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Barbara Pepper
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Barbara Pepper (born Marion Pepper; May 31, 1915 – July 18, 1969)[1] was an American stage, television, radio, and film actress. She is best remembered as the original Doris Ziffel on the sitcom Green Acres.
Key Information
Early life and career
[edit]Marion Pepper was born in New York City, the daughter of actor David Mitchell "Dave" Pepper, and his wife, Harrietta S. Pepper.[2] At age 16, she started life in show business with Goldwyn Girls, a musical stock company, where she met Lucille Ball, with whom she would remain friends, during production of Eddie Cantor's Roman Scandals in 1933.[3]

From 1937 to 1943, Pepper was a prolific actress, appearing in 43 movies, mostly in supporting roles or in minor films, with exceptions being main characters in The Rogues' Tavern and Mummy's Boys, both feature films released in 1936.[3] Among her later film parts were small roles in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) and My Fair Lady (1964). She also performed radio parts.
In 1943, she married actor Craig Reynolds (né Harold Hugh Enfield), and the couple later had two sons. After Reynolds died in 1949 in a California motorcycle accident, Pepper was left to raise their children alone.[4] She never remarried.[citation needed]
After a substantial weight gain during the 1950s, Pepper's roles were mostly confined to small character parts on television,[citation needed] including several appearances on I Love Lucy, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Petticoat Junction, and The Jack Benny Program. She made four appearances on Perry Mason, including the role of Martha Dale, mother of the title character, in the 1957 episode "The Case of the Vagabond Vixen". In 1957, she guest-starred in the episode "The Diet" of the sitcom Mr. Adams and Eve, credited as "Fat Woman". In 1958, she appeared as "Boxcar Annie" on the television Western Tales of Wells Fargo in the episode titled "Butch Cassidy". In 1959, she appeared on the TV series The Texan as Mary Devlin in the episode "The Telegraph Story".
A long-time friend of Lucille Ball's, Pepper was considered for the role of Ethel Mertz on I Love Lucy (after Bea Benaderet), but was passed over, purportedly because she had an alcohol addiction. Ironically, William Frawley ("Fred Mertz") also was an alcoholic, but he had already been chosen for the Mertz role. At that time, the casting directors were concerned that two alcoholics in the upcoming cast might eventually cause difficulties, so another actress was sought.[5]
Pepper may be best remembered as the first Doris Ziffel on Petticoat Junction in 1964, although her character's name on the "Genghis Keane" episode of Petticoat Junction was Ruth Ziffel. Her role as Doris Ziffel continued on Green Acres from 1965 to 1968 until health ailments finally forced her to leave that weekly series. Actress Fran Ryan replaced Pepper on Green Acres, which ran until 1971. Pepper's final performance was in Hook, Line & Sinker (1969), in which she played Jerry Lewis's secretary.[6]
Death
[edit]Pepper died of a coronary thrombosis at age 54 on July 18, 1969, in Panorama City, California. [7]
Selected filmography
[edit]- Roman Scandals (1933) - Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
- Moulin Rouge (1934) - Show Girl (uncredited)
- Bottoms Up (1934) - Chorine (uncredited)
- Strictly Dynamite (1934) - Performer (uncredited)
- Our Daily Bread (1934) - Sally
- Kid Millions (1934) - Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
- Let 'Em Have It (1935) - Milly
- Dante's Inferno (1935) - Drunk at Ship's Cafe (uncredited)
- Anna Karenina (1935) - Party Girl (uncredited)
- Waterfront Lady (1935) - Gloria Vance
- The Sagebrush Troubadour (1935) - Joan Martin
- Forced Landing (1935) - Nancy 'Dusty' Rhodes
- Frisco Waterfront (1935) - The Blonde Stranger
- The Fighting Coward (1935) - Marie's Friend (uncredited)
- The Singing Vagabond (1935) - Honey
- Taming the Wild (1936) - Hazel White
- Show Boat (1936) - New Year's Eve Cutie (uncredited)
- The Rogues Tavern (1936) - Marjorie Burns
- M'Liss (1936) - Clytie Morpher
- Mummy's Boys (1936) - Mary Browning
- The Big Game (1936 film) - Lois - the Drunk's Girl (uncredited)
- Wanted! Jane Turner (1936) - Marge Sanders - Posing as Jane Turner
