Peg Phillips

Margaret May Phillips (née Linton; September 20, 1918 – November 7, 2002) was an American actress best known for playing storekeeper Ruth-Anne Miller on the television series Northern Exposure but has also had several guest roles in 7th Heaven, How the West Was Fun, and ER.

Early life Phillips was born Margaret Linton in Everett, Washington, to Charles and Myrtle Linton. She wanted to be an actress from the age of four and performed in dinner theater as a hobby. She was the wife of Daniel Greene, a Navy man stationed in the Territory of Hawaii when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred.

Career She started acting professionally in her late 60s. Her first film performance was in the TV movie Chase in 1985. In 1990, she originated the role of Ruth-Anne Miller on Northern Exposure. The character had been intended to be intermittent, but gradually appeared more frequently until she became a regular.

After the fifth season of the show was wrapped up in 1995, she was undergoing heart surgery when an aortic aneurysm ruptured. Had she not already been on the operating table, it probably would have been fatal.

Television credits and nominations Year Title Role Notes 1990–95 Northern Exposure Ruth-Anne Miller 105 episodes 1996 Suddenly Susan Judge Cameron Episode: "Golden Girl Friday" 1996 Boston Common Rose Episode: "A Triage Grows in Boston" 1996 Touched by an Angel Zelda Widdenberg Episode: "The Journalist" 1996–99 7th Heaven Mrs. Hinkle 4 episodes 2000 ER Mrs. Duffy Episode: "The Domino Heart"

Year Association Category Nominated work Result 1993 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Northern Exposure 1994 Viewers for Quality Television Best Supporting Actress in a Quality Drama Series 1995 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1985 Chase Auntie Jane Television movie 1990 Waiting for the Light Iris 1991 Dogfight Older Cafe Customer 1994 How the West Was Fun Natty Television movie 1996 Jerry Maguire Video tape at bachelor party Uncredited