Margaret Kerry, the real-life model who helped bring Disney’s Tinker Bell to life in the original 1953 Peter Pan, has died at 97.
The Walt Disney Archives announced Kerry’s death on Instagram, paying tribute to the woman whose movements helped shape one of the most beloved animated characters in movie history.
Kerry died Thursday, leaving behind a Hollywood legacy that stretched from classic Disney animation to The Little Rascals and The Andy Griffith Show.
“Through her memorable performances—and her enduring connection and dedication to Disney fans over the years—Margaret has helped illuminate the magic of these timeless characters, inspiring generations who believe in the power of faith, trust, and ‘just a little bit of pixie dust,’” the Walt Disney Archives said.
Kerry did far more than simply pose for Tinker Bell. She pantomimed the part, acting out the fairy’s famous expressions and movements so Disney animators could study her on film and transform her into the mischievous little pixie who stole scenes in Peter Pan.
In a 2025 interview with Woman’s World, Kerry recalled how different animation was in those days.
“At that time, they didn’t have electronics. Everything was done by hand,” she said. “So, they cast a person in the role and then filmed them with 35-millimeter film.”
A cameraman would record Kerry acting out Tinker Bell’s scenes, then the footage would be handed over to animators who used her performance as inspiration.
Kerry said she was told to simply be herself — and that became the foundation for one of Disney’s most unforgettable characters.
Looking back, she seemed grateful that fate handed her the role of a beloved fairy instead of something darker.
“I could have been the actress who got her throat slashed in Psycho. What do you do with that?” she said. “Everything that I have done, people are enjoying today. That’s amazing.”
Born Peggy Lynch in Illinois, Kerry was raised in Los Angeles and started acting as a child. Her first screen role came in the 1935 film A Midsummer Night’s Dream, where she played a fairy.
She later appeared in three Our Gang shorts, better known to generations of fans as The Little Rascals.
In 1948, she starred alongside Eddie Cantor in If You Knew Susie, playing his daughter. She also appeared in films including Canyon City and later popped up on television in two episodes of The Andy Griffith Show.
Kerry also built a career as a voice actress, lending her talents to animated series including Clutch Cargo, The New Three Stooges and Space Angel.
But for millions of Disney fans, she will always be remembered as the woman behind Tinker Bell’s sparkle.
Her personal life was also filled with love and loss. Kerry was married to Dick Brown from 1951 to 1984, and the couple had three children: Ellen, Christina and Eric. She later married John Wilcox in 1987, and they remained together until his death in 1999.
In 2020, Kerry made headlines for her heartwarming late-in-life romance when she married Robert Boeke, a former boyfriend, when he was 94 years old. Boeke died on May 24.
Kerry’s death marks the end of a remarkable life tied to one of Disney’s most magical eras. But her legacy will continue every time Tinker Bell flies across the screen, reminding fans of the woman whose charm, movement and spirit helped create a character that never grew old.