2014 marks the 50th anniversary of the original release of the MGM movie, Kissin' Cousins.
Cynthia was born and raised in Hollywood, California. Her father, Jack Pepper, (Ginger Rogers’ first husband), was a Vaudeville star who toured with Bob Hope during World War II. Cynthia’s mother, Dawn, was a dancer with the Ziegfeld Follies.
After graduating from Hollywood High, Cynthia was cast in the hit TV series, “My Three Sons” starring Fred MacMurray. She later starred in her own TV series called “Margie” on ABC TV. Her unique acting style also landed her guest roles on many of the early 60’s Hollywood TV shows. She played Sandra Dee’s roommate in the movie “Take Her She’s Mine”, also starring Jimmy Stewart.
Cynthia says that the highlight of her career and one that changed her life forever was getting the part of “Midge Riley”, co-starring with Elvis Presley in the MGM movie “Kissin’ Cousins”. Cynthia considers herself very lucky to have worked with, and to have become a friend of Elvis.
Besides her family and pets, her greatest pleasure, at this stage of her life is to travel to different Elvis Conventions and festivals. Cynthia says: “Elvis fans are the best in the world. Of course that reflects well on the kind of person Elvis was.” With her soon to be released memoire, “Pigtails, Presley & Pepper”, she is so grateful that she gets to meet and share her stories of Elvis and her life with everyone around the world.
Cynthia currently resides in Las Vegas.