Post by Kaz ~:~ on Dec 10, 2016 13:17:52 GMT -6
Yvonne De Carlo Biography
Date of Birth 1 September 1922, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Date of Death 8 January 2007, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA (natural causes)
Birth Name Margaret Yvonne Middleton
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Nicknames::
Peggy
Sweetheart
The Gothic Donna Reed
Technicolor Queen of Hollywood
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Bio:
Yvonne De Carlo was born Margaret Yvonne Middleton on September 1, 1922 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She was three when her father abandoned the family. Her mother turned to waitressing in a restaurant to make ends meet--a rough beginning for an actress who would, one day, be one of Hollywood's elite. Yvonne's mother wanted her to be in the entertainment field and enrolled her in a local dance school and also saw that she studied dramatics. Yvonne was not shy in the least. She was somewhat akin to Colleen Moore who, like herself, entertained the neighborhood with impromptu productions. In 1937, when Yvonne was 15, her mother took her to Hollywood to try for fame and fortune, but nothing came of it and they returned to Canada. They came back to Hollywood in 1940, where Yvonne would dance in chorus lines at night while she checked in at the studios by day in search of film work. After appearing in unbilled parts in three short films, she finally got a part in a feature.
Although the film Harvard, Here I Come! (1941) was quite lame, Yvonne shone in her brief appearance as a bathing beauty. The rest of 1942 and 1943 saw her in more uncredited roles in films that did not quite set Hollywood on fire. In The Deerslayer (1943), she played Wah-Tah. The role did not amount to much, but it was much better than the ones she had been handed previously. The next year was about the same as the previous two years. She played small parts as either secretaries, someone's girlfriend, native girls or office clerks. Most aspiring young actresses would have given up and gone home in defeat, but not Yvonne. She trudged on. The next year, started out the same, with mostly bit parts, but later that year, she landed the title role in Salome Where She Danced (1945) for Universal Pictures. While critics were less than thrilled with the film, it was at long last her big break, and the film was a success for Universal. Now she was rolling.
Her next film was the western comedy Frontier Gal (1945) as Lorena Dumont. After a year off the screen in 1946, she returned in 1947 as Cara de Talavera in Song of Scheherazade (1947), and many agreed that the only thing worth watching in the film was Yvonne. Her next film was the highly regarded Burt Lancaster prison film Brute Force (1947). Time after time, Yvonne continued to pick up leading roles, in such pictures as Slave Girl (1947), Black Bart (1948), Casbah (1948) and River Lady (1948). She had a meaty role in Criss Cross (1949), a gangster movie, as the ex-wife of a hoodlum. At the start of the 1950s, Yvonne enjoyed continued success in lead roles. Her talents were again showcased in movies such as The Desert Hawk (1950), Silver City (1951) and Scarlet Angel (1952). Her last film in 1952 was Hurricane Smith (1952), a picture most fans and critics agree is best forgotten.
In 1956, she appeared in the film that would immortalize her best, The Ten Commandments (1956). She played Sephora, the wife of Moses (Charlton Heston). The film was, unquestionably, a super smash, and is still shown on television today. Her performance served as a springboard to another fine role, this time as Amantha Starr in Band of Angels (1957). In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Yvonne appeared on such television series as Bonanza (1959) and The Virginian (1962). However, with film roles drying up, she took what turned out to be the role for which she will be best remembered--that of Lily Munster in the smash series The Munsters (1964). However, she still was not completely through with the big screen. Appearances in such films as McLintock! (1963), The Power (1968), The Seven Minutes (1971) and La casa de las sombras (1976) kept her before the eyes of the moviegoing public. Yvonne De Carlo died at age 84 of natural causes on January 8, 2007 in Woodland Hills, California.
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Spouse:
Bob Morgan (21 November 1955 - 1974) (divorced) (2 children)
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Her portrayals of affectionate, devoted housewives in The Ten Commandments (1956) and The Munsters (1964)
Long dark chestnut hair
Blue-gray eyes, which sparkle in her Technicolor films
Voluptuous figure
Deep sultry voice
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Miss Venice Beach 1938.
Took the role of Lily Munster on The Munsters (1964) to help pay husband Bob Morgan's medical bills. Morgan, an actor/stuntman, had suffered near-fatal injuries while filming How the West Was Won (1962). By her own admission, Ms. De Carlo never imagined, at the time, that Lily Munster would become her most famous role.
Ex-sister-in-law of Jaye P. Morgan, Charlie Morgan, Dick Morgan and Duke Morgan.
Her maternal grandfather, Michael De Carlo, was Sicilian, and her maternal grandmother, Margaret Purvis, was Scottish. She drew her stage name from her grandfather.
She chose her own stage name by using her middle name and her mother's maiden name of De Carlo.
Guest-starred on the pilot episode of Bonanza (1959) as gold rush entertainer Lotta Crabtree.
