Carolyn Jones: Morticia & More (Part 4)

Spectacular film clips, behind-the-scenes footage and rare interviews document the life of one of television's most recognizable faces.
For just two years, she played Morticia Addams, the mom of the ghoulish TV family based on cartoonist Charles Adams' creations. But she excelled on Broadway, won an Oscar® nomination and continually defied the expectations of casting directors and fans alike.
Carolyn Jones was named after the movie star Carole Lombard, and followed in her footsteps. After graduating high school, she attended the famous Pasadena Playhouse before making her screen debut opposite William Holden in The Turning Point. A series of comic roles with Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Micky Rooney left her hungering for more substantial parts, and at the same time that she was re-appraising her career, her decade-long marriage to Aaron Spelling was foundering. A year after their divorce, she landed the role of Morticia on The Addams Family, and soon she was a pop phenomena.
Filled with rare clips, outtakes and the recollections of friends and family, this BIOGRAPHY® follows Carolyn from her Texas childhood to her late-'70s comeback on Broadway, which was tragically cut short by cancer.

[@mafongojr164]

BIG mistake to cancel this show

[@chrisparkes2179]

The Munsters had begun to lose ratings and ABC panicked that Addams Family would too. The irony is that people were switching from the former to the latter as Addams Family was always a slicker show.

[@MarjorieEarlDean]

@@chrisparkes2179 The Munsters sucked.

[@TutankhamunStan]

I totally agree with you however the theme and genere of it all was made maybe a bit to early which may explain why it didnt gain its deserved popularity not to mention ratings or even the appreciation that would have been appropriate for a show this great, funny and overall just near perfect

[@dougfielding8215]

@@MarjorieEarlDean I liked both shows a lot. It's not either or. I liked Fred Gwin, he was great.

[@massoudkaykha2200]

Exactly (Massoud from Iran)

[@elizabethczepiel5220]

At the height of her success, Carolyn even answered her phone with "You rang!"

[@AnneliesRosseel]

The fact that John even loved her behind the camera 😍😍😍😍😭😭

[@larciabella]

@Brian Landers I know I wish John and Carolyn got married.

[@Laladust]

@@larciabella but then we wouldn't have Sean Astin(Samwise Gamgee) if John had married Carolyn instead of Patty Duke. Carolyn died so young too

[@m9078jk3]

@@larciabella They should have changed their last names to Addams too

[@visionaerie]

he really wasnt acting....

[@notwerkinginthishouse8634]

@@Laladust I felt so sad when I heard about her life and death, she was so iconic, she had eyes like no one else, also her voice, her forehead , her hair, style, classiness, everything

[@Nagassh]

The Morticia - Gomez relationship is, to this day, the most wholesome relationship that has been on TV. It's a shame she didn't find the same off camera.

[@joesmoe71]

"Morticia" is one of the best character names EVER invented! And Jones was a total knock-out, she really knew how to deliver a "look", as if to say "I'm the most woman you'll ever see, boy"

[@davidfarmer2049]

She had it down to a t yes. I think there must have been some jealousy somewhere.

[@notthicken_yeet8479]

Google

[@mrsamsung8184]

Yummmmm...

[@Laladust]

Every time Gomez would blow up his trains and her eyes would light up like a child as she said "marvelous darling!". I love Anjelica to death, but Carolyn was the epitome of Morticia.

[@robertkline8458]

@@davidfarmer2049 morticia was very pretty on addam family tv show, 1❤️ grandmamom,

[@cameron120587]

The network were idiots for cancelling The Addams Family

[@BeeHatGuy]

Amen

[@_CREEPELLA_]

Carolyn Jones is the only Morticia that matters.

[@TutankhamunStan]

definitely THE best Morticia no one so far has been able to beat her embodiment of the character - read her career went down hill afterwards which is a shame as she was so very talented - just look at her portrayal of morticia

[@kendallrivers1119]

@@TutankhamunStan I agree 100 percent Carolyn brought everything for that role that was needed and then some. The same with Jon Astin as Gomez. They both just embodied those characters to where there has never truly been an equal although in the movies Angelica Hutton and Raul Julia were great in their own way but Carolyn OWNED Morticia and Jon OWNED Gomez.

[@JLDReactions]

@@TutankhamunStan Angelica Houston's Morticia is damn good as well though.

[@0fficial.tovahh]

@@JLDReactions ikr

[@BeeHatGuy]

Amen

[@OH.A.M.]

