"The New Loretta Young Show" and "Island of the Blue Dolphins" star Celia Kaye interview

Celia Kaye is an actress who starred on the television series "The New Loretta Young Show" from 1962 to 1963 as a daughter of Loretta Young's character. Celia Kaye also starred in the 1964 film "Island of the Blue Dolphins" as Karana. She played the, "Bride of the Bear" in the legendary 1978 film "Big Wednesday" and played a High Priestess in the first 1984 film version of the "Conan the Barbarian" series. She also guest starred as Julie Trenton on the 1962 "The Traveler" episode of the Western television series "Tales of Wells Fargo." Celia Kaye guest starred as Ann Shelby on the 1964 episode of the popular Western television series "Wagon Train," entitled, "The Clay Shelby Story."

[@elsakristina2689]

I read and watched “Island of the Blue Dolphins” for the first time when I was ten and I loved it. She was amazing as Karana and I’ve never forgotten. I wonder how many deleted scenes there are since that scene of her with the horse obviously never shows up in the final film.

[@RossiterMeets]

@@elsakristina2689 It’s wonderful that Celia Kaye’s performance as Karana has resonated with you throughout the years. It means a lot to me that you came across my video, and that we visited with Ms. Kaye today! Interesting about the deleted scene; maybe there were different versions. It was so great to get to meet Celia Kaye and to interview her. Thanks for commenting!

[@ryanc4761]

Great questions! She’s had an interesting and varied career for sure

[@RossiterMeets]

Thank you! Definitely. It was so great getting to meet Celia Kaye and to interview her, and I enjoyed hearing her talk about her work. She’s definitely had a prolific career. Thank you for commenting!

[@mikeclarke3882]

Another great conversation, thanks Rossiter. While I'm not familiar with a lot of Celia's work, I have a friend who was also in one of the Conan movies, he had a fight with Grace Jones (in the movie not in real life) and I was a huge fan of 'Waggon Train". I know they also ran 'The Green Hornet' on English TV at the time, but I don't have any memory of watching it. Kind of weird given the path I eventually took in life.

[@RossiterMeets]

Thank you! My pleasure! It was so great getting to meet Celia Kaye and to interview her. I think that’s really cool that your friend fought with Grace Jones in one of the “Conan” films! What’s his name? I’ve heard that “Wagon Train” was a really great show, but I’ve never seen it. And, I agree, that’s interesting how you eventually went into martial arts years after “The Green Hornet” was on. Thanks for commenting!

[@mikeclarke3882]

@@RossiterMeets My friend's name is Terry O'Neill. He also had small parts in other big movies like 'Entrapment' with Sean Connery and Catherine Zetta Jones, where he had to try and kill them in an antique shop, and, he played a minor gang leader in 'Gangs of New York'. As an actor he is best known for his major roles on English TV shows, like 'The Governor'. I knew him because he was also a very famous karate teacher and body builder, but also because he was the owner of a Martial Arts magazine called 'Fighting Arts'. By the way, if I'm not mistaken, it was 'Waggon Train' that gave Clint Eastwood his big break playing the cowboy, 'Rowdy Yates'.

[@RossiterMeets]

@@mikeclarke3882 Really nice! It seems like he’s had a really amazing career. He’s been in a lot of really major films and has worked with many iconic stars. It’s cool that he’s been on a lot of major television shows, too. I just recently looked him up and I was amazed by all of the things that he had and has been in. That’s cool that you’ve gotten to know him because of his bodybuilder and karate teacher connections. And that’s amazing that he also owned “Fighting Arts.” Thank you so much for commenting! I really appreciate it.

[@dgold6891]

Interesting chat. It's so weird when actors like that describe the fluke that led to their whole careers! (in her case, being a successful recast) Like, I wonder what Celia Kaye thinks she'd be doing today if she never got that part on Loretta Young's show?

[@RossiterMeets]

@@dgold6891 Thank you! Glad you liked it. I agree, it’s always interesting hearing performers talk about how their careers started. It’s curious to wonder what Celia Kaye would have done had she never taken the role. It was so great to get to meet Celia Kaye and to interview her. She’s had a really great career. Thank you for commenting!