Actress, entrepreneur Polly Bergen dies at 84

POLLY BERGEN, a film and TV actress who used her celebrity status to launch a successful cosmetics line as well as offer name-brand jewelry and shoes, has died of natural causes. She was 84.

Born in 1930 in Knoxville, Tennessee, she made her way out to Hollywood appearing in no less than three Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis films. She won an Emmy Award for her title role portrayal in “The Helen Morgan Story” on TV’s “Playhouse 90” series.

Her most famous film role was in the original 1962 film of “Cape Fear” opposite Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum. She also played the first female president on film in “Kisses for My President.”

Bergen was a regular panelist on “To Tell the Truth” and was nominated for an Emmy for her recurring roles in the mini-series “Winds of War” and “War and Remembrance.”

Bergen’s talent as a singer resulted in her own talent-variety show in 1957 called “The Polly Bergen Show.” She was nominated for a Tony Award for her role in Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies” revival in 2001.

Her recent TV roles included smaller parts in “The Sopranos,” “Desperate Housewives” and “Commander-in-Chief.”

After her acting opportunities slowed down, Bergen elected to reinvent herself with her cosmetics line and became a noted fashion and beauty authority. She penned several books on beauty.

Bergen converted to Judaism when she married Freddie Fields, a Hollywood talent agent, who died in 1973. The couple adopted two children.

Bergen is survived by her daughter Pamela Kerry Fields and son Peter William Fields.