Had two sons: Bruce (born 1956) and Michael (1957-1999); and one stepdaughter: Bari (born 1947).
She was the producers' second choice to play Lily Munster, after Joan Marshall was dropped from consideration for the role of Phoebe Marshall.
Became a naturalized citizen of the United States.
Was trained in opera and was a former chorister at St. Paul's Anglican Church in Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada, when she was a little girl.
Before she starred on The Munsters (1964) that same year, she was deeply in debt, her film career was over and was suffering from depression.
She had six hobbies: spending time with her family, golfing, dancing, drinking wine, listening to music, singing.
Began her career as a contract player for Paramount Pictures in 1942.
Before she was a successful actress, she was a dancer and had worked at various nightclubs in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Dropped out of King Edward High School at age 15 (which was her sophomore year), to focus
more on her dance studies, hence, she attended B.C. School of Dancing.
Attended King Edward High School in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Attended Le Conte Middle School in Los Angeles, California.
Was a heavy smoker for many years and suffered a stroke in 1998.
Resided at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital from 1998 to 2007, where she died.
Was only three years old when her father and mother separated; acting ran in her family.
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Films & TV:
Actress (123 credits)
1995 The Barefoot Executive (TV Movie)
Norma
1995 Here Come the Munsters (TV Movie)
Cameo appearance (as Yvonne DeCarlo)
1993 Tales from the Crypt (TV Series)
- Death of Some Salesmen (1993) ... Mrs. Jones
1993 Seasons of the Heart
Older Martha (voice)
1992 The Naked Truth
Mrs. Hess
1991 Dream On (TV Series)
- The Second Greatest Story Ever Told (1991) ... Francesca Goldman
1991 Oscar
Aunt Rosa (as Yvonne DeCarlo)
1990 Mirror Mirror
Emelin
1990 The New Adventures of the Black Stallion (TV Series)
- Star Quality (1990)
1988 Cellar Dweller
Mrs. Briggs
1988 American Gothic
Ma
1987 Vultures
Rose
1964-1987 The Munsters (TV Series)
- My Fair Munster: Unaired Pilot 2 (1987) ... Lily Munster
- A Visit from the Teacher (1966) ... Lily Munster
- Herman's Lawsuit (1966) ... Lily Munster
- Herman's Sorority Caper (1966) ... Lily Munster
- A House Divided (1966) ... Lily Munster
1986 A Masterpiece of Murder (TV Movie)
Mrs. Murphy
1985 Murder, She Wrote (TV Series)
- Jessica Behind Bars (1985) ... Miss Springer (as Yvonne DeCarlo)
1983 Play Dead
Hester
1982 Liar's Moon
Jeanene Dubois
1981 The Munsters' Revenge (TV Movie)
Lily Munster (as Yvonne DeCarlo)
1980 The Man with Bogart's Face
1978-1979 Fantasy Island (TV Series)
- The Victim/The Mermaid (1979) ... Madame Jeannot
- Charlie's Cherubs/Stalag 3 (1978) ... Fifi Aprea
1979 The Silent Scream
Mrs. Engels
1979 Fuego negro
Catherine Jones
1979 Guyana: Cult of the Damned
Susan Ames
1977 Satan's Cheerleaders
Emmy / Sheriff's Wife / High Priestess
1977 Roots (TV Mini-Series)
Slave Owner's Wife
1976 La casa de las sombras
Mrs. Howard
1976 Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Cleaning Woman
1975 It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
Julia
1975 Blazing Stewardesses
Honey Morgan
1974 The Mark of Zorro (TV Movie)
Isabella Vega (as Yvonne DeCarlo)
1974 The Girl on the Late, Late Show (TV Movie)
Lorraine
1971 The Seven Minutes
Constance Cumberland
1970 The Delta Factor
Valerie
1970 The Name of the Game (TV Series)
- Island of Gold and Precious Stones (1970) ... Mrs. Levene
1963-1969 The Virginian (TV Series)
- Crime Wave in Buffalo Springs (1969) ... Imogene Del Finnia
- A Time Remembered (1963) ... Helen Haldeman aka Elena
1968 Arizona Bushwhackers
Jill Wyler
1968 The Power
Mrs. Sally Hallson
1967 Custer (TV Series)
- The Raiders (1967) ... Vanessa Ravenhill
1967 Hostile Guns
Laura Mannon
1967 The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (TV Series)
- The Moulin Ruse Affair (1967) ... Nadia Marcolescu
1966 Munster, Go Home!
Lily Munster
1964 The Greatest Show on Earth (TV Series)
- The Night the Monkey Died (1964) ... Magda Kolday
1964 A Global Affair
Dolores
1964 Law of the Lawless
Ellie Irish
1963 Burke's Law (TV Series)
- Who Killed Beau Sparrow? (1963) ... Countess Barbara Erozzi (as Yvonne DeCarlo)
