1. Her natural grace was evident at an early age.

 

Lipton's parents helped her get into modeling and she had no trouble securing jobs. She signed with the Ford Agency when she was 15 and enjoyed plenty of success. When she moved with her family to L.A. in 1964, she almost immediately started working with Universal Pictures.

Image: The Everett Collection

2. She took to California culture right away.

 

Lipton grew up on Long Island with conservative parents and two brothers, so their move to California might have overwhelmed a less adaptable person. But Peggy had no problem fitting into her new lifestyle. She described her California self as a typical “Topanga Canyon hippie.” She got into meditation and yoga, and lived on rice cakes and cottage cheese. 

3. She had guest roles in some of the most popular shows of the time.

 

Lipton landed her first TV gig when she was 19 on The John Forsythe Show. She went on to appear on programs like Bewitched, The Virginian, The Invaders, The F.B.I. and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (pictured here).

4. She acted opposite a young Kurt Russell in her first movie.

 

In the 1966 Disney film Mosby’s Marauders, Lipton played a young Confederate girl who falls in love with a Yankee soldier, played by James MacArthur. Russell played her brother.

Image: Walt Disney Productions

5. 'The Mod Squad' made her an overnight “it” girl.

 

The Mod Squad was Peggy's big break. Every girl wanted to be Julie Barnes and every guy wanted to date her. With her trademark middle part, long hair, miniskirts, wide-leg pants and long jackets, she epitomized 1960s counterculture cool and became an immediate fashion icon.

6. She could even make the less-than-stellar outfits look chic.

 

Take this paint-covered smock and weird hat, for example. What would look frumpy on the average person looked totally fashionable on Peggy, who was naturally waiflike and elegant, and had the ability to make any garment seem like the next big trend. 

7. She dated some of the biggest stars of all time.

 

Lipton’s publicity team set her up with Paul McCartney and the two enjoyed a short-term relationship that led to intense media speculation from Beatles fans. She also briefly dated Elvis, Terence Stamp and Lou Adler.

Image: AP Photo

8. Her insecurities never showed.

 

Lipton admitted in her autobiography that it was hard to enjoy the success of The Mod Squad due to feelings of deep insecurity. She still saw herself as an awkward Long Island teenager with a stutter and crippling shyness. But that never never hindered her performance – in fact, she was nominated for four Emmys and won a Golden Globe for playing Julie Barnes.

9. She had a brief career in music.

 

She enjoyed some success as a singer, with three of her singles landing on the Billboard charts: “Stoney End,” “Lu” and “Wear Your Love Like Heaven.” 

Image: Discogs / Ode Records

10. She made her singing debut on 'The Hollywood Palace.'

 

“She is now. She’s where it’s at.” That’s how guest host Sammy Davis, Jr., introduced Lipton on a 1969 episode of the variety show. She sang solo before joining Davis for a duet. Watch it here. 

Image: ABC

11. She married who she loved despite controversy.

 

When Lipton married Quincy Jones in 1974, interracial marriage was still considered taboo. Even Peggy’s mother was shocked that her daughter married out of race and religion (the Liptons were Jewish). But she didn’t care, and her love for Jones proved a lasting one — though they divorced in 1990, they remained close.

Image: AP Photo / Barfield

12. Her daughters also also super cool.

 

Peggy had two daughters with Quincy Jones: Kidada, an actress, model and fashion designer who had a line for the Walt Disney Company called Kidada for Disney Couture, and Rashida, an actress known for her roles on The Office and Parks and Recreation. Peggy filmed a Verizon commercial with Rashida and played her mom in an episode of the TBS show Angie Tribeca. 

13. Twin Peaks lured her back to TV.

 

Though she made some minor appearances along the way, including The Return of the Mod Squad in 1979, her first big return to acting was in David Lynch’s seminal 1990s drama Twin Peaks. The show — a monster hit in its first season that was canceled due to poor ratings in season two — has maintained a devoted cult following and returned to Showtime in 2017, with Lipton reprising her role as diner-owner Norma Jennings. Only Peggy would pick such a cool show for her return to the screen.

Image: Republic Pictures / CBS Television Distribution