Peggy Lipton

Margeret Ann “Peggy” Lipton was an American model, actress, and singer. She was born to a Jewish family of Eastern European descent. Her father, Harold Lipton, was a corporate lawyer, and her mother, Rita Benson, was an artist. Her parents were children of Jewish refugees. Lipton grew up in an upper-middle-class Jewish household in Lawrence, a Long Island, New York suburb. Although she was raised in a Jewish environment, Lipton did not often discuss her Jewish identity in the media, and references to it were minimal. Her daughters, Kidada and Rashida Jones, have spoken more publicly about their Jewish heritage.

Lipton gained prominence as Julie Barnes in The Mod Squad, which aired from 1968 to 1973. Her portrayal of a countercultural undercover cop earned her four Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe Award in 1971. Lipton became a countercultural symbol of the era. After The Mod Squad ended, Lipton took a break from acting but returned with her role as Norma Jennings in Twin Peaks (1990-1991). She reprised this role in the 2017 revival of the show.

Before her acting career, Lipton was a successful model. She later ventured into music, releasing singles during the late 1960s, including covers of “Stoney End,” “Lu,” and “Wear Your Love Like Heaven,” which landed on the Billboard Hot 100.

Lipton married famed music producer Quincy Jones in 1974, and together, they had two daughters, Rashida and Kidada. The marriage lasted until 1990, and Lipton often remained in the public eye due to her relationship with Jones and their high-profile family. Her daughters followed in her footsteps, with Rashida becoming a successful actress and writer.

After her return to acting in the 1990s, Lipton appeared in the Twin Peaks revival and other projects such as A Dog’s Purpose (2017) and the TV series Claws. She made guest appearances in Angie Tribeca, a show created by her daughter Rashida.

Lipton passed away on May 11, 2019, at the age of 72, after a battle with colon cancer. Her passing was met with tributes from fans and colleagues, who remembered her as an iconic figure in television and a trailblazer for women in entertainment.

Sources: “Did You Know They’re Jewish,” Aish.
“‘Mod Squad’ star Peggy Lipton dies at 72,” Times of Israel, (May 12, 2019). 
Gerri Miller, “‘Mod Squad’ Star Peggy Lipton Dies at 72,” Jewish Journal, (May 13, 2019). 
“Peggy Lipton, star of TV’s ‘The Mod Squad,’ dies at 72,” Jewish Telegraphic Agency, (May 13, 2019). 
Steven Mirkin, “Actress Peggy Lipton, 72,” Jewish Journal, (May 13, 2019). 

Photo: ABC Television--the then-current ABC logo and Photo Division can be seen, though they are faint., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.