Was Starring on 'The Munsters' A Step Down For Yvonne De Carlo? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-08-2010, 09:58 PM

Ms. DeCarlo was a full fledged movie star before TV. Was there any regrets from her or did critics rip her up for starring in a campy tv series? What do you think personally?

Marvo301 · 09-08-2010, 10:37 PM

Starring on "The Munsters" may have been a step down for Yvonne De Carlo who had a successful career in the movies but it was also a necessity. In 1962 her husband, Bob Morgan, a hollywood stuntman, was seriously injured and Yvonne gave up her career aspirations to care for him. By 1964 their money was beginning to run short and so the role of Lily Munster came along when Yvonne really needed a steady paycheck.

old grouch · 09-09-2010, 12:53 PM

Man, was she beautiful!!! It may have been a step down, but 'The Munsters' made her a household name.

McGillicuddy · 09-09-2010, 06:50 PM

Could the same question be posed about Carolyn Jones on The Addams Family?

Mr. Television · 09-09-2010, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

Could the same question be posed about Carolyn Jones on The Addams Family?

Yea Carolyn Jones was even an Oscar nominee.

I don't see why she would have any regrets. The Munsters made her a household name as old grouch stated. The show might have been campy but it was funny and had a lot of heart. And the fact that it became a bigger hit after it went into syndication meant that she would be a household name forever. Aside from The Ten Commandments, I don't know if I ever saw a movie she was in.

lucyandethel · 09-12-2010, 12:10 PM

For the most part, yes, it was considered a step down. In the early 1960s, TV was considered almost a "disgrace" for a film star to appear in a series, especially a sitcom. DeCarlo basically did "The Munsters" because she needed the money. If it weren't for her financial problems at the time, she would not have even considered it. I'm certainly glad she did though.

broadmoor · 09-12-2010, 03:27 PM

Well, de Carlo was pretty much past her prime as a feature-film star, and had already done a number of guest-roles on tv shows like "Bonanza" and "Adventures in Paradise," so she'd already put her toes in the water. I suspect she would have continued doing guest-roles in drama shows, with her career following a similar pattern to that of Ruth Roman, whose status and film-path was practically identical. "The Munsters," being a 'silly' sitcom, coupled with the make-up element, undoubtedly did seem a downward step in a certain way. The money for her husband's recovery bills was the reason she went with it. I doubt the sense of a 'downward step' bothered her in the least, however. She was a very unpretentious, down-to-earth woman, who would take on a job and give it her all.

McGillicuddy · 09-12-2010, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucyandethel

For the most part, yes, it was considered a step down. In the early 1960s, TV was considered almost a "disgrace" for a film star to appear in a series, especially a sitcom. DeCarlo basically did "The Munsters" because she needed the money. If it weren't for her financial problems at the time, she would not have even considered it. I'm certainly glad she did though.

That's a good point about it being the '60's. Nowadays, I don't think there would be any thought to it being a disgrace. Actors go from the big screen to the small screen and back again.

comedyfreak · 10-02-2010, 08:21 AM

She had no problem with it since she needed a paycheck, it was her co-stars whom were apprehensive hearing that she was chosen to play Lilly because she had been a movie star.

stanwyckfan07 · 11-27-2011, 01:46 AM

No, it wasn't a step down. Yvonne was 42 in 1964 - that's a big age for a woman who was basically a glamour girl not a "serious" actress even today and certainly back in 1964. Her movie career was pretty much over. I don't think Yvonne had starred in a major movie since 1959 and her last few roles prior to MUNSTERS were supporting parts in Bob Hope and John Wayne films, not the female lead. Additionally, Yvonne had never truly become a top-level star like a Rita Hayworth or Lana Turner and was never considered a superstar. Very few of her movie contemporaries were working much in the 1960's and its' doubtful that she would have ever been offered another female lead in a major film at that point. Yvonne was smart to move onto the small screen where being past 35 was not such an obstacle and as a result she probably was at the height of her fame at a time when a lot of her more famous movie rivals from the 40s/50s were languishing in mediocre movies if they could get one.

09-08-2010, 09:58 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Was Starring on 'The Munsters' A Step Down For Yvonne De Carlo? Ms. DeCarlo was a full fledged movie star before TV. Was there any regrets from her or did critics rip her up for starring in a campy tv series? What do you think personally? Attached Images
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

09-08-2010, 10:37 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,461	Starring on "The Munsters" may have been a step down for Yvonne De Carlo who had a successful career in the movies but it was also a necessity. In 1962 her husband, Bob Morgan, a hollywood stuntman, was seriously injured and Yvonne gave up her career aspirations to care for him. By 1964 their money was beginning to run short and so the role of Lily Munster came along when Yvonne really needed a steady paycheck.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

10-02-2010, 08:21 AM	#9
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Star Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	She had no problem with it since she needed a paycheck, it was her co-stars whom were apprehensive hearing that she was chosen to play Lilly because she had been a movie star.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

09-09-2010, 12:53 PM	#3
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	Man, was she beautiful!!! It may have been a step down, but 'The Munsters' made her a household name.

09-09-2010, 06:50 PM	#4
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Could the same question be posed about Carolyn Jones on The Addams Family?

09-12-2010, 12:10 PM	#6
lucyandethel Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 18, 2009 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 435	For the most part, yes, it was considered a step down. In the early 1960s, TV was considered almost a "disgrace" for a film star to appear in a series, especially a sitcom. DeCarlo basically did "The Munsters" because she needed the money. If it weren't for her financial problems at the time, she would not have even considered it. I'm certainly glad she did though.

09-12-2010, 03:27 PM	#7
broadmoor Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 10, 2010 Location: texas Posts: 489	Well, de Carlo was pretty much past her prime as a feature-film star, and had already done a number of guest-roles on tv shows like "Bonanza" and "Adventures in Paradise," so she'd already put her toes in the water. I suspect she would have continued doing guest-roles in drama shows, with her career following a similar pattern to that of Ruth Roman, whose status and film-path was practically identical. "The Munsters," being a 'silly' sitcom, coupled with the make-up element, undoubtedly did seem a downward step in a certain way. The money for her husband's recovery bills was the reason she went with it. I doubt the sense of a 'downward step' bothered her in the least, however. She was a very unpretentious, down-to-earth woman, who would take on a job and give it her all.

11-27-2011, 01:46 AM	#10
stanwyckfan07 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 26, 2011 Location: LA Posts: 106	No, it wasn't a step down. Yvonne was 42 in 1964 - that's a big age for a woman who was basically a glamour girl not a "serious" actress even today and certainly back in 1964. Her movie career was pretty much over. I don't think Yvonne had starred in a major movie since 1959 and her last few roles prior to MUNSTERS were supporting parts in Bob Hope and John Wayne films, not the female lead. Additionally, Yvonne had never truly become a top-level star like a Rita Hayworth or Lana Turner and was never considered a superstar. Very few of her movie contemporaries were working much in the 1960's and its' doubtful that she would have ever been offered another female lead in a major film at that point. Yvonne was smart to move onto the small screen where being past 35 was not such an obstacle and as a result she probably was at the height of her fame at a time when a lot of her more famous movie rivals from the 40s/50s were languishing in mediocre movies if they could get one.