- Winterset (1936) - Girl
- What Becomes of the Children? (1936) - Elsie Ford
- Sea Devils (1937) - Spanked Blonde (uncredited)
- Too Many Wives (1937) - Angela Brown
- The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1937) - Blonde Saloon Floozie
- You Can't Buy Luck (1937) - Store Clerk
- You Can't Beat Love (1937) - May 'Bubbles' Smith
- The Big Shot (1937) - Mamie
- Forty Naughty Girls (1937) - Alice
- Music for Madame (1937) - Blonde on Bus (uncredited)
- The Westland Case (1937) - Agatha Hogan
- Portia on Trial (1937) - Evelyn
- Hollywood Stadium Mystery (1938) - Althea Ames
- Wide Open Faces (1938) - Belle
- The Lady in the Morgue (1938) - Kay Renshaw
- The Chaser (1938) - Mabel the Drunken Girl (uncredited)
- Army Girl (1938) - Riki Thomas
- The Strange Case of Dr. Meade (1938) - Mattie
- Sweethearts (1938) - Telephone Operator (uncredited)
- The Girl Downstairs (1938) - Woman at the Bar (uncredited)
- They Made Me a Criminal (1939) - Budgie
- Off the Record (1939) - Flossie - Telephone Operator (uncredited)
- Bachelor Mother (1939) - Dance-Hall Hostess (uncredited)
- The Magnificent Fraud (1939) - June (uncredited)
- Colorado Sunset (1939) - Ginger Bixby
- Flight at Midnight (1939) - Mildred
- The Women (1939) - Tough Girl (uncredited)
- Three Sons (1939) - Viola
- Scandal Sheet (1939) - Rena
- The Amazing Mr. Williams (1939) - Muriel - Wedding Guest (uncredited)
- Of Mice and Men (1939) - Second Girl (uncredited)
- Castle on the Hudson (1940) - Goldie
- Framed (1940) - Goldie Green
- Forgotten Girls (1940) - Eve Abbott
- Women in War (1940) - Millie, Irish Nurse
- Sailor's Lady (1940) - Maude
- The Return of Frank James (1940) - Nellie Blane
- Foreign Correspondent (1940) - Dorine
- Ride, Kelly, Ride (1941) - Trudy (uncredited)
- The Cowboy and the Blonde (1941) - Chorine in Dressing Room (uncredited)
- Out of the Fog (1941) - Cuban Room Cigarette Girl (uncredited)
- Three Sons o' Guns (1941) - Francie
- Manpower (1941) - Polly
- We Go Fast (1941) - Southern Belle with Traffic Fine (uncredited)
- Man at Large (1941) - Myrtle, Hotel Guest
- South of Tahiti (1941) - Julie (uncredited)
- Birth of the Blues (1941) - Maizie
- My Favorite Spy (1942) - Speedy (uncredited)
- One Thrilling Night (1942) - Lettie
- Star Spangled Rhythm (1942) - Blonde Who Bruises Too Easy (uncredited)
- Girls in Chains (1943) - Ruth
- Let's Face It (1943) - Daisy (uncredited)
- So This Is Washington (1943) - Betty - Taxi Driver (uncredited)
- Cover Girl (1944) - Chorus Girl (uncredited)
- Henry Aldrich Plays Cupid (1944) - Wild Rose (uncredited)
- Once Upon a Time (1944) - Taxi Girl (uncredited)
- Since You Went Away (1944) - Bowling Alley Pin Girl (uncredited)
- I Love a Soldier (1944) - Blonde (uncredited)
- An American Romance (1944) - Streetwalker (uncredited)
- Can't Help Singing (1944) - Saloon Girl (uncredited)
- Brewster's Millions (1945) - Cab Driver (uncredited)
- Trouble Chasers (1945) - Goldie
- The Naughty Nineties (1945) - Gilded Cage Hostess (uncredited)
- Murder, He Says (1945) - Bonnie Fleagle
- The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry (1945) - Annie (uncredited)
- Prison Ship (1945) - Winnie De Voe (uncredited)
- The Hoodlum Saint (1946) - Dance Contestant #1 (uncredited)
- Terror Trail (1946) - Karen Kemp, the Louisville Lady
- The Millerson Case (1947) - Eadie Rookstool (uncredited)
- The Snake Pit (1948) - Patient (uncredited)
- The Crooked Way (1949) - Shooting Gallery Proprietress (uncredited)
- The Inspector General (1949) - Buxom Villager (uncredited)
- Unmasked (1950) - Mrs. Schmidt
- No Way Out (1950) - Woman (uncredited)
- The Fuller Brush Girl (1950) - Wife Watching TV (uncredited)
- My Blue Heaven (1950) - Susan (uncredited)
- Thunderbirds (1952) - Mrs. Louise Braggart
- So This Is Love (1953) - Fat Girl with Sailor in Nightclub (uncredited)
- Inferno (1953) - Waitress (uncredited)
- The Eddie Cantor Story (1953) - Patron (uncredited)
- A Star Is Born (1954) - Esther's Neighbor (uncredited)
- Young at Heart (1954) - Wife (uncredited)
- The D.I. (1957) - Woman Customer
- Rock-A-Bye Baby (1958) - Mrs. Oberholt (uncredited)
- Auntie Mame (1958) - Mrs. Krantz (uncredited)
- The Bramble Bush (1960) - Polly Welk (uncredited)
- Sex Kittens Go to College (1960) - Circe - Big Woman with Ripped Dress (uncredited)
