Peter Lind Hayes

Peter Lind Hayes was the son of entertainer/nightclub entrepreneur Grace Hayes (1896-1989). Hayes was nine years old when he joined his mother's vaudeville act, doing an impression of Hollywood child star Jackie Coogan. He then spent several years as the star attraction of the Grace Hayes Lodge in the San Fernando Valley. In 1938, he made the first of his sporadic film appearances, and in 1940, he married his future stage and screen partner, singer/actress Mary Healy. While serving with distinction in the Army Air Force, Hayes was featured in the 1944 20th Century-Fox feature Winged Victory. From 1946 onward, the songs-and-snappy-patter team of Peter Lind Hayes and Mary Healey was a top New York nightclub and theatrical attraction. They extended their activities to TV in 1949, starring in such variety series as Inside the USA With Chevrolet (1949-50), The Stork Club (1950), The Peter Lind Hayes Show (1950-51, with Mary--originally titled Peter and Mary) and Star of the Family (1951). Their last regular TV gig was the semiautobiographical 1960 sitcom Peter Loves Mary (1960). In addition, Hayes and Healey starred in the 1958 Broadway play Who Was That Lady I Saw You With?, while Hayes soloed as Arthur Godfrey's TV and radio summer replacement and as one of the post-Paar, pre-Carson hosts of The Tonight Show. While his film career never attained the heights of his activities elsewhere, Hayes enjoyed at least one truly memorable screen role: Mr. Zalbedowski in the cult musical fantasy 5000 Fingers of Dr. T, co-starring wife Mary and Hans Conried. Active in a number of entertainment fields, Peter Lind Hayes was the author of three books and several magazine and newspaper articles, and served as producer-host of the 1975 anthology series When Television Was Live. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

• Also Credited As:
  Joseph Conrad Lind
• Born:
  June 15, 1915 in San Francisco, California
• Died:
  April 21, 1998.
• Job Titles:
  Actor, Vaudevillian, Writer

Family

• Son: Peter Michael Hayes.

Milestones

• 1921 Made his vaudeville debut at age 6 (date approximate)
• 1931 Appeared at New York's Palace Theatre, acting with his mother in a skit he wrote (date approximate)
• 1940 Married Mary Healy, his frequent co-star
• 1947 Appeared in "The Senator Was Indiscreet" with William Powell
• 1953 Starred with his wife in "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T"
• 1958 "The Peter Lind Hayes Show", a variety show with famous guest stars airs on ABC
• 1958 Starred with his wife in the Broadway comedy "Who Was That Lady I Saw You With?"
• "Peter Loves Mary" a sitcom featuring he and his wife runs on NBC
• After retiring, wrote a column entitled "Thoughts While Thinking"
• He and Mary Healy became regular substitute hosts on Arthur Godfrey's television programs
• Hosted a radio show with his wife from the basement of their New Rochelle, NY home broadcast on WOR radio in New York
• Joined the Army Air Corps during World War II; was awarded a bronze star and two battle stars for his service
• Performed in Las Vegas nightclubs with his wife