Penny Singleton

Penny Singleton is fondly remembered for her movie portrayal of Blondie, the high-spirited comic-strip character created by Chic Young.

Born Dorothy McNulty in 1908, she began her career in vaudeville, eventually progressing to Broadway where she won rave reviews for The Great Temptations, Good News, and Follow Thru. Hollywood beckoned, and the still-brunette actress appeared in movies opposite William Powell, Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, Ronald Reagan, and others. In 1938, after changing her name to Penny Singleton, the role of Blondie brought enduring fame. Following this success, Penny would triumph in nightclubs, regional theater, and television. A strong advocate for union fairness, Penny sought to improve working conditions for her fellow performers. In 1958, she became the first female president of an AFL-CIO union, a journey that would be marked by legal challenges, financial setbacks, and anonymous death threats.

This updated edition of Penny Singleton: A Biography features recently discovered photographs, and additional interviews with poignant recollections of this trailblazing show-business personality.