In 1951, he worked with the United States Navy to develop a hair style for female personnel which would stand up to sea breezes and prevent the hair from falling against the collar, which at the time was against regulations. Perc died of a heart attack on 30 September 1970, at his home in North Hollywood. He is interred at Glendale's Forest Lawn Memorial Park. He was posthumously nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Make-up at the 23rd Primetime Emmy Awards in 1971 for his work on "The Third Bill Cosby Special". The award went to Robert Dawn for "".