Only 2 seasons, wow. The Addams Family could of had gone to 10 seasons at least.

[@OH.A.M.]

Classic shows are the best!

[@neilcrowesongs9768]

These days it would do like batman.

[@neilcrowesongs9768]

Role variety was countenanced back then and those in power were positively victorian

[@walterkoziol3822]

@Little Bit nothing was simple about this show. It took Carolyn Jones 20m to get out of her form fitting dress. Then there's Ted Cassidy, it took a while to apply his Lurch makeup. Same went for Marie Blake. Plus making sure all the moving props were working. The Munsters were the same way. These shows were NOT simple.

[@LAkadian]

Could *have.

[@darkseaofempathy]

No, but they were always in love with each other, and before she died he met with her one last time and they confessed to one another how they felt.

[@davidfarmer2049]

I think that chemistry was obvious.

[@sandrasanders706]

I always wondered.. all those years now I know they had some of the best chemistry in TV history

[@fdfsdfsvsfgsg4888]

Except that didn't happen.

[@yogurtz6676]

@@fdfsdfsvsfgsg4888 I mean probably not. But you never know it could have.

[@RebaRocks100]

@@fdfsdfsvsfgsg4888 John said they met before she died and told each other how they felt. He said it in a Monster Mania Comic-Con interview, it’s on KZbin.

[@ronaldcammarata3422]

People forget that Carolyn Jones was an Academy Award nominated screen actress.

[@paologalliani6284]

Wonderful eyes...she Looks like painted by an artist!

[@begobertran9739]

I wish the whole cast knew back then how iconic The Addams family would become. Even I’m 2021 we can all agree that this 60’s adaptation is beyond amazing!

[@pulsarstargrave256]

ABC wanted to be seen as a more "serious" network? They cancelled The Addams Family but they were still showing Bewitched and launched the BATMAN campfest? The mind boggles!

[@SuperWolsey]

Fast forward to five decades later, its Shondaland Country

[@austinpearce5442]

kory stephens with Once Upon a Time

[@blue0580]

Pulsar Stargrave and don't forget roseanne.

[@gavinjohns1953]

mexicanoperronny and Urkel

[@getvnews1918]

Pulsar Stargrave your right hum

[@frozenkumiyumi28]

"Don't try to fight it darling, relax and worship me" LOL She's so amazing Oh god she's SO beautiful!! Morticia forever!

[@sandrasanders706]

I watched every show of Batman back then, and honestly I don't even remember this character she portrayed I really don't..

[@kendallrivers1119]

To this day The Addams Family is just timelessly funny and gave us one of the most loving families in television history. The sharp wit and ironic macabre humor was so original and has yet to be matched to this day. Carolyn and John will always be the best adaptations of Gomez and Morticia ever!

[@sdavenport1981]

I wish her and John Astin had been together in real life

[@karinaolvera7338]

sdavenport1981 me too

[@jawo8754]

He's actor Sean Astin's stepdad. Sean was in Goonies, Rudy and Lord of the Rings.

[@Laladust]

@@jawo8754 dad, not step-dad. For all intents and purposes, John is his dad, and Michael Tell was just a sperm donor. Sean didn't even find out about Michael until he was 26.

[@alguienporae3870]

Idr where I read it, but I heard he actually was in love with carolyn

[@jeffadams2134]

I was 10 years old when "The Addams Family" appeared for the first time on TV. I was (happily) branded due to my last name. To this day people snap their fingers at me and sing the first measure of the "The Addams Family" theme song. That's always fun!

[@robertosso5210]

everytime you see john astin before and now in photos and on tv he always has a smile on his face hes a happy man. thats why hes living to a very old age

[@sithmaster4305]

It was a brain dead move by the network executives to cancel the Addams Family. Even today as a kid who wasn't even an flicker in the eyes of my parents, if they were alive, this show still holds up. Jon, and Carolyn Jones owned their roles and gave everyone young, and old a good role model to look at.

[@gingersnap8036]

there is something so powerful about a woman with such sleek and elegant poise, as well as wit and grace in her mannerisms 🖤🖤

[@jinkazama1272]

her eyes. something about it is so attractivè

[@eccentricninny0120]

goodness gracious.. her speaking voice is GOLD!!!!!!!

[@MrsLesleyOlivia]

Carolyn will always be Morticia, rip Carolyn

[@mshehe1717]

When she played the Queen of Diamonds in Batman, for some reason she reminded me a lot of Michelle Pfiefer.

[@davidfarmer2049]

Carolyn Jones RIP.