- The Music Man (1962) - Feril Hawkes - Snapping Beans (uncredited)
- It's Only Money (1962) - Fisherwoman
- A Child Is Waiting (1963) - Miss Brown (uncredited)
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) - Woman on Phone at Garage (uncredited)
- Who's Minding the Store? (1963) - Customer at Bargain Sale (uncredited)
- The Patsy (1964) - Bowler (uncredited)
- My Fair Lady (1964) - Doolittle's Dance Partner (uncredited)
- Kiss Me, Stupid (1964) - Big Bertha
- Hook, Line & Sinker (1969) - Peter's Secretary (uncredited)
References
[edit]- ^ Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 144. ISBN 9780786450190. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
- ^ "New York, New York Birth Index: 1910-1965 [database on-line] (CERTIFICATE #29526). Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry Library Edition, Operations Inc". Search.ancestrylibrary.com. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
- ^ a b "Barbara Pepper". Turner Classic Movies. TCM Archive Materials: WarnerMedia. Archived from the original on November 15, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
- ^ Johnson, Erskine (April 29, 1967). "A Colorful and Tragic Real Life". The Kingston Daily Freeman. New York, Kingston. p. 25. Retrieved April 26, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Kara Kovalchik (August 25, 2018). "20 Things You Might Not Have Known About I Love Lucy". Mental Floss. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
- ^ albanymuskrat (November 17, 2018). "A Glamour Girl and Her Pig". The Friends of Albany History. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
- ^ Ed Gross (August 27, 2020). "Whatever Happened to the Cast of 'Green Acres'?". Closer Weekly. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
External links
[edit]Barbara Pepper
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Birth and family
Barbara Pepper was born Marion Pepper on May 31, 1915, at the Astor Hotel in New York City's Times Square.[1] She was the daughter of David Mitchell Pepper, an actor active in early Hollywood films, and Harrietta S. Pepper (née Harriett Sarah Pilson), who was born in Northern Ireland on May 28, 1884.[4][5][6] No siblings are recorded in family records. Her father's theatrical connections offered early exposure to the world of performance, immersing her in show business from childhood.[6] Raised in New York City, Pepper's upbringing amid the city's dynamic entertainment hub further heightened her awareness of the performing arts, shaped by both familial influences and the surrounding cultural environment.[1]Initial steps in entertainment
At the age of 16 in 1931, Barbara Pepper resolved to pursue a career in entertainment, defying her parents' wishes and leveraging her family's ties to the theater world.[7] She debuted on Broadway as a showgirl in the Ziegfeld Follies, marking her initial foray into professional performance.[8] Pepper soon transitioned to Hollywood by joining the Goldwyn Girls, a renowned chorus ensemble assembled by Samuel Goldwyn for film musicals.[7] During the 1933 production of Roman Scandals, where both served as Goldwyn Girls, Pepper met Lucille Ball, forging an enduring friendship that connected her to key figures in the emerging film industry.[9] These early chorus appearances on stage and in minor film roles throughout the early 1930s provided Pepper with essential experience and visibility in show business.[7]Career
Early film and stage roles
Pepper transitioned from her experiences as one of the Goldwyn Girls to more prominent on-screen appearances in the mid-1930s.[2] Her initial film work included uncredited roles in shorts and features, such as her appearance in the comedy short With Her Kid from Spain (1936).[10] Pepper's credited film debut occurred in 1936 with the murder mystery The Rogues' Tavern, directed by Robert F. Hill, in which she portrayed Marjorie Burns, a store detective entangled in a hotel killing spree alongside Wallace Ford.[11] That same year, she secured another supporting role as Mary Browning in the Wheeler and Woolsey comedy Mummy's Boys, where two New York ditch diggers join an Egyptian archaeological dig and encounter jewel thieves and a faux mummy curse.[12] Between 1937 and 1943, Pepper amassed credits in 43 films, often in supporting capacities that highlighted her vivacious, tough-talking persona in genres like Westerns and comedies.[13] Representative examples include her role as a spirited sidekick in the Western Taming the Wild (1936), extended into early sound-era oaters, and her role as a waitress in the drama Of Mice and Men (1939).[14][15] Drawing on her New York theater background from the early 1930s, Pepper's early chorus and revue experience informed her vivacious on-screen persona.Peak Hollywood period
