WILMINGTON — Margaret Kerry, live-action reference model for Tinker Bell in Walt Disney’s animated “Peter Pan”, actress in films, television, radio and media personality dies at age 97.
Margaret Kerry-Brown-Willcox-Boeke (nee Margaret McCarty), the petite, spirited live-action reference model for Tinker Bell in Disney’s 1953 animated classic, “Peter Pan,” and an actress who appeared in countless films and television shows passed away peacefully at her home in Wilmington, North Carolina, on June 11 after her heroic battle with lung cancer surrounded by her adoring children. She recently celebrated her 97th birthday on May 11th.
She was preceded in death by only 18 days, on May 24th by her husband, Robert Boeke (a distinguished World War II veteran), with whom she was reunited in 2019 following a 70-year absence and they married on Valentine’s Day in 2020.
Kerry was well known and loved among Disney animation enthusiasts for her frequent appearances at conventions and fan events, as she remained active in touring the country for “Peter Pan” and “Andy Griffith Show” related programs up until five months before her death. In addition to her on screen roles in films and classic television episodes, she was also a voiceover performer with a wide range of dialects, who provided the voices (and lips) for 52 episodes of the groundbreaking 1959 children’s television show, “Clutch Cargo.” Fans of that series will remember her as the voice of “Paddlefoot” and “Spinner.” She also lent her voice to characters and narration for the animated programs, “The New Three Stooges” and “Space Angel.”
In 2016, Kerry published her memoir, “Tinker Bell Talks: Tales of a Pixie-Dusted Life.”
Commenting on Margaret’s passing, Disney Legend Bob Gurr, a close friend and Disney colleague, said, “I first met Margaret at one of the popular Disney fan club events in Anaheim back in the 90s, and this sweet, cute and funny lady soon became my favorite event tablemate. As I learned more about her Disney Animation history and how she influenced the look and performance of Tinker Bell, I came to regard her as a superstar and a true Disney Legend. The giggling joy she radiated to every guest, the fuzzy feeling she gave me in every moment we were together; these are everlasting memories. She was a hoot to be with, and she will forever be my ‘Lady Treasure.’”
Margaret Kerry’s Children – Eric Norquist, Christina McCarty, Ellen Seibel, & Friend/Former Daughter-In-Law, Patricia Alexander – offered the following statement: “Our amazing mother, Margaret Kerry, ‘graduated’ the other day after leading a long life that touched millions of people worldwide who knew her as the icon Tinker Bell. She personally blessed everyone with the rare gift of making them feel like the most important person in the room.
“To us, she was just Mom, someone who loved us and others unconditionally and with a generosity of spirit that inspired us. Even though we shared Mom with the world, she always made time to focus exclusively on us. Mom’s lifelong faith as a Christian energized her to live the qualities of joy, kindness, creativity and courage. She saw her own passing as a graduation from this life’s challenges into the adventure of eternal life with her Savior. Mom displayed grace and dignity right up to her last breath, by smiling and helping us to be okay in the process.
“We know that as sad as we feel, it’s impossible to mourn her without celebrating her extraordinary life. We think of her favorite hymns, Just a Closer Walk With Thee, and Great is Thy Faithfulness, which she listened to daily, and her favorite poem, which is called Celestial Flight by Elizabeth MacKethan Magid and is worth looking up. Here is an excerpt that we know she would like to leave to us and all who loved her:
Thank God that now her flight can be to heights her eyes had scanned, where she can race with comets and buzz the rainbow’s span. For she is universal like courage, love and hope, and all free, sweet emotions of vast and Godly scope. And understand a pilot’s fate is not the thing she fears, but rather sadness left behind, your heartbreak and your tears . . . She would want you to believe she is not dead. . . she is only flying higher, higher than she’s ever flown.
Margaret is now second star to the right . . . and on . . . and on with Jesus.” Born Margaret Lorraine McCarty in Springfield, Illinois on May 11, 1929, Kerry was adopted at the age of three following her mother’s untimely death (changing her name to Peggy Lynch) and moved with her new family to Los Angeles. She made her screen debut in 1935 as a fairy in Max Reinhardt’s film version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” for Warner Bros. She went on to appear in several of the later “Our Gang” comedies (alongside rascals Spanky MacFarland and Darla Hood). She worked steadily in the movies and appeared in a wide range of roles in such well known films as “Carefree” and “Rosalie” (as a flower girl), “Penny Serenade” (Madonna in the high school pageant), “Rebecca,” and “Blossoms in the Dust” (as one of Greer Garson’s adopted children). Among her other Hollywood highlights, Kerry sang a duet with Bing Crosby in “The Star Maker,” and doubled Elizabeth Taylor in “National Velvet.”
The actress changed her name to Margaret Kerry in 1948 at the suggestion of Eddie Cantor, with whom she was starring in the film, “If You Knew Susie.” Cantor wasn’t fond of the name Peggy Lynch, and helped her create a new stage name which paid homage to her favorite actor at the time, Norman Kerry. That became her professional name going forward.
Kerry found new success in the early days of television, playing the role of Charlie Ruggles’ daughter, Sharon, on the live ABC family sitcom, “The Ruggles.” That show ran from 1949-52, and Kerry starred in 137 episodes of the popular series. Her other notable TV appearances included a guest stint on “The Lone Ranger,” and two memorable roles for “The Andy Griffith Show.” She continued to delight fans with her annual appearances at the “Mayberry Days” festival in Mount Airy, North Carolina, and was celebrated as one of the last surviving cast members as recently as last year.
In the area of animation, Kerry had a prolific career as a voiceover artist, providing a showcase for her wide range of voices and dialects. Most notably, she voiced the characters of “Paddlefoot” and “Spinner” for the popular 1959 syndicated series, “Clutch Cargo.” That program, produced by her then-husband Ritchard Brown, utilized a technique called “Synchro-Vox,” which essentially photographed “motorized mouth movements” and combined them with the animation. Kerry’s voice and lip movements helped to bring the characters to life. Additionally, she became an active board member of ASIFA, the animation industry’s international organization that sponsors the annual Annie Awards.
Following her film and television career, Kerry became a sought-after producer, writer and host for a variety of local radio programs including a long-running show for Los Angeles Christian radio station KKLA-FM (What’s Up Weekly – Ministry Loves Company). She was also active in her church, donated countless hours to community theaters and outreach throughout the country, and was a seminar leader for the American Seminar Leaders Association.
Margaret was preceded in death by husbands Ritchard N Brown, John H Willcox and Robert H Boeke.
Kerry is survived by her two daughters, and a son from her marriage to Ritchard Brown. They are Ellen Seibel (and husband, Joel, an Emmy Award-winning animation producer for Hanna-Barbera, Warner Bros. and Nickelodeon; and their 5 children); Chris McCarty (and her daughter), and Eric Norquist (along with ex- wife, Patricia, and their son).
She was cremated and will be inurned at Grandview Memorial Park in Glendale, CA. A celebration of life is being planned for a later date.
