A California native, Cathy Rigby began her career as an artistic gymnast, competing with Team USA in the 1968 Summer Olympics.

With an early retirement at the age of 20, she became known to the world of musical theater as Peter Pan, which she played for more than 30 years. Her legacy has since been carried out through McCoy Rigby Entertainment, a production agency founded by herself and her husband, Tom McCoy, where she continues to support many youth groups involved in the arts.