A blonde, ethereal, eternal ingenue, Carol Lynley has been acting since she was a teenager and is perhaps best recalled as the mother whose son is kidnapped in Otto Preminger's dreary "Bunny Lake is Missing" (1965), and as the pop singer who survives "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972).
Lynley was a mere 16 when she made her film debut in Disney's "The Light in the Forest" (1958), in which she played a teen sympathetic to a young man raised in the wild. A former teen model, she learned competence in acting on the job and played another teen role, a young woman who becomes pregnant in "Blue Denim" (1959). She grew into young adult roles quickly and although not yet 20, played Allison MacKenzie, a young author about to have her first book published, in the sequel "Return to Peyton Place" (1961). She went on to appear as the girlfriend Richard Beymer dumps for "exotic dancer" Joanne Woodward in "The Stripper" and the young woman who draws Jack Lemmon's attention in "Under the Yum Yum Tree" (both 1963). Also that year, Lynley gave one of her best performances under Otto Preminger's direction in "The Cardinal". After appearing in one of the two 1963 biopics of 1930s bombshell Jean Harlow (the Lynley version was originally filmed for television, shot as a kinescope and then transferred to film), Lynley reteamed with Preminger for "Bunny Lake Is Missing". But the mood in the US was changing, along with its tastes in leading ladies, and Lynley made her next two films in Britain; "The Shattered Room" (1967) and the spy thriller "Danger Route" (1968). She returned to the States and found herself cast in ensemble pieces or secondary roles. Lynley was among the ensemble of the horror spoof "The Maltese Bippy" (1969) and gave way to the younger Kim Darby as leading lady opposite Glen Campbell in "Norwood" (1970). Perhaps the highest grossing film with which Lynley was associated came in 1972, "The Poseidon Adventure", in which she essayed a surprisingly fragile band singer who survives the ordeal primarily thanks to Red Buttons, who falls instantly in love with her. From the early 70s on, though, Lynley's feature film roles developed breathing room between them, and the budgets and quality of the productions dipped considerably. By 1991, she was in the horror sequel "The Howling VI: The Freaks" and was a nun to Erik Estrada's priest in the low budget "Spirits" (1992).
The small screen has provided some work, as has the stage. Lynley was a 14-year old teen model when she made her TV debut in an episode of "The Goodyear Playhouse" in 1956, and she continued to work in the medium throughout the next 30 years, although not necessarily with frequency. Her one regular series, "The Immortal" (ABC, 1970-71), found her in the recurring role of fiancee to the race car driving hero (Christopher George). Lynley began in TV-movies with "Shadow on the Land" (NBC, 1968), and many of her longforms were of the woman-in-terror or woman-in-jeopardy variety, such as "Weekend of Terror" (ABC, 1970), "The Night Stalker" (ABC, 1972) and "Death Stalk" (NBC, 1974). She appeared on the 1977 two-hour pilot for "Fantasy Island" (ABC) and also hosted the short-lived "The Fashion Report" (syndicated, 1987).
Also Credited As: Carole Ann Jones, Carolyn LeeBorn: on 02/13/1942 in New York, New YorkJob Titles: Actor, ModelFamily
Father: Cyril Jones.
Mother: Frances Fuller Felch.
