Virginia Gregg was born on March 6, 1916, in Harrisburg, Illinois, and became a prolific American actress renowned for her distinctive voice work in radio, film, television, and animation across five decades.

She launched her career in the 1940s as one of radio's busiest performers, voicing roles such as Miss Wong on Have Gun–Will Travel, Betty Barbour on One Man's Family, and Helen Asher on Richard Diamond, Private Detective, while also appearing on shows like Gunsmoke and The Jack Benny Program.

Transitioning to film in the late 1940s, she took uncredited parts in Notorious, Gentleman's Agreement, and Body and Soul before gaining notice in features like Crime in the Streets (1956) and Operation Petticoat (1959).​

Her most iconic contribution came as the uncredited voice of Norma Bates, Norman Bates's mother, in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960), a role she reprised in Psycho II (1983) and Psycho III (1986), cementing her association with the horror classic.

A favorite of producer Jack Webb, she frequently appeared in his projects, including multiple episodes of Dragnet across radio and TV versions, as well as Adam-12 and Emergency!, often portraying judges, nurses, or tough matriarchs. Her television resume spanned anthology series like Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone, and Bonanza, alongside guest spots on Rawhide, The Waltons, where she played herbalist Ada Corley and Police Story.​

In film, Virginia Gregg supported stars in Madigan (1968), A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966), and S.O.B. (1981), while her animation credits included voicing characters in Disney's Alice in Wonderland and providing narration for various projects.

Married to actor and producer Jaime del Valle, she balanced her extensive workload with a reputation for professionalism, once quipping about being cast as "the wrath of God" types.

Virginia Gregg continued acting into the 1980s until her death from cancer on September 15, 1986, in Encino, California, at age 70, leaving a legacy as a versatile character actress whose gravelly voice defined memorable supporting roles.​