Who was Yvonne De Carlo? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Margaret Yvonne Middleton

Died At Age: 84

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Robert Drew Morgan (m. 1955; div. 1973)

father: William Middleton

mother: Marie De Carlo

children: Bruce Morgan (b. 1956) Michael Morgan

Born Country: Canada

Actresses American Women

Height: 5'4" (163 cm), 5'4" Females

Died on: January 8, 2007

place of death: Los Angeles, California, United States

Cause of Death: Heart Failure

Ancestry: Italian American, Canadian American, Scottish Canadian

City: Vancouver, Canada

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1

What were some of Yvonne De Carlo's notable film roles?

Yvonne De Carlo is best known for her roles in classic films such as "Salome, Where She Danced" (1945), "Criss Cross" (1949), and "The Ten Commandments" (1956).
2

Did Yvonne De Carlo have any talents besides acting?

In addition to acting, Yvonne De Carlo was also a talented singer and dancer, showcasing her skills in various films and television appearances throughout her career.
3

How did Yvonne De Carlo's career evolve over time?

Yvonne De Carlo initially gained fame as a leading lady in Hollywood films before transitioning to television, where she found success in her iconic role as Lily Munster in the popular series "The Munsters."
4

What impact did Yvonne De Carlo have on the entertainment industry?

Yvonne De Carlo's versatile talents and captivating on-screen presence helped her become a respected figure in both film and television, leaving a lasting legacy in the entertainment industry.
5

What was Yvonne De Carlo's approach to balancing her personal and professional life?

Yvonne De Carlo was known for her dedication to her craft and her ability to prioritize her career while also maintaining a fulfilling personal life, showcasing her resilience and determination in the face of challenges.

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Childhood & Early Life

Yvonne De Carlo was born Margaret Yvonne Middleton on September 1, 1922, in West Point Grey, British Columbia, Canada, to parents William Middleton and Marie De Carlo. She was of English descent from her father’s side and of Italian and Scottish ancestry from her mother’s.

After her father abandoned the family when she was three years old, she was raised by her mother and her Presbyterian maternal grandparents at Vancouver’s West End neighborhood.

She studied at Lord Roberts Elementary School, later attending King Edward High School. Her mother entered her in the June Roper School of the Dance in Vancouver which eventually led to her enrollment in the prestigious B.C. School of Dancing.

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Career

Yvonne De Carlo’s mother played a pivotal role in preparing her for the glamorous life. Marie took her daughter to Los Angeles so that she could participate in several beauty pageants. This was when she met American showman Nils Granlund who employed her at the Florentine Gardens and in January 1941, offered her sponsorship after she was arrested by the US immigration officials.

She left Florentine Gardens within a year, wanting to pursue a career in acting. She appeared in a series of uncredited roles after her first film ‘‘Harvard, Here I Come’. As there was no immediate theatrical success, she kept herself active in the Los Angeles night club scene.

She was part of two revues named ‘Hollywood Revels’ and ‘Glamour over Hollywood’ in 1941, and the 1942 three-minute Soundies musical ‘The Lamp of Memory’. She also performed for US servicemen during World War II.

Sometime in 1942 she signed with Paramount Pictures as the backup for Dorothy Lamour and continued to play uncredited parts in films, such as ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ (1943), ‘Let's Face It’ (1943), and ‘So Proudly We Hail!’ (1943). De Carlo was loaned to Republic Pictures for the 1943 film ‘The Deerslayer’, in which she played a young native American woman named Wah-Tah.

She was reportedly chosen over 20,000 aspirants to portray the protagonist in ‘Salome, Where She Danced’, a Technicolor production. Though critically panned, the film was a box-office success. The movie heralded her long-term contract with Universal Pictures. She was subsequently cast in ‘Frontier Gal’ (1946), ‘Black Bart’ (1948), ‘Casbah’ (1948), ‘Criss Cross’ (1949), ‘Calamity Jane and Sam Bass’ (1949), ‘The Gal Who Took the West’ (1950), and the British film ‘Hotel Sahara’ (1951).

In 1951, she signed a new contract with Universal, and did films for other production companies as well. She co-starred with Edmund O’Brien in ‘Silver City’ (1951), Rock Hudson in ‘Scarlet Angel’ (1952) and ‘Sea Devils’ (1953), Alec Guinness in the Oscar-nominated ‘The Captain’s Paradise’ (1953), and Sterling Hayden in ‘Shotgun’ (1955).