Significant Others
Companion: David Frost. had 18-year off-again, on-again relationship with Lynley
Milestones
1952 Worked as a child model
1954 Broadway debut in "The Anniversary Waltz"
1956 Began work in TV with episode of "Goodyear Playhouse"
1957 Appeared on Broadway in "The Potting Shed"
1958 Feature acting debut, "Light in the Forest"
1959 Had starring role in "Blue Denim"
1965 Had one of her best screen roles in Otto Preminger's "Bunny Lake Is Missing"
1965 Played "Harlow" in one of two film versions released that year
1968 Made TV-movie debut, "Shadow on the Land" (NBC)
1972 Was one of the survivors of "The Poseiden Adventure"
1974 Last NYC stage appearance for more than a decade, replaced Sandy Dennis in "Absurd Person Singular"
1977 Guested in TV-movie pilot of "Fantasy Island"
1990 Returned to NYC stage to appear in off-Broadway production of "The Seagull"
1992 Played nun in "Spirits" with Erik Estrada
Had first regular series with "The Immortal" (ABC)
Music
Movies
Vic (2006) .... Carrie Lee
A Light in the Forest (2002)
Drowning on Dry Land (1999)
Flypaper (1997) (uncredited) .... Housewife in kitchen
Neon Signs (1996) .... Faith
Spirits (1991) .... Sister Jillian
Howling VI: The Freaks (1991) (V) .... Miss Eddington
Blackout (1988) .... Esther Boyle
... aka Dark Secrets (Australia: video title)
... aka The Attic (USA: video title)
Dark Tower (1987) .... Tilly Ambrose
Balboa (1986) .... Erin Blakely
... aka Rich and Powerful (UK: DVD title)
Vigilante (1983) .... Assistant D.A. Mary Fletcher
... aka Street Gang
The Cat and the Canary (1979) .... Annabelle West
The Shape of Things to Come (1979) .... Nikki
... aka H.G. Wells' The Shape of Things to Come (USA: complete title)
Bad Georgia Road (1977) .... Molly Golden
The Washington Affair (1977) .... Barbara Nicholson
The Four Deuces (1976) .... Wendy Rittenhouse, the Girlfriend
Cotter (1973) .... Leah
The Poseidon Adventure (1972) .... Nonnie Parry
Beware! The Blob (1972) .... Leslie
... aka Son of Blob (UK) (USA: TV title)
... aka Beware of the Blob
... aka Son of the Blob (USA: video box title)
Norwood (1970) .... Yvonne Phillips
Once You Kiss a Stranger... (1969) .... Diana
The Maltese Bippy (1969) .... Robin Sherwood
Danger Route (1967) .... Jocelyn
The Shuttered Room (1967) .... Susannah Kelton/Sarah
... aka Blood Island
Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965) .... Ann Lake
Harlow (1965/II) .... Jean Harlow
The Pleasure Seekers (1964) .... Maggie Williams
Shock Treatment (1964) .... Cynthia Lee Albright
The Cardinal (1963) .... Mona Fermoyle/Regina Fermoyle
Under the Yum Yum Tree (1963) .... Robin Austin
The Stripper (1963) .... Miriam
... aka Woman of Summer (UK)
The Last Sunset (1961) .... Melissa 'Missy' Breckenridge
Return to Peyton Place (1961) .... Allison MacKenzie
Hound-Dog Man (1959) .... Dony Wallace
Blue Denim (1959) .... Janet Willard
... aka Blue Jeans (UK)
Holiday for Lovers (1959) .... Betsy Dean
The Light in the Forest (1958) .... Shenandoe
Books
Heroes
Carol Lynley Fan Page's Details
Status:
Divorced
Zodiac Sign:
Aquarius
Children:
Proud parent
Carol Lynley Fan Page is in your extended network view more
About me: I've never been in a scandal. I've never been caught running naked down a highway. I've not tried to shoot anybody. Nobody's ever tried to shoot me. My child is legitimate...I've never been to Betty Ford...No porn...No drug addictions...I've outlived three of my doctors. So if you're going to write a juicy book, I've got a problem".
Carol, i just want to say thankyou for all of the adventures you take us on with your incredible talent and realness to all you do- you have been someone i admire and look up to since i was quite young, and i appreciate your being so genuine, thankyou so very very much, God Bless, JustNtyme
Hi Carol, Wishing you great week & a very Happy birthday.Hope you are fine you are so beautiful & talented we love you & miss you . Also Carol have a Happy Valentine Day Dear to you . Love Loretta & Billy!!
Carol! HAPPY belated BIRTHDAY my Dear, but it's not really belated when you count the whole month as your birthday! I love ya & best wishes~ GC ( Norwood )
first of all, thanks for the add, been a fan of yours ever since I saw you in the pleasure seekers with Ann Margaret and Pamela Tiffin all three of you were really beautiful girls, I hope you really read these coments, Happy belated Birthday
Happy Birthday Carol It was great seeing you on Friday at the Collector's Show...thanks for being so sweet and taking the time to chat with me...Hope you are doing well...
Online Now!
