Yvonne De Carlo

De Carlo has worked steadily in both film and television, playing her most recent role in the television production of The Barefoot Contessa (1995). She retired in 1940, and died in Beverly Hills, California in 1992. She also received recognition for her work in the horror movie American Gothic in 1988. Her best remembered films are arguably some of those in which she played key supporting roles, such as Anthony Adverse (1936) and Waterloo Bridge (1940). She played the role of Lily Munster in the television series The Munsters (1964), and was able to demonstrate a comic flair that her films had failed to utilize. The films in which she played lead roles such as Panama Lady (1939) with Lucille Ball, were popular but did not make her a major star. Despite this, her success was short-lived and the quality of her film roles did not improve. During the 1930s Duna played a variety of nationalities but, despite her European background, was often cast as fiery Latin femme fatales in films that made full use of her exotic and glamorous persona.

The film was a huge success and De Carlo was among those to be praised for her work. She made her film debut in The Indiscretions of Eve (1932) in the starring role (along with Jessica Tandy also making her debut). Cast in The Ten Commandments (1956), De Carlo was finally part of a major hit. Born Stephanie Berindey in Budapest, Hungary, Duna first attracted attention as a thirteen year old ballet dancer in Europe. For the next several years, she was constantly working although many of the films failed to advance her career. Steffi Duna (February 8, 1910 – April 22, 1992) was a Hungarian born film actress popular in American and British films during the 1930s. As the female lead opposite Burt Lancaster in Criss Cross, De Carlo played a dangerous femme fatale, and her career began to ascend.

In 1947 she played her first leading role in Slave Girl and then in 1949 had her biggest success. Though not a critical success it was a box office favorite and De Carlo was hailed as an up and coming star. Her break came in 1945 playing the title role in Salome, Where She Danced. She made her first film appearance in 1942, but could only find bit parts for the next few years.

De Carlo supported herself working in a chorus while trying to find film work. Unable to find work, they returned to Canada until 1940, when they once again traveled to Hollywood. Born Peggy Yvonne Middleton in Vancouver, British Columbia, the daughter of an ambitious but unsuccessful aspiring actress, De Carlo was taken to Hollywood by her mother at the age of fifteen. Yvonne De Carlo (born September 1, 1922) is an Canadian film and television actress.