During the late 1930s and early 1940s, Barbara Pepper reached the height of her film career, appearing in numerous supporting roles across over 40 productions between 1937 and 1943.[16] These roles often placed her in B-movies and minor parts within major studio features, showcasing her versatility in genres ranging from comedies to Westerns. Her consistent output during this period established her as a reliable character actress in Hollywood's Golden Age.[17] Pepper frequently collaborated with prominent studios like RKO Radio Pictures and Paramount, where she was typecast as sassy, comedic side characters or brassy working-class women, embodying the "worldly dame" archetype popular in the era.[17] Notable examples include her uncredited portrayal of the lady wrestler type on a ship in the screwball comedy The Lady Eve (1941), directed by Preston Sturges for Paramount Pictures.[16] In Westerns, she supported leads in films such as Riders of the Badlands (1941), a Columbia Pictures production starring Charles Starrett.[18] These performances highlighted her ability to inject humor and grit into ensemble casts. The onset of World War II influenced Pepper's output, as she contributed to morale-boosting productions amid the industry's wartime efforts. For instance, she appeared in the all-star revue Star Spangled Rhythm (1943) for Paramount, a patriotic musical comedy designed to entertain troops and civilians alike. Similarly, in RKO's So This Is Washington (1943), she played a taxi driver in a satirical take on wartime bureaucracy in the nation's capital. Such roles underscored her adaptability to the era's demand for lighthearted escapism and national unity themes.Transition to television
As film roles became scarcer for Pepper in the mid-1950s following her prolific output in the 1940s, she pivoted to television, a burgeoning medium that offered opportunities for character actors like her. This transition aligned with the industry's shift toward episodic programming, allowing her to draw on her established comedic persona from earlier cinematic supporting parts. Pepper's television debut came in 1952 on the hit sitcom I Love Lucy, where she made eight guest appearances across four seasons, portraying various neighbors, customers, and ensemble figures such as a party guest in "Breaking the Lease" and a woman in the butcher shop in "The Freezer."[19] These roles capitalized on her lively, relatable energy, honed through years of film comedy, and helped sustain her career amid the episodic TV format's demand for quick, memorable vignettes.[20] By 1954, she expanded her TV presence with recurring guest spots on The Jack Benny Program, appearing in seven episodes through 1962 in characters like saleswomen, co-workers, and everyday figures, further showcasing her versatility in comedic sketches.[21][22] This period also saw limited radio engagements, echoing her stage origins and providing occasional voice work that bridged her pre-television experience to the small screen.Later film and television work
In the mid-1960s, Barbara Pepper achieved recognition for her recurring role as Doris Ziffel, the eccentric wife of farmer Fred Ziffel and adoptive "mother" to their intelligent pet pig Arnold, on the CBS sitcom Green Acres. She portrayed the character in 29 episodes from 1965 to 1968, bringing a shrill, slovenly energy to the rural comedy series created by Paul Henning. Health issues, including heart ailments, ultimately forced Pepper to depart the show in 1968, after which Fran Ryan assumed the role.[17] Pepper's television work during this era included crossover appearances on the related series Petticoat Junction, where she first played a version of the character as Ruth Ziffel in three episodes during the 1964–1965 season, including "As Hooterville Goes" and "The Genghis Keane Story." These guest spots helped establish the Ziffel family dynamic that carried over to Green Acres, providing continuity within Henning's shared Hooterville universe. Concurrently, Pepper took on supporting film roles that showcased her versatility in ensemble casts. In Stanley Kramer's epic comedy It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), she appeared in a minor uncredited capacity amid the all-star chase for hidden treasure.