1963 McLintock!
Louise Warren
1962 Death Valley Days (TV Series)
- The Lady Was an M.D. (1962) ... Dr. Clare Reed
1961-1962 Follow the Sun (TV Series)
- Annie Beeler's Place (1962) ... Annie Beeler
- The Longest Crap Game in History (1961) ... Annie Beeler (as Yvonne DeCarlo)
1960 Adventures in Paradise (TV Series)
- Isle of Eden (1960) ... Lianne Zagreb
1959 Bonanza (TV Series)
- A Rose for Lotta (1959) ... Lotta Crabtree
1958 La spada e la croce
Maria Maddalena
1958 Timbuktu
Natalie Dufort
1958 Playhouse 90 (TV Series)
- Verdict of Three (1958) ... Marina Arkwright
1957 Band of Angels
Amantha Starr
1957 Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series)
- Storm Over Rapallo (1957) ... Francesca
- Episode #7.3 ... Francesca
1957 Shower of Stars (TV Series)
- Skits & Sketches (1957)
1956 Death of a Scoundrel
Bridget Kelly
1956 The Ten Commandments
Sephora
1956 Star Stage (TV Series)
- The Sainted General (1956) ... Dona Maria Sanchez
1956 Raw Edge
Hannah Montgomery
1956 Flame of the Islands
Rosalind Dee
1956 Screen Directors Playhouse (TV Series)
- Hot Cargo (1956) ... Pearl Krauss
1955 Magic Fire
Minna Planer
1955 Shotgun
Abby (as Yvonne DeCarlo in opening credits, Yvonne deCarlo in closing credits)
1954 Passion
Rosa Melo / Antonia 'Tonia' Melo
1954 The Contessa's Secret
La Castiglione - Virginia Oldoini
1954 Tonight's the Night
Serena McGlusky
1954 Border River
Carmelita Carias
1953 The Backbone of America (TV Movie)
Victoria Johnson
1953 Fort Algiers
Yvette
1953 The Captain's Paradise
Nita St. James
1953 Sombrero
Maria of the River Road
1953 Sea Devils
Droucette (as Yvonne de Carlo)
1953 The Ford Television Theatre (TV Series)
- Madame 44 (1953) ... Prudence Ledyard / Madame 44
1952 Hurricane Smith
Luana Whitmore
1952 Scarlet Angel
Roxy McClanahan
1952 The San Francisco Story
Adelaide McCall
1952 Lights Out (TV Series)
- Another Country (1952) ... Marie Von Erdody
1951 Silver City
Candace Surrency
1951 Hotel Sahara
Yasmin Pallas
1951 Tomahawk
Julie Madden (as Yvonne DeCarlo in opening credits)
1950 The Desert Hawk
Princess Scheherazade
1950 Buccaneer's Girl
Deborah McCoy
1949 The Gal Who Took the West
Lillian Marlowe
1949 Screen Snapshots 1860: Howdy, Podner (Short)
Yvonne De Carlo
1949 Calamity Jane and Sam Bass
Calamity Jane
1949 Criss Cross
Anna Dundee
1948 River Lady
Sequin
1948 Casbah
Inez (as Yvonne DeCarlo)
1948 Black Bart
Lola Montez
1947 Slave Girl
Francesca
1947 Brute Force
Gina Ferrara
1947 Song of Scheherazade
Cara de Talavera
1945 Frontier Gal
Lorena Dumont
1945 Salome Where She Danced
Salome
1945 Bring on the Girls
Hatcheck Girl (uncredited)
1944 Practically Yours
Office Clerk (uncredited)
1944 Here Come the Waves
Wave (uncredited)
1944 Rainbow Island
Lona's Companion (uncredited)
1944 Kismet
Handmaiden (uncredited)
1944 Fun Time (Short)
Phyllis
1944 The Story of Dr. Wassell
Native Girl (uncredited)
1944 Standing Room Only
Secretary (uncredited)
1943 True to Life
Bit Role (uncredited)
1943 The Deerslayer
Princess Wah-Tah
1943 So Proudly We Hail!
Girl (uncredited)
1943 Let's Face It
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
1943 For Whom the Bell Tolls
Girl in Cafe (uncredited)
1943 Salute for Three
Left Brunette in Singing Quartette (uncredited)
1942 Rhythm Parade
Showgirl (uncredited)
1942 Lucky Jordan
Minor Role (scenes deleted)
1942 Road to Morocco
Handmaiden (uncredited)
1942 Youth on Parade
Student (uncredited)
1942 This Gun for Hire
Showgirl at Neptune Club (uncredited)
1941 I Look at You (Short)
1941 The Kink of the Campus (Short)
Kitty O'Hara
1941 Harvard, Here I Come!
Bathing Girl (uncredited)