[@kaykaydon1128]

It hurts me how the actor for Gomez and Morticia fell in love during the show but she ended up loving another man and marrying him and the actor of Gomez had to talk about it

[@georgeplagianos6487]

Kay Marguerite didn't John Astin go off and marry Patty Duke that was very difficult relationship they had It was said he was very cruel to her and she was suffering some very deep depression I don't know if that was caused by him or she brought it on board when she got married.

[@ChrisConnolly-Mr.C-Dives-In]

Kirk Moore ... and Sean Astin is not his biological son, but Sean has commented on how John was a good dad to him. They all had to have complicated relationships.

[@vivianaacosta2714]

Kirk Moore well, you know what they say: “their spooky and their *kooky* the Addams Family!”

[@vesuvial9499]

Viviana Acosta i believe he was talking about patty duke instead of carolyn

[@vivianaacosta2714]

vesuvial oh. My bad

[@CadeD679]

Carolyn Jones had such elegance, grace, and beauty.

[@debrastephens495]

Carolyn Jones played morticia to the max she was a beautiful and gracious lady I still watch the reruns

[@peterbooth1525]

She had the most amazing eyes.

[@fvazquez64]

1964... Bewitched, The Munsters and Addams Family... what a year :)

[@esmeraldagems9487]

Wow it's amazing how this show had so much of an impact on people after only 2 years? I always thought it went for at least 8 years or so.

[@artwallace9323]

ABC cancelled the Addams Family when they had a 75 share. The worst programing fuckup in TV history!

[@sandrasanders706]

How could that happen? I heard the show had low ratings..

[@magistrumartium]

thanks for posting this. It's nice to see Carolyn Jones again and learn so much about her.

[@davidfarmer2049]

I agree, what a waste.

[@getvnews1918]

Mark T. I Sooo glad I ran across this post Thank You.

[@inkyguy]

She would have made a great Cat Woman.

[@pheresy1367]

In a "serious" Batman show....YEAH!!!

[@judyledbetter3915]

Me-owwwww! 🐾🐈 I Agree. God Bless.

[@keithforsay4204]

I Agree.CJ Guesting On Batman Basically Proves That Story Of Why Such Talented People Like Her Guest On Such Garbage They Need The Money! Not Because My Kids Asked Me It Simply Isn't True. CJ Never Had Kids. Batman Was The Love-Boat Of The 1960s. RIP Carolyn

[@judyledbetter3915]

@@keithforsay4204 I Just Saw Your Comment, & Had To Laugh. Apparently, I'm Not The Only One. (First Letter, Capitalized.) Good To See. I Used To Watch Batman, All The Time. Anyway, God Bless You & Have A Blessed Evening. 🦋

[@stevenhosea4849]

Carolyn. Steven. Hi. Very. Goodness. Happens. Great. Bye

[@angeltenorio0318]

I'm in Love With Morticia ! She will always be my Favorite !

[@wednesdayaddams3493]

Paola Esperanza Tenorio shes MY MUM!

[@getvnews1918]

Esperanza Lopez MEE TOO!!

[@jadeshannon5583]

The Addams family was hilarious!Everybody in this country loved her.

[@sanchezmindandmusicchannel690]

I once met a bright and happy Carolyn Jones a few years after she returned to Hollywood. She was living in a small house on Keith Ave in West Hollywood (just north of Santa Monica Blvd). My friend was a hairdresser who rented the house behind Carolyn's. Once day, she came walking down the driveway and cheerfully greeted us as we were on our way out. Nothing big, just a quick "hello", nice to meet you kinda' thing. When I met her, she looked exactly as she did in the photograph shown at time mark 8:06. She was almost "girlish", I recall... But, she looked great.

[@draganpajvancek]

She was so glamorous...She had a style.Her walk,talk and body movements..She was perfect Morticia.

[@leostaar]

You can tell from watching the show that they must have been having a wonderful time and got along well

[@peterpalmer9755]

Never knew it was only two seasons. Network execs really screwed the pooch.

[@pheresy1367]

The Pooch was traumatized. The Pooch was never the same.

[@howardkerr8174]

Sad, that the networks turned their backs on shows and actors that made them famous all to improve an image of the network. Supposedly, Gilligan's island also was cancelled, even though it had decent ratings, for a stupid reason.

[@clonusmaximus4600]

She was such a stunningly complex actress. Such a talented chameleon. People forget that she played Morticia’s sister Ophelia too, such a distinctly different comedy creation

[@kakarrot62]

Morticia was always smoking hot

[@getvnews1918]

kakarrot62 Yes she was.