[23] The following year, she had an uncredited part as Doolittle's dance partner in the musical adaptation My Fair Lady (1964), directed by George Cukor.[24] Her screen career concluded with a small role as Jerry Lewis's secretary in the comedy Hook, Line & Sinker (1969), marking her final performance before her death later that year.[25] From 1963 to 1969, Pepper's output reflected a shift toward stable television commitments punctuated by selective film cameos, solidifying her legacy as a character actress in American entertainment.Personal life
Marriage and children
Barbara Pepper married actor Craig Reynolds (born Harold Hugh Enfield) on April 24, 1943, in a simple ceremony in Los Angeles, with actress Evelyn Venable serving as matron of honor. The couple settled in Hollywood, where Pepper balanced her ongoing acting commitments with starting a family.[26] They had two sons: Dennis Michael Enfield, born on November 17, 1944, and John Hugh Enfield, born on October 26, 1946.[27][28] Pepper continued securing bit parts in films during this period, such as in Cover Girl (1944) and The Naughty Nineties (1945), while managing motherhood in the bustling Hollywood environment. Tragedy struck on October 22, 1949, when Reynolds was killed in a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles at age 42, leaving Pepper a widow at 34.[29] She raised their sons as a single mother in Hollywood, never remarrying, and persisted in her career to support her family, taking on supporting roles in films and early television appearances, with financial hardships later alleviated by support from her longtime friend Lucille Ball, who provided acting opportunities.[26]Health challenges
Barbara Pepper faced significant health challenges in her later years, primarily stemming from long-term alcoholism that developed following the death of her husband, actor Craig Reynolds, in a motorcycle accident in 1949.[26] This personal tragedy triggered severe depression, leading to excessive drinking that became a chronic issue and contributed to her overall physical decline, including substantial weight gain that altered her appearance and limited her mobility.[26] The alcoholism had a notable impact on her career during the 1950s, resulting in periods of reduced work as she struggled with the condition, which affected her reliability and professional image.[26] For instance, she was considered for the role of Ethel Mertz in the sitcom I Love Lucy but was ultimately passed over due to concerns about her drinking problem, exacerbating typecasting in smaller, often comedic supporting roles that played into her changed physical persona.[30] While no formal treatments or recoveries are documented in available accounts, her struggles reflected a broader pattern of substance abuse among Hollywood actors in the mid-20th century, an era when alcoholism was rampant amid the industry's high-pressure environment and limited mental health resources.[31]Death and legacy
Final years and death
In the final months of her life, Barbara Pepper completed her last professional role in the comedy film Hook, Line & Sinker, released in 1969, where she portrayed Jerry Lewis's secretary. This appearance marked the culmination of her extensive career in film and television, with no further projects in development at the time of her passing.[1] Pepper died on July 18, 1969, at the age of 54, from coronary thrombosis in Panorama City, California.[1] The heart-related event was connected to her longstanding health issues, including a chronic heart condition exacerbated by alcoholism.[30] She is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, Los Angeles.[1] No public funeral details were reported following her death.[1]Cultural impact and recognition
