisode: The Saturday Night Special1974Apple's WayAunt CarolEpisode: The First Love1974Lucas TannerGrace GarfieldEpisode: Winners and Losers1965A Flame in the WindMartha Skerba Driscoll1963Look Up and LiveEleanor CollinsEpisode: The End of the Story1963The Doctors and the NursesEmily RossEpisode: The Third Generation1962The DefendersDonna SimmonsEpisode: The Seven Ghost of Simon Gray1961Route 66Beth BrackEpisode: Burning for Burning1961The Ed Sullivan ShowSally Follet1958Young Dr. MaloneFaye BannisterDec. 1958 - Mar 1961; contract role1957The Big StoryEdna / Linda Gil / Marie ManningEpisodes: Make Believe Bandit, Desperate Hunger, Exposure1957DecoyDorothy BoyerEpisode: Scape Goat1957True StoryJudyEpisode: Girl in the Hotel1957Studio OneCarol BixbyEpisodes: The Goodwill Ambassadors1956–1957Robert Montgomery PresentsNancy Bolen1956The Alcoa HourMarilynEpisode: Finkle's Comet1952–1955The Philco Television Playhouse1954–1955Armstrong Circle Theatre1954The Elgin HourMargeEpisode: Hearts and Holywood1954Ponds TheaterEvelynEpisode: Guest in the House1954JusticeEpisode: Man on the Hunt1954SuspenseEpisode: Once a Killer1954Inner SanctumGinnyEpisode: The Perfect Kill1953Bonino1953The Gulf Playhouse1952Hallmark Hall of FameAnne BrontëEpisode: Our Sister Emily1952CBS Television WorkshopEpisode: Careless Lover1951Lights OutEpisode: Beyond the Door1951The WebEpisode: The House Guests1949–1950Actors StudioEpisode: Joe McSween's Atomic Machine
References
External links
Lenka Peterson papers, 1943-1996, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Lenka Peterson at the University of Wisconsin's Actors Studio audio collection