Peggy Rea Died

Peggy Rea, a matronly actress who had supporting roles on popular television series from the 1970s to the ’90s, died on Saturday at her home in Toluca Lake, Calif. She was 89.

The cause was complications of heart failure, Kimmie Burks, a friend, said.

Ms. Rea played Rose Burton, Olivia Walton’s cousin, on “The Waltons”; Lulu Hogg, Boss Hogg’s wife, on “The Dukes of Hazzard”; and Jean Kelly, the mother-in-law of Brett Butler’s character, on “Grace Under Fire.” Ms. Rea’s first role on television was as a nurse on “I Love Lucy” in 1953. She also appeared on “All in the Family,” “Step by Step” and “Gunsmoke,” among other shows.

Peggy Jane Rea was born March 31, 1921, in Los Angeles. She left the University of California, Los Angeles, to attend business school, then took a job as a production secretary at MGM.

In 1947 she moved to New York to act on stage. She appeared on Broadway twice in 1950: as Eunice Hubbell in a revival of “A Streetcar Named Desire” and in the Cole Porter musical “Out of This World.” She gave up acting for a time and worked as a production secretary on “Gunsmoke” and other television shows in Los Angeles.

Ms. Rea returned to acting full time in 1962. Her film credits include parts in “7 Faces of Dr. Lao” (1964) and “In Country” (1989).

Ms. Burks said no immediate family members survive.