Virginia Gregg

Virginia Gregg (Harrisburg, Illinois, March 6, 1916 - Encino, California, September 15, 1986) was an American actress, who lent her voice to the films Psycho (1960), Psycho II (1983) and Psycho III (1986).

Born in Harrisburg, Illinois, she was the daughter of musician Dewey Alphaleta and businessman Edward William Gregg. She had a stepsister, Mary.

Her family and she moved to Pasadena, California when she was five years old. She attended Jefferson High School, Pasadena Junior College, and Pacific Academy of Dramatic Art.

Gregg was a prolific radio actress, heard on such programs as The Adventures of Sam Spade, Dragnet, Dr. Kildare, Gunsmoke, The Jack Benny Program, Let George Do It, Lux Radio Theatre, One Man's Family, Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, The Screen Guild Theater, CBS Radio Mystery Theatre, The Zero Hour, and Mutual Radio Theater.

On the radio series Have Gun–Will Travel (starring John Dehner as Paladin), Gregg portrayed Miss Wong (Hey Boy's girlfriend), and also appeared in very different roles in the concurrent television series with Richard Boone. She had the role of Betty Barbour on One Man's Family and played Richard Diamond's girlfriend, the wealthy Helen Asher, on the radio series Richard Diamond, Private Detective (starring Dick Powell as Diamond). She later guest-starred in an episode of the television version of Richard Diamond, starring David Janssen.

Virginia Gregg made her film debut in Alfred Hitchcock's 1946 Les Enchaînés (a small uncredited role). She reunited with the director on Psycho (1960), where she was the voice of Norma, the mother of Norman Bates (note that in the first two sequels to this film, Psycho 2 in 1983 and Psycho 3 in 1986 - her last big-screen performance - she was once again the voice of Norma Bates). In the first film, she also stabbed Janet Leigh in the famous shower scene, Anthony Perkins being in New York at the time of filming.

In all, she contributed to forty-two American films, including westerns. Notable films include Robert Rossen's Blood and Gold (1947, with John Garfield and Lilli Palmer, in which she played her first credited role), Daniel Mann's A Woman in Hell (1955, with Susan Hayward and Richard Conte), Blake Edwards' Operation Petticoats (1959, with Cary Grant and Tony Curtis), and Delmer Daves' Spencers' Mountain (1963, with Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara).

On television, Virginia Gregg appeared from 1952 to 1983, in nineteen TV movies, two soap operas and, above all, one hundred and forty-two series, particularly in the Western genre. Notable series include Badge 714 (eleven episodes, 1952-1955), Alfred Hitchcock Presents (four episodes, 1955-1957), Gunsmoke (seven episodes, 1958-1969) and The Iron Man (four episodes, 1969-1974).

Finally, during her career, the actress was also very active on the radio, collaborating on numerous series and programs.

Gregg married producer Jaime del Valle in 1948 (another source says October 15, 1947, in Las Vegas, Nevada). They had three children, Gregg, Jaime, and Ricardo. They were divorced on December 22, 1959.

Gregg was active with Recording for the Blind, making recordings as a volunteer and serving on the group's board of directors.

Gregg died from lung cancer in Encino, California, on September 15, 1986.