Close your eyes and picture the 1960s—a world buzzing with rebellion, bold fashion, and a hunger for change. Into this vibrant backdrop came Michele Carey, a woman whose presence felt like a desert wind: wild, radiant, and unforgettable. With glowing hazel eyes and effortless charm, she didn’t just walk into Hollywood—she stormed it. But Michele Carey was more than a pretty face; she was a child piano prodigy, a model, and eventually an actress who carved out her place in film history.
From Piano Prodigy to Pageant Queen
Born on February 26, 1942, in Annapolis, Maryland, Michele Carey showed talent early. While her father’s career as a surgeon brought discipline into the home, her mother fostered creativity. Michele’s passion was the piano, and by her early teens, she was performing with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra. Her small hands danced across the keys with a confidence that wowed audiences.
But life had different plans. Her family moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, where she blossomed into more than just a musician. At Fort Collins High School, she became a cheerleader, her striking beauty beginning to shine alongside her talent. At just 17, she married Stanley Willard Henson Jr. and became a mother to her son Kevin in 1961. Though the marriage ended quickly, Michele embraced single motherhood with determination, turning her looks and poise into modeling opportunities with the John Robert Powers Agency.
Pageant crowns soon followed, including Miss Colorado World, giving her the confidence to aim higher. By the early 1960s, Michele packed her bags, took her young son, and headed west—straight into Hollywood.
Video : Michele Carey
From Modeling Stardom to Acting Breakthrough
Los Angeles embraced Michele’s unique energy. Her tall frame, striking curls, and hazel eyes landed her modeling contracts with major brands, but she quickly proved she was destined for more. In 1964, she made her TV debut in The Man from U.N.C.L.E., instantly capturing attention with her natural charisma.
Her playful role in How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965) showed her carefree side, while guest appearances on popular series gave her the spotlight to showcase her versatility. Hollywood producers took notice—Michele Carey wasn’t just a model-turned-actress, she was a magnetic talent with staying power.
El Dorado: A Role That Made History
In 1967, Michele Carey’s life changed forever when Howard Hawks cast her in El Dorado. Playing Josephine “Joey” MacDonald, she stole scenes alongside John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and James Caan. Michele brought a fiery independence and sharp wit to the role, breaking stereotypes of women in Westerns.
She wasn’t there to be eye candy; she was a force of nature, trading clever lines and standing toe-to-toe with Hollywood’s giants. Audiences adored her, and critics praised her ability to inject bold spirit into a genre dominated by men. This role cemented her as one of the unforgettable women of Western cinema.
Hollywood Highlights: Elvis, Cult Films, and TV Stardom
After El Dorado, Michele’s career soared. In 1968, she starred opposite Elvis Presley in Live a Little, Love a Little. As the free-spirited Bernice, she matched Elvis’s charisma beat for beat, and their chemistry remains legendary. That same year, she appeared in The Sweet Ride, a film that embodied California’s restless surf culture.
Video : Michele carey – wonderful
Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, television became another stage for her brilliance. Michele appeared in The Wild Wild West, Mission: Impossible, Starsky & Hutch, The F.B.I., and It Takes a Thief. Whether portraying a daring spy or a mysterious accomplice, she electrified screens with her presence. Her adaptability kept her career alive at a time when many actresses struggled to transition.
A Quiet Reinvention Beyond Hollywood
By the 1980s, Michele Carey began stepping back from the Hollywood spotlight. She made guest appearances in shows like The Six Million Dollar Man and The Fall Guy, but eventually reinvented herself outside of entertainment. With sharp instincts and determination, she built a successful career in real estate, specializing in luxury homes. This second act of her life showed her independence and savvy—she wasn’t defined by Hollywood alone.
Personal Strength, Love, and Loss
Michele’s life was as rich off-screen as it was on it. In 1981, she married businessman Fred G. Strebel, with whom she shared a quiet and happy life until his passing in 2011. Tragedy struck again in 2017 when her son Kevin passed away at age 57. Through these heartbreaks, Michele remained resilient, embodying the same strength that defined her characters on screen.
A Legacy That Still Shines
On November 21, 2018, Michele Carey passed away at the age of 76. Though her Hollywood years were decades behind her, her legacy remained vibrant. Fans still celebrate her as Joey in El Dorado, as Bernice opposite Elvis, and as the fiery, untamed actress who captured the essence of the 1960s and 70s.
Conclusion
Michele Carey’s journey was one of talent, resilience, and reinvention. She went from child piano prodigy to beauty queen, from Western starlet to real estate professional, always carving her own path. Her hazel eyes and free spirit made her a symbol of Hollywood’s golden era, but her strength and adaptability proved she was much more than a screen siren.
Decades after she first appeared on the silver screen, Michele Carey remains a timeless icon. Her story reminds us that true stars don’t just shine under the spotlight—they carry their light with them, wherever life takes them.