[@CarolynJonesForever]

Aw I miss Carolyn ALOT! :'( R.I.P

[@judyledbetter3915]

Love The Chemistry Between Gomez & Morticia. ❤ God Bless.

[@fdd1035]

i loved this show as a child and still do as an adult.

[@joanormrod4893]

My favourite morticia. The long wig was nicer than her normal hair.

[@38800]

Fantastic 2. These 2 were brilliant together. U can see the love

[@Emrose93]

After this I have such a new respect for Carolyn after watching this. She was an incredible talented woman. ♥

[@mortishastyles1345]

Caroline was a lovely person.

[@christianali5431]

I am surprised that they let sexiness like that get on television in the 60s.

[@jaywunder13242]

Some of us have heard of the potato famine. And that Ireland is really Catholic. A few might know about the violent confrontations over the whole Northern Ireland issue, especially if they are a little older. Not in any detail, though. Beyond that, not much.

[@yomiee.]

That lady was sooo pretty

[@simonjack9699]

Huh... so are you trying to say just because she was attractive it wasn't a good idea to cast her on Addams Family??? That's like you trying to say just because Ruby Rose is a lesbian that she wasn't allowed to play Batwoman or to be in any TV show... You are truly the real life definition of a bigot somebody whose racist and prejudiced all at one time

[@christianali5431]

@@simonjack9699 I never said it was bad.

[@pinkshrimp]

This is so WONDERFUL!!! Thank you so much for putting it up , really..

[@the_resourceful]

I absolutely adore this show. Gomez and Morticia are the quintessential couple. 🖤

[@sharonbrewer1956]

Absolutely no doubt the best ever

[@clintbronson5]

Carolyn Jones is a 10...But Morticia is a 13 vow-Vow-VOOOOM

[@Pashasmom1]

The original Zorro was also canceled after 2 years due to a disagreement between Walt Disney and the network. And it was also a successful show.

[@isabelleserafin2407]

2019 still Watching Addams Family ❤️

[@nicholasjohnson6724]

Carolyn has the most amazing eyes !!

[@Party129]

I love this show

[@Shiirow]

The funny thing is, if you said the girl who played wednesday in the show was her actual daughter I wouldnt be surprised. She does look a bit like Carolyn, especially after she grew up.

[@333Harpo]

A friend of mine is Wednesday's (Lisa Loring's) cousin although I've not had a chance to meet her.....she's also shared with him how much love was on the set, the camaraderie, the chemistry, etc. They (the cast) were all just beautiful, good people I'm told. Remember the Christmas episode where Lurch played Santa Claus? Wednesday and Pugsley both had to somehow keep a straight face interacting with 7 foot tall Santa-Lurch! Go back and watch that episode on KZbin.....its priceless......Pugsley: Psst! Hey, I think this Santa Claus is really Lurch! Wednesday: Yeah! I can tell by his smile! "smile"? 🤣

[@333Harpo]

his "smile" gave him away! 😆 CLASSIC!!!

[@knjmoorhouse5093]

I loved the Adams Family. The fact that it played reruns for years shows how unwise it was to cancel the show after just 2 seasons.

[@timc2346]

Grew up watching it in syndication ,great show.

[@simonjack9699]

The true morticia ❤

[@tammywoodworth3563]

I sure miss these old show bring them back to tv

[@joshuasteele4498]

It’s unfortunate that the show was canceled so soon. Two seasons is what usually happens with shows that just don’t find an audience. This was an axe job. I imagine that somewhere around 4-5 seasons is where the cast would have been ready to hang it up, but we can’t really know.

[@boganlessons]

To me, Carolyn will always be my Morticia :) I miss her so much and would have been honoured to meet such a brilliant actress ^_^ I'm pissed off that some dickhead CANCELLED the Addams Family and yet we still have bullshit shows such as "Keeping up With The Kardasians" it makes me sick >:( Lisa Lorings HOT! :D

[@sandrasanders706]

I remember watching the soap opera Capitol sometimes and the last time I saw her she was in a wheelchair I couldn't believe her appearance I really didn't know if she was Ill or if it was just her character she was playing that I was so stunned when I learned that she had passed away she will always be Morticia...

[@TheRadicalreels]

This is so wonderful to watch! I love it!

[@pamelamays4186]

Ironically, "Lurch" appeared in Batman wall climb cameo.

