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Peggy Lipton, the actress who became known as undercover officer Julie Barnes on The Mod Squad and diner owner Norma Jennings on Twin Peaks, died in Los Angeles on May 11, 2019. She was 72. Her daughters, Kidada and Rashida Jones, announced that she had died of cancer.
What was Peggy Lipton known for?
Lipton’s breakthrough came as Julie Barnes on ABC’s The Mod Squad, which ran from 1968 to 1973. The Television Academy describes the series as a five-year run and records Lipton’s role as one of its defining performances. ITV News reported that her work on the show earned her a Golden Globe.
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Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series | $20.76 | Buy on Amazon |
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TWIN PEAKS - | $54.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Twin Peaks: The Definitive Gold Box Edition | $57.66 | Buy on Amazon |
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The series stood out as a counterculture police drama with an interracial cast. The Washington Post obituary noted that its stories addressed issues including domestic violence, abortion, police brutality, the Vietnam War and drugs—subjects that gave the show a wider social frame than a conventional crime-of-the-week format.
How did she return to television?
After The Mod Squad ended, Lipton appeared in a 1979 reunion film and then stepped away from acting for a period. She returned to a prominent television role as Norma Jennings, who ran the Double R Diner, in David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. She appeared in the original 1990–91 series and reprised the role in the 2017 revival.
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- Twin Peaks: The Television Collection [DVD]
Her two signature roles connected different eras of television: Julie Barnes made Lipton a defining face of a late-1960s counterculture series, while Norma Jennings introduced her to another generation of viewers through the offbeat world of Twin Peaks.
What did colleagues and family say?
In a statement reported by ITV News, Lipton’s daughters, Kidada and Rashida Jones, said: “We are heartbroken that our beloved mother passed away from cancer today.” The Los Angeles Times reported that she died peacefully with her daughters and nieces by her side.
Her Twin Peaks co-star Kyle MacLachlan reflected on her earlier impact in a 2019 Time tribute: “Peggy Lipton’s performance as Julie Barnes on The Mod Squad made a huge impact on my whole generation.” He also remembered her as “a new kind of woman, young and hip,” whose resilience was paired with “a truly gentle spirit.”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Remembering Peggy Lipton’s career
Lipton’s career crossed from the socially engaged television of The Mod Squad to the distinctive drama of Twin Peaks. Her work as Julie Barnes established her as a television star; her return as Norma Jennings kept her connected to one of television’s most enduring cult series.
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