Michele Carey, right from her early years, showed a real flair for music—something that hinted she was headed toward a life in the entertainment world. It wasn’t all that surprising when, like many before her, Michele Carey transitioned from modeling into acting during the mid-1960s. Her first steps on screen were on television, where Michele Carey made guest appearances on shows like the popular spy series “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” and the short-lived George Burns sitcom “Wendy and Me.”
Then came a big break: Michele Carey landed a significant film role early on, starring alongside legends John Wayne and Robert Mitchum in Howard Hawks’ western “El Dorado.” That kind of debut could’ve launched a major career, but oddly enough, things never quite took off the way one might expect. So, Michele Carey returned to TV, taking on guest roles in classic frontier tales such as “The Wild Wild West” and even a single-episode appearance on the long-running favorite “Gunsmoke.”
By this point, Michele Carey had carved out a niche for herself as a familiar face in westerns. She made her way back to the big screen again, stepping into the role of Elvis Presley’s glamorous love interest in his 1968 romantic comedy “Live a Little, Love a Little”—a part that played to her strengths as both a beauty and a budding actress. Over the next decade, Michele Carey appeared here and there in both films and television, though those opportunities became increasingly rare.
In the 1980s, Michele Carey tried to reignite her career with a few new projects. She joined the cast of the action-packed series “The Fall Guy,” playing a memorable character in the stunt-focused drama. She also took on a role in the little-known horror flick “The Stay Awake,” set in a Roman Catholic girls’ school—a sharp departure from her earlier, more polished image.
Ultimately, Michele Carey left behind a varied but understated legacy in Hollywood. She passed away peacefully at the age of 76 on November 21, 2018, due to natural causes. Throughout it all, Michele Carey remained a quiet presence in front of the camera—one whose talent and charm shone through, even if fame didn’t follow as strongly as it might have.
When it comes to Michele Carey’s filmography, one name that consistently stands out is El Dorado (1966)—widely regarded as Michele Carey’s highest-rated movie. Fans and critics alike have praised her performance in this classic Western, which remains a highlight in Michele Carey’s career. On the other end of the spectrum, Michele Carey’s lowest-rated film tends to be Scandalous John (1971), a project that didn’t resonate as strongly with audiences or reviewers. While opinions may vary, the general consensus places El Dorado (1966) at the top and Scandalous John (1971) toward the bottom when evaluating Michele Carey’s body of work. Overall, Michele Carey has had a varied career, but these two titles—El Dorado and Scandalous John—serve as key reference points in understanding her range and reception over the years.