RIP Yvonne "Lily Munster" De Carlo, From the Associated Press Options

[jonerik]

Yvonne De Carlo, 'Lily Munster,' dead at 84

By Stone Martindale Jan 10, 2007, 20:56 GMT

Actress Yvonne De Carlo, the sultry Vancouver born brunette who was Moses' wife Sephora in Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments," but achieved her lasting fame on television comedy "The Munsters," has died. She was 84.



De Carlo, born Peggy Yvonne Middleton, died of natural causes Monday at the Motion Picture & Television Hospital in the Calabasas-Woodland Hills border, longtime friend and television producer Kevin Burns said Wednesday.

De Carlo was a siren who graced many desert epics and Westerns, and came up to more significant roles in the 1950s. She was cast in a Broadway musical, Stephen Sondheim's "Follies."

Forever she will be remembered as the delight of Herman Munster, as his wife Lily Munster in the 1964-1966 series "The Munsters."

The late makeup artist John Chambers (famous for his work on 1968 "Planet of the Apes") designed the key makeups for "The Munsters" and Lily was styled a la vampire-like in a black gown and presided over timid Herman and the motley household.

Herman was played by the beloved 6-foot-5-inch character actor, Fred Gwynne, who died in 1993.

The series lasted two years, but enjoys reruns in syndication and it resulted in two feature movies, "Munster Go Home!" (1966) and "The Munsters' Revenge." (1981, for TV).

Despite her Lily Munster notoriety, De Carlo was a real beauty and glamour queen of the 1940s and 1950s, one of the most beautiful women in the world.

De Carlo was adept at reinventing herself. A longtime student of voice, she sang opera at the Hollywood Bowl. The Los Angeles Times reports, when movie roles became scarce, she ventured into musicals and theater.

The LAT reports that her greatest stage triumph came on Broadway in 1971 with "Follies," which won the 1972 Tony award for best original musical score. She belted Sondheim's showstopping number, "I'm Still Here."

[Charlemagne]

Wow 84...I never thought of her as that old but then again the show was on some 40 years ago.

[smcd]

84??? Wow. that'd put her at 41 when she played Lily. Who knew?

[Golf Chance]

Damn! I always liked her.

[The Red Rocker]

very hot

[JWS]

Lotsa Yvonne pics at: http://www.briansdriveintheater.com/yvonnedecarlo.html

My two all-time favorite Yvonne De Carlo movies:


"Criss Cross" w/ Burt Lancaster and Dan Duryea (a Noir classic)
and, of course:

"Satan's Cheerleaders" w/ John Ireland and John Carradine (a camp classic)

Holy crap, this movie has a fan site all its own (and deserves one, IMO)!

Yvonne's Satanic Ritual Audio Clip

[JodyThePig]

It's really sad to see all of these TV actresses who used to get me all hot and bothered (before I was old enough to understand what getting hot and bothered was all about) step off this mortal coil.

[smcd]

[Orbitron]

[Tron Ruiz]

she looks a bit like Joan Cusack

[HereWeGoSouthie]

NOBODY had her in Celebrity Death Pool and if they say they did, they're a fucking liar.

This post has been edited by HereWeGoSouthie: Jan 10 2007, 07:29 PM

[zaxxon]

That Munsters episode where they rent their house to The Standells for a party and she's all confused by rock and roll and trying to dance to it is pretty classic.

[smcd]

That Munsters episode where they rent their house to The Standells for a party and she's all confused by rock and roll and trying to dance to it is pretty classic.

I think the charge is seeing the Standells appear on the show. The songs they played were really bad, and the band looked and acted pretty goofy.

[Maximum Tor]

I think the charge is seeing the Standells appear on the show. The songs they played were really bad, and the band looked and acted pretty goofy.

which was a distraction from the usual quiet dignity of the munsters.

[zaxxon]

They covered a Beatles song, I think I Wanna Hold Your Hand, which may be the worst management idea ever. Their one shot to be in everyone's living rooms. Not Dirty Water, not Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White, not Try It, but a Beatles cover right up there with Hey Joe in terms of ubiquity. I'm hoping the manager just hadn't written them yet.

[JWS]

"Criss Cross" w/ Burt Lancaster and Dan Duryea (a Noir classic)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NWTkf5u4Bs

[JWS]

Download here

[terrydactyl]

which was a distraction from the usual quiet dignity of the munsters.

and i loved that beatnik episode!

[The Red Rocker]

That leaves the surviving cast members Butch "Eddie" Patrick, 53, He owns a promotions company and appears at nostalgia conventions. Currently lives in Long Island, New York. He has completed his upcoming Biography with his author Helen Darras. The book, entitled "Eddie Munster AKA Butch Patrick" will be published and available at bookstore by mid 2007.

And Pat "Marilyn" Priest, 70, who now lives in Hailey, Idaho, where she restores and resells houses. She attends nostalgia conventions here and there. In May 2001, she was diagnosed with lymphoma, but she is undergoing treatment to contain the disease.

[The Red Rocker]

This is "Marylin" and "Eddie" with a fan in the middle at a convention recently.

[terrydactyl]

That leaves the surviving cast members Butch "Eddie" Patrick, 53, He owns a promotions company and appears at nostalgia conventions. Currently lives in Long Island, New York. He has completed his upcoming Biography with his author Helen Darras. The book, entitled "Eddie Munster AKA Butch Patrick" will be published and available at bookstore by mid 2007.

And Pat "Marilyn" Priest, 70, who now lives in Hailey, Idaho, where she restores and resells houses. She attends nostalgia conventions here and there. In May 2001, she was diagnosed with lymphoma, but she is undergoing treatment to contain the disease.

what about the other marilyn??????

[The Red Rocker]

what about the other marilyn??????

um yaay?

whine whine whine here you go

Beverley Owen, she's 67 this year, hasn't done anything in showbiz since the 60's and now leads a private life.

[The Red Rocker]

Also to add about Beverly: she now lives in upstate New York, where she frequently appears with the Cambridge theatre company. She hated being Marilyn and only took the role because she was contractually obligated by Universal Studios. She was then on Another World in 1964 for about a year, then quit showbiz altogether.

[Sandybomb]

what about the other marilyn??????

What about Spot???????

[smcd]

Things few people know about the original Munsters pilot.

a. It was only 10 min. long.

b. Lilly and Eddie were played by different actors than those in the series.

c. It was in color.