Barbara Pepper's portrayal of Doris Ziffel on Green Acres cemented her as an iconic figure in the rural sitcom genre, where her depiction of the quirky, devoted pig-owning neighbor added to the show's satirical charm and enduring appeal as a 1960s cultural touchstone.[26][32] The series, with Pepper in the role for its first three seasons from 1965 to 1968, highlighted absurd rural life and influenced later comedies through its blend of humor and social commentary on urban-rural divides.[32] Pepper received no major awards during her career, and she does not have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[33] Her work has been featured in retrospectives and compilations, including DVD collections of Green Acres episodes that showcase her alongside cast members like Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor, as well as guest appearances in I Love Lucy compilations highlighting character actors from the era.[34] Pepper's roles as sassy, worldly supporting women in 1930s and 1940s films, such as the "dames" in comedies and dramas, helped shape archetypes of relatable, outspoken female characters in mid-century American media.[26] While no dedicated biopics or full-length biographical books have been produced about her, fan interest in Pepper endures through streaming revivals of 1960s shows like Green Acres, available on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Pluto TV, and Tubi, which have introduced her performances to new audiences.[35][36][37]Filmography
Feature films
Barbara Pepper began her feature film career in the early 1930s, quickly establishing herself in supporting roles that often showcased her as a brash, flirtatious, or tough-talking character, frequently uncredited or in ensemble casts. Over the next three decades, she contributed to more than 100 films, spanning genres from comedies and Westerns to dramas and thrillers, though she rarely received top billing beyond a few early B-movies. Her work emphasized the prevalence of bit parts in major productions, reflecting the era's opportunities for character actresses. The following table presents a selected chronological list of over 70 of her feature film appearances from 1933 to 1969, drawn from verified credits, with role details where available. Emphasis is placed on her typical supporting or uncredited contributions, with brief annotations for 12 key entries highlighting character type and film context.| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | Roman Scandals | Goldwyn Girl (uncredited) | Film debut as a chorus girl alongside Lucille Ball.[1] |
| 1934 | Moulin Rouge | Show Girl (uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Bottoms Up | Chorine (uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Our Daily Bread | Sally | |
| 1936 | Show Boat | Chorus girl (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | The Big Game | Lois (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | Taming the Wild | Hazel White | |
| 1936 | Mummy's Boys | Mary Browning | In this Wheeler and Woolsey comedy, Pepper played the love interest to the bumbling protagonists, providing romantic foil in a zany Egyptian-themed farce about amateur archaeologists.[12] |
| 1936 | The Rogues' Tavern | Marjorie Burns | Pepper co-starred as an eloping store detective alongside Wallace Ford in this low-budget murder mystery set in a roadside inn, marking one of her rare leading roles as a wisecracking sleuth.[11][38] |
| 1936 | Winterset | Girl (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | What Becomes of the Children? | Elsie | |
| 1936 | M'liss | Clytie Morpher | |
| 1936 | Wanted! Jane Turner | Marge Saunders | |
| 1937 | Music for Madame | Blonde on bus (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | The Westland Case | Agatha Hogan | |
| 1937 | Too Many Wives | Angela Brown | |
| 1937 | Portia on Trial | Evelyn | |
| 1937 | The Big Shot | Mamie | |
| 1937 | Forty Naughty Girls | Alice | |
| 1937 | You Can't Beat Love | May Smith | |
| 1938 | You Can't Buy Luck | Clerk (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | Sweethearts | Telephone operator (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | The Girl Downstairs | Girl in cafe (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | Hollywood Stadium Mystery | Althea Ames | |
| 1938 | The Lady in the Morgue | Kay Renshaw | |
| 1938 | Wide Open Faces | Belle | |
| 1938 | Outside the Law | Mattie Hazard | |
