Yvonne de Carlo

Yvonne De Carlo was a Canadian-American actress, singer, and dancer. She was born on September 1, 1922 and her career in film, television, and musical theater spanned six decades. She obtained her breakthrough role in Salome, Where She Danced (1945), produced by Walter Wanger, who described her as "the most beautiful girl in the world." Success followed in films such as Criss Cross (1949) and The Captain's Paradise (1953). Her film career reached its peak when director Cecil B. DeMille cast her as Sephora, the wife of Moses, her most prominent role, in his biblical epic The Ten Commandments (1956). After her lead performance in Band of Angels (1957) and supporting role in McLintock! (1963), she played Lily Munster, the wife of Herman Munster, in the CBS sitcom The Munsters (1964-1966). De Carlo was spotted dancing at a Hollywood nightclub by a Paramount talent scout, who signed her to the studio as a back up Dorothy Lamour. Cecil B. DeMille saw de Carlo in So Proudly We Hail!, and arranged for her to be screen-tested and interviewed for the role of Tremartini in Cecil B. DeMille's The Story of Dr. Wassell (1943); it was announced she would play a key role. She wasn't cast in the end, but DeMille promised to "make it up" to her on another film "in the future." De Carlo received her big break in September 1944 when she was chosen over a reported 20,000 girls to play the lead role in Salome, Where She Danced (1945), a Walter Wanger production in Technicolor. Though not a critical success, it was a box office favorite, and the heavily-promoted De Carlo was hailed as an up-and-coming star. Salome was released by Universal who signed de Carlo to a long-term contract. She was used by the studio as a backup star to Maria Montez, and indeed stepped into a role rejected by Montez when she starred in Frontier Gal.[27] In 1946, exhibitors voted her the ninth-most promising "star of tomorrow." Trained in opera and a former chorister at St Paul's Anglican Church, Vancouver, when she was a child, De Carlo possessed a powerful contralto voice. In order to expand her appeal she began frequently singing on television and trained in opera. In 1951 she was cast in the role of Prince Orlovsky in a production of the opera Die Fledermaus at the Hollywood Bowl. In September 1954,[41] director Cecil B. DeMille cast her as Sephora, the wife of Moses (played by Charlton Heston), in his biblical epic The Ten Commandments (1956). She prepared extensively for the role, taking weaving lessons at the University of California, Los Angeles, and shepherding lessons in the San Fernando Valley.[42] Months before filming began, she had worked on the part with a drama coach.[43] Her performance was well received by film critics, described as "notably good" by Bosley Crowther. De Carlo was in debt by 1964 when she signed a contract with Universal Studios to perform the female lead role in The Munsters opposite Fred Gwynne. She was also the producers' choice to play Lily Munster when Joan Marshall, who played the character (originally called "Phoebe"), was dropped from consideration for the role. When De Carlo was asked how a glamorous actress could succeed as a ghoulish matriarch of a haunted house, she replied simply, "I follow the directions I received on the first day of shooting: 'Play her just like Donna Reed.' De Carlo married stuntman Robert Drew Morgan,[51] whom she met on the set of Shotgun, on November 21, 1955. They had two sons, Bruce Ross (b. 1956) and Michael (1957-1997). De Carlo suffered a minor stroke in 1998. She later became a resident of the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, in Woodland Hills, where she spent her last years. Yvonne De Carlo eventually died from heart failure on January 8, 2007, and was cremated.

[@mattleinhauser9166]

Oh God i cant get enough of this absolutely gorgeous woman, i love her ❤❤❤❤

[@barbarajester3244]

I just love this woman so much. 💗💗

[@antoniobramante7187]

I thought she was one of the most beautiful women to grace the silver screen, the studios just never knew what to do with her. Her resemblance to Ava Gardner was incredible.

[@barbarajester3244]

Antonio Bramante Hi Antonio - I agree with you that the studios were not sure what to do with Yvonne. I think her beauty almost hurt her in a way but at the same time she proved time after time that she had what it took to be an incredible actress (Criss Cross, The Captain's Paradise) I have not seen "Band of Angels" I am going to buy the DVD but I heard she was awesome so how did the powers that be keep skipping over her? It's mind baffling. I feel bad saying this I have heard the Ava Gardner comparison but I just don't see it lol I think Yvonne blew her away in the looks department.

[@antoniobramante7187]

I think the Ava/Yvonne comparison comes from the fact that both actresses were around at the same time. The "Look and Style" is something that happens naturally due to the time, hairstyles, wardrobe, makeup are dictated by the era. You won't find a Jean Harlow look alike in the 50s but in the 30s everyone bleached their hair (including Lucille Ball and Bette Davis) to mimic Jean's look. Same thing was happening here. I have a couple of pictures of Ava and Yvonne taken in the mid 50s and there is a huge similarity even in the costume because they both had a great figure, form fitting outfits accentuated their beauty.

[@barbarajester3244]

Antonio Bramante I see what you mean. Your probably right. I think maybe cause I do not know much about Ava. I will have to look her up. Yvonne does mention her a few times in her autobiography so it will be cool to learn something new.

[@antoniobramante7187]

Ava did a lot of good movies but like Yvonne, it did not seem like they knew how to bring out her best attributes in her work. Nonetheless, she was beautiful playing the lead in the "Barefoot Contessa" where I think she and Yvonne looked most similar. You also may want to watch "55 Days in Peeking" with Ava.

[@robertmccully2792]

A born beauty without the arrogance of most women.