[@Zoras88]

ABC really screwed up when they cancelled The Addams Family

[@ximenam891]

It gives you another feeling to watch the series and know that they were actually attracted to each other

[@mariocordeiro8728]

I really loved this show and the Munsters as a kid it took you to a truly magical place where you could laugh and have fun!! I still watch these show's because i have both complete series on DVD 😊

[@ninjaman2254]

Such a beautiful woman 😍

[@getvnews1918]

Bobby Samra Yes she was. EXTREMELY beautiful.

[@partymanau]

Pretty sure Morticia gave me my thing for brunettes. God bless her.

[@getvnews1918]

partymanau Yeah Me Too.. dark and mysterious woman I like that.

[@henryjekyll7566]

Same here! Never changed. Carolyn's Morticia - wow. God bless her.

[@feymaetz9224]

OH MY GOD,THOSE TWO WHERE ACTUALLY CANON??!?!? YEEEESSSSSS!!! ♡♡♡♡

[@deborahford5220]

Morticia was one of my nicknames in high school. Probably because I wore a lot of black and had long dark brown hair.

[@raymondreid4987]

She was so beautiful and funny. She looked great in the black dress that showed off her tiny waist.

[@mortishastyles1345]

I loved and still love every one in the adfams family.

[@lesb_socal]

The execs who decided to cancel the show deserved a special award for Big Time Stupid.

[@StellyBellie]

Please please upload the interview of Carolyn Jones with Hollywood Backstage. It would be amazing to see!

[@randyhutchinson9910]

I'm really enjoying this

[@sidDkid87]

j'adore Morticia (Carolyn Jones)

[@sidDkid87]

***** I love how she would clip the roses off their stems and them put the stems in the vase : )`

[@LucaFranzolini]

Awesome

[@shawnmulligan2894]

sidDkid87 I also liked her smoking joke. "Do you mind if I smoke?" "Not at all." (emits smoke clouds from her dress) LOL

[@davidfarmer2049]

me too

[@maupinmaupin1472]

the Addams Family was the best show on TV

[@jacquelinejoyce8066]

It still is in my opinion.

[@kennyhuskisson2684]

​@@jacquelinejoyce8066 I'm 59 years old, I have the box set, every episode of the show, watch them all the time & laugh!👍✌️

[@sschevy8558]

Such an awesome show!

[@rose_yts]

Gómez was a handsome latin lover! He managed to be sexy and goofy at the same time. Not conventionally good-looking, yet handsome, with a lot of charm and a great sense of humour and generosity. Very naive, though, but a great family man! Loved his character, but I didn't know he was handsome when I watched the show as a child ;)

[@michaelwargo5301]

Love this show.. awesomeness

[@G-pereira41]

Carolyn Jones wonderfull!! I miss r.i.p

[@boganlessons]

To me, Carolyn will always be my Morticia :) I miss her so much and would have been honoured to meet such a brilliant actress ^_^ I'm pissed off that some dickhead CANCELLED the Addams Family and yet we still have bullshit shows such as "Keeping up With The Kardasians" it makes me sick >:( Lisa Lorings HOT! :D and its nice to see Gomez [i mean John :P] is still alive!

[@randysills4418]

She was very intelligent and charming! I just watched 5 episodes of "Password" on KZbin and she was wonderful!

[@sarahmoviereviewer4109]

I loved the addams family i wish it wasnt cancled

[@shawnmulligan2894]

sarah hayes Just a third season That's all I ask for!

[@ky-gp4sz]

She sounds just like morticia

[@bytheway1031]

Happy Birthday Carolyn Jones🎂🍾 04-28-2022!

[@psw4763]

I liked this show and also The Munsters

[@raywhittington1368]

I had forgotten about Marsha the Queen of Diamonds until now! Only 2 seasons? Interesting look back, here in this video.

[@camzpras3435]

I love you Morticia Addams

[@robertcotgrave5920]

What a sophisticated lady and such a beautiful one, a true star,

[@CharlsEC]

I would love to have the stupid muggle that cancelled The Addams Family infront of me... oh sweet vengeance!

[@spicyshark9202]

Thats the thing for john ashton and ted these were the first roles where these actors were playing main characters your always going feel special about your first role

[@Es3iya]

Very sad it got cancelled, only after 2 seasons. Imagine what a hit it would be now if they had like 7 or 8 seasons. So much rewatch value also

[@SuperHeliboy]

Huge mistake canceling that show. I had no idea her career was so spanning.