| 1938 | Army Girl | Riki (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | The Chaser | Drunken girl (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Bachelor Mother | Hostess (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Scandal Sheet | Rena | |
| 1939 | The Magnificent Fraud | June | |
| 1939 | They Made Me a Criminal | Budgie | As Budgie, a feisty boxer groupie, Pepper added comic energy to this Warner Bros. drama about a framed prizefighter on the run, supporting stars John Garfield and Claude Rains. |
| 1939 | Of Mice and Men | Second girl (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Colorado Sunset | Ginger | |
| 1939 | The Women | Tough girl (uncredited) | In George Cukor's all-female MGM satire, Pepper appeared briefly as a tough woman in the beauty salon scene, embodying the film's sharp-tongued ensemble dynamic. |
| 1939 | Flight at Midnight | Mildred (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Three Sons | Viola | |
| 1939 | The Amazing Mr. Williams | Muriel (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Off the Record | Flossie, telephone operator (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Sailor's Lady | Bit role (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | The Return of Frank James | Nellie Blane | |
| 1940 | Foreign Correspondent | Dorine | Pepper had a small but noticeable role as Dorine, a secretary, in Alfred Hitchcock's espionage thriller, contributing to the film's tense wartime atmosphere alongside Joel McCrea. |
| 1940 | Castle on the Hudson | Goldie (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Forgotten Girls | Eve Abbott | |
| 1940 | Women in War | Millie (uncredited) | |
| 1941 | Framed | Goldie Green (uncredited) | |
| 1941 | Out of the Fog | Cigarette girl (uncredited) | |
| 1941 | The Cowboy and the Blonde | Chorus girl (uncredited) | |
| 1941 | Manpower | Polly (uncredited) | |
| 1941 | Birth of the Blues | Maizie (uncredited) | |
| 1942 | Three Sons O'Guns | Francie | |
| 1942 | One Thrilling Night | Dotty | |
| 1943 | My Favorite Spy | "B" girl (uncredited) | |
| 1943 | Let's Face It | Daisy (uncredited) | |
| 1945 | Girls in Chains | Ruth | |
| 1945 | Murder, He Says | Bonnie Fleagle | In this dark comedy-horror, Pepper portrayed Bonnie Fleagle, a sassy member of a murderous family, adding to the film's eccentric, blackly humorous tone with Fred MacMurray.[39] |
| 1945 | Star Spangled Rhythm | Bit role (uncredited) | |
| 1945 | So This Is Washington | Taxi driver (uncredited) | |
| 1947 | The Snake Pit | Patient (uncredited) | Pepper appeared as an unnamed patient in this stark drama about mental illness, directed by Anatole Litvak, enhancing the film's depiction of asylum life alongside Olivia de Havilland. |
| 1949 | The Inspector General | Buxom girl (uncredited) | |
| 1950 | No Way Out | Bit role (uncredited) | |
| 1950 | My Blue Heaven | Waitress (uncredited) | |
| 1952 | Thunderbirds | Mrs. Mike Braggart (uncredited) | |
| 1953 | Inferno | Waitress (uncredited) | |
| 1954 | Young at Heart | Neighbour's wife (uncredited) | |
| 1958 | The Eddie Cantor Story | Patron (uncredited) | |
| 1958 | Auntie Mame | Mrs. Krantz (uncredited) | |
| 1958 | Rock-a-Bye Baby | Mrs. Oberholt | |
| 1960 | Sex Kittens Go to College | Mme. Bordeau (uncredited) | |
| 1962 | It's Only Money | Fisherwoman (uncredited) | |
| 1962 | The Music Man | Feril Hawkes (uncredited) | In Morton DaCosta's musical adaptation, Pepper had a minor uncredited part as Feril Hawkes during the ensemble "Snapping Beans" sequence, blending into the River City townsfolk. |
| 1963 | Who's Minding the Store? | Client at sale (uncredited) | |
| 1963 | A Child Is Waiting | Miss Brown (uncredited) | |
| 1963 | It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World | Woman in car (uncredited) | Pepper contributed a small uncredited role in Stanley Kramer's epic comedy, appearing briefly amid the chaotic ensemble chase for hidden treasure.[23] |
| 1964 | My Fair Lady | Doolittle's dancing partner (uncredited) | |
| 1964 | Kiss Me, Stupid | Big Bertha | As Big Bertha, a poker player and barfly, Pepper delivered a memorable supporting turn in Billy Wilder's controversial sex comedy, sparring with Dean Martin and Ray Walston in a tale of marital deception.[40] |
| 1969 | Hook, Line and Sinker | Peter's secretary (uncredited) | Posthumous release; minor office role in Jerry Lewis comedy. |
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