Margaret Draper
- October 14, 2011
- 94 years
- natural causes
About Margaret Draper
Margaret Draper, 94, American radio actress and disc jockey, natural causes.
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Full Biography
|Margaret Ruth Draper (November 20, 1916 – October 14, 2011) was an American actress and international service worker.
Early years
Draper was born in 1916, the third of six children born to Delbert Morley Draper and Frances Mary Rogers. Shortly after her birth her family relocated to Salt Lake City where she lived until 1934.
A 1940 newspaper article noted that she "is pleasantly remembered for her performances in Theta Alpha Phi productions" at the University of Utah.
The summer she graduated from university, she accompanied a friend and his sister to New York City to pursue a career in the theatre. She went with a single bag and $38.50 in her purse. Alone in New York, she found a small room in Tudor City and soon began working in G. Schirmer's music store.
Career
In the late 1930s through 1940, Draper was active in the theater in the Eastern United States for four seasons. She worked with the Wharf School of the Theater, Provincetown, Massachusetts; Green Lake Players, Buffalo, New York; Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City, New York; and Chekhov Theater Studio, Ridgefield, Connecticut.
During World War II, she worked for two years for the Red Cross in Europe and the Middle East as a recreational director, and returned to lean years in New York until 1947, when she got her first radio role with Carl Beier in the CBS program, Joe Powers of Oakville. (Another source says: "In 1947, she joined with the Barter Theatre and for a year toured with that company throughout the southwest. In March of 1948, she returned to New York and radio ....")
She later appeared in the Actor's Equity presentation of "Peer Gynt", and was voted one of the most promising actresses of the year. She obtained supporting roles in two Broadway shows, played the part of Fay Perkins in the radio soap opera Ma Perkins, and in 1949 was invited to audition for the part of Liz Dennis in Brighter Day. She won the part, and played Liz until around 1954, when the part of Linda Pepper was being cast for Pepper Young's Family, which she won. ^
Draper portrayed Eva Petri in The Gambler on Broadway in 1952. Her other Broadway credits included A Minor Adjustment, during the 1967-1968 season.
Later years and death
In 2003, Draper moved to an independent living community in Salt Lake City. In the fall of 2010, she moved to her son's home in Payson, Utah, and the following spring she settled in a care facility in that same town, where she died on October 14, 2011, aged 94.[citation needed]
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Videos about Margaret Draper
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Draper
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Margaret Draper's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Margaret Draper born?
- A.October 14, 2011
- B.November 20, 1916correct
- C.October 14, 1916
- D.November 20, 1934
Margaret Ruth Draper was born on November 20, 1916.
Source: biographical introduction
2.How many children were in Margaret Draper's family, including herself?
- A.Five
- B.Seven
- C.Four
- D.Sixcorrect
Margaret Draper was the third of six children born to her parents.
Source: early years
3.In which city did Margaret Draper live from shortly after her birth until 1934?
- A.New York City
- B.Buffalo
- C.Ridgefield
- D.Salt Lake Citycorrect
Margaret Draper's family relocated to Salt Lake City, where she lived until 1934.
Source: early years
4.Which university was Margaret Draper associated with during her early theater performances?
- A.Connecticut State University
- B.Columbia University
- C.University of Utahcorrect
- D.New York University
Margaret Draper was remembered for her performances in Theta Alpha Phi productions at the University of Utah.
Source: early years
5.In which organization did Margaret Draper work as a recreational director during World War II?
- A.USO
- B.Salvation Army
- C.United Nations
- D.The Red Crosscorrect
During World War II, Margaret Draper worked for two years for the Red Cross in Europe and the Middle East.
Source: career
6.What was the title of the CBS radio program where Margaret Draper got her first radio role in 1947?
- A.Ma Perkins
- B.Joe Powers of Oakvillecorrect
- C.Brighter Day
- D.Pepper Young's Family
In 1947, Margaret Draper secured her first radio role in the CBS program, Joe Powers of Oakville.
Source: career
7.Which character did Margaret Draper play in the radio soap opera Ma Perkins?
- A.Linda Pepper
- B.Fay Perkinscorrect
- C.Eva Petri
- D.Liz Dennis
Margaret Draper played the part of Fay Perkins in the radio soap opera Ma Perkins.
Source: career
8.Until approximately what year did Margaret Draper play the role of Liz Dennis in the program Brighter Day?
- A.1952
- B.1949
- C.1954correct
- D.1968
Margaret Draper won the part of Liz Dennis in 1949 and played it until around 1954.
Source: career
9.What role did Margaret Draper portray in the 1952 Broadway production of The Gambler?
- A.Eva Petricorrect
- B.Fay Perkins
- C.Liz Dennis
- D.Linda Pepper
Margaret Draper portrayed the character Eva Petri in the Broadway play The Gambler in 1952.
Source: career
10.Which Broadway show did Margaret Draper perform in during the 1967-1968 season?
- A.Brighter Day
- B.The Gambler
- C.Peer Gynt
- D.A Minor Adjustmentcorrect
Margaret Draper's Broadway credits included the play A Minor Adjustment during the 1967-1968 season.
Source: career
11.To which city did Margaret Draper move in 2003?
- A.Ridgefield, Connecticut
- B.Salt Lake City, Utahcorrect
- C.Payson, Utah
- D.New York City, New York
In 2003, Margaret Draper moved to an independent living community located in Salt Lake City.
Source: later years and death
12.Where did Margaret Draper settle in the spring of 2011 before her death?
- A.Her son's home in Salt Lake City
- B.An apartment in New York City
- C.A care facility in Payson, Utahcorrect
- D.An assisted living home in Buffalo
In the spring of 2011, Margaret Draper settled in a care facility in Payson, Utah.
Source: later years and death
13.On what date did Margaret Draper pass away?
- A.November 20, 2011
- B.October 14, 2011correct
- C.November 20, 2010
- D.October 14, 2010
Margaret Draper died on October 14, 2011, at the age of 94.
Source: later years and death
14.What is the subject of the video mentioned in the external links section for Margaret Draper?
- A.A Nescafé instant coffee commercialcorrect
- B.A travelogue of the Middle East
- C.A lecture on radio acting
- D.An interview about theater
The external links section mentions an old Nescafé instant coffee commercial featuring Margaret Draper.
Source: external links
15.What was the name of the radio soap opera where Margaret Draper played the character Linda Pepper?
- A.Pepper Young's Familycorrect
- B.Ma Perkins
- C.Joe Powers of Oakville
- D.Brighter Day
After playing Liz Dennis, Margaret Draper was cast as Linda Pepper in the show Pepper Young's Family.
Source: career
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