After the immense success of ‘The Ten Commandments’, she worked with Clark Gable and Sidney Poitier in ‘Band of Angels’ (1957), appeared in the French film ‘Timbuktu’ (1958), and portrayed Mary Magdalene in ‘The Sword and the Cross’. After her stuntman husband got injured on the set of ‘How the West Was Won’ (1963), John Wayne gave her the role of Louise Warren in ‘McLintock!’ (1963).

The offer of a role in the series ’The Munster’ (1964-66) came about at a time when she was in heavy debt. She was cast as Lily Munster, the vampire matriarch of the Munster household. Despite its short run, the show has come to be seen as a classic. De Carlo reprised her role in the 1966 horror-comedy ‘Munster, Go Home’.

She successfully maintained a parallel career as a singer. Besides her 1957 LP ‘Yvonne De Carlo Sings’, she put out the singles ‘I Love a Man’ / ‘Say Goodbye’ in 1950, ‘Take It Or Leave It’ / ‘Three Little Stars’ (1955), ‘That’s Love’ / ‘The Secret of Love’ in 1958.

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Her voice and her dance background culminated in a thriving theatre career as well. She performed in Off-Broadway productions such as ‘Pal Joey’ and ‘Catch Me If You Can’. Her most notable work on stage was Harold Prince’s production of ‘Follies’ (1971-72).

In the final league of her professional life, she made appearances in ‘Black Fire’ (1975), ‘The Munsters’ Revenge’ (1981), ‘American Gothic’ (1988), ‘The Naked Truth’ (1992), and ‘Here Come the Munsters’ (1995). Disney’s ‘The Barefoot Executive’ (1995) was the last film she acted in.

Major Works

Yvonne De Carlo was cast as Sephora opposite Charlton Heston’s Moses in the American biblical epic film ‘The Ten Commandments’. Released in October 1956, the film initially earned $122.7 million at the box-office and won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Critics praised De Carlo for her performance, with Bosley Crowther of ‘The New York Times’ calling it “notably good”.

Awards & Achievements

Yvonne De Carlo won two BoxOffice Blue Ribbon Awards for ‘The Ten Commandments’ and ‘McLintock!’ in 1957 and 1964, respectively.

On February 8, 1960, she was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her television star is located at 6715 Hollywood Boulevard and her motion picture star is at 6124 Hollywood Boulevard.

For ‘American Gothic’, she was awarded the Fantafestival Award for Best Actress in 1987.

Personal Life & Legacy

Throughout the initial years of her career, Yvonne De Carlo was linked with multiple influential men, including industrialist Howard Hughes and actor Robert Stack. She was even briefly engaged to actor Howard Duff before meeting stuntman Robert Drew "Bob" Morgan on the set of ‘Shotgun’ in 1955. At the time Morgan was married and De Carlo had no intention to sabotage that relationship.

After the death of Morgan’s wife, they grew close, and eventually wed on November 21, 1955, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Reno, Nevada. They had two sons together, Bruce (born 1956) and Michael Morgan (1957). The marriage ended in a divorce in 1973.

She became a naturalized US citizen and was a conservative Republican who campaigned for Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and Gerald Ford.

In 1998, she was rushed to the hospital after suffering a stroke. She spent the twilight years of her life at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, in Woodland Hills, where she passed away due to heart failure on January 8, 2007. According to her wishes, she was cremated. She was survived by her son Bruce as her other son, Michael, had died in 1997.

Facts About Yvonne De Carlo

Yvonne De Carlo was an accomplished singer and dancer in addition to being a talented actress. She showcased her musical talents in several films and television shows throughout her career.

Yvonne De Carlo was a skilled painter and enjoyed creating art in her free time. She even held a few private exhibitions of her work during her lifetime.

Yvonne De Carlo was known for her love of animals and was a dedicated advocate for animal rights. She supported various animal welfare organizations and often spoke out on behalf of animals in need.

Yvonne De Carlo was a fashion icon in her own right, known for her impeccable style both on and off the screen. She had a keen eye for fashion and was often seen wearing the latest trends with elegance and grace.

Yvonne De Carlo had a great sense of humor and was beloved by her colleagues for her fun-loving and down-to-earth personality. She was known to lighten the mood on set with her witty jokes and infectious laughter.

Yvonne De Carlo Biography

You wanted to know

What were some of Yvonne De Carlo's notable film roles?

Did Yvonne De Carlo have any talents besides acting?

How did Yvonne De Carlo's career evolve over time?

What impact did Yvonne De Carlo have on the entertainment industry?

What was Yvonne De Carlo's approach to balancing her personal and professional life?