A vibrant, full-bodied performer with a rich voice and a lushly sensuous if somewhat odd beauty, Yvonne DeCarlo achieved stardom in the 1940s in some of the more bizarre escapism of that era. During her heyday and later in character roles, she acted in remarkably few films that could be called first-class or even important. Given how campy many of her credits are, it is fitting that DeCarlo is best known, because of TV syndication, as the sensible but ghoulish Lily Munster on the silly if often funny horror spoof sitcom, "The Munsters" (CBS, 1964-66). As with many female stars of the 50s
Enrolled in a dancing school by her mother at age six (date approximate)
1933
Joined the St. Paul Anglican Church choir in order to develop a singing voice
1938
Helped support herself and her mother at age 15 when she got a job dancing as part of a chorus at the Palomar Supper Club
1940
DeCarlo and her mother refused an immigration visa to the US, but sneaked across the border and settled in Hollywood
1941
Won the title of Miss Venice Beach in a beauty contest; returned to Vancouver briefly in order to get legal visas for herself and her mother and then moved back to the Los Angeles area
