Michele Carey biography: The life and times of the El Dorado star
For many movie stars, acting is a lifelong calling. Some may take short breaks, but few walk away completely. Michele Carey was one of the most successful actresses of the 1960s and 1970s. Her decision to leave acting in the 1980s surprised fans and left many questions unanswered. Here is a look at Michele Carey’s biography.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Michele Carey was a celebrated actress of the 1960s and 1970s, best known for her role in El Dorado.
- Michele Carey’s biography reveals a life of Hollywood success, real estate ventures, and two marriages.
- She retired from acting in the 1980s, living a private life until her death in 2018 at the age of 76.
Profile summary
| Full names | Michele Lee Henson |
| Date of birth | February 26, 1942 |
| Date of death | November 21, 2018 |
| Age at the time of death | 76 years old |
| Place of birth | Annapolis, Maryland |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Zodiac sign | Pisces |
| Father | Stanley Willard Henson Jr. |
| Mother | Thelma Burnell Henson |
| Son | Kevin Troy Schwanke |
| Spouse | Fred G. Strebel |
| Profession | Actress, pianist |
| Famous as | Joey in El Dorado |
| Height | 5 feet 5 inches |
| Weight | 63 kg |
| Hair | Dark brown |
Michele Carey’s biography
Michele Carey was born Michele Lee Henson on February 26, 1942, in Annapolis, Maryland. Her father, Stanley Willard Henson Jr., was a wrestling instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy. Her mother was Thelma Burnell Henson.
The family later moved to Rochester, Minnesota, where her father studied medicine. They eventually settled in Fort Collins, Colorado. The late Hollywood actor showed talent from an early age. She was a gifted pianist and won a national contest at the Chicago Music Festival at age 13. She also performed with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra.
After high school, she signed with the Powers modeling agency. In 1964, she moved to Los Angeles to model. This soon opened the door to acting.
Source: Original
Michele Carey’s movies and TV shows
Michele Carey’s path to Hollywood began after high school. She moved to Los Angeles in 1964 and signed with the Powers modeling agency. Her striking beauty and signature long, wild hair soon drew the attention of film producers.
She made her screen debut that same year in The Man from U.N.C.L.E., playing a receptionist. More television and film roles followed through the 1960s and 1970s.
How old was Michele Carey in El Dorado?
Michele’s biggest break came in 1966 when she was cast as Joey MacDonald in El Dorado, starring alongside John Wayne and Robert Mitchum. She was 24 years old at the time. The role became her most memorable and remains a highlight of her career.
Source: Getty Images
Active from 1966 to 1987, Michele built an impressive résumé with more than 30 acting credits. Her work spanned action, westerns, dramas, and comedies.
Notable films and TV shows include:
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964)
- The Wild Wild West (1965)
- Live a Little, Love a Little (1968)
- The Sweet Ride (1968)
- The Night of Winged Terror (1969)
- Changes (1969)
- Mission: Impossible (1969)
- Dirty Dingus Magee (1970)
- It Takes a Thief (1970)
- The Animals (1970)
- Scandalous John (1971)
- Gunsmoke (1972)
- The Six Million Dollar Man: Wine, Women, and War (1973)
- The Norliss Tapes (1973)
- The Choirboys (1977)
- A Man Called Sloane (1979–80)
- Rooster (1982)
- In the Shadow of Kilimanjaro (1986)
Source: Getty Images
Who was Michele Carey married to?
Michele Carey was married several times during her life. Her first marriage was in 1961 to the father of her only child. In the early 1970s, she married again, and her new husband adopted her son.
The beautiful actress later had a short-lived marriage in the early 1990s to a New Mexico businessman. Her final marriage was to businessman Fred G. Strebel in 1999. The couple lived in Hillsborough and Rancho Mirage, California, until Strebel’s death on December 28, 2011.
Michele Carey's children
Michele was the proud mother of one child she gave birth to when she was in high school. The name of Michele Carey's son is Kevin Troy Schwanke. Her son was born on June 21, 1960.
How did Michele Carey's son die?
Kevin passed away on November 2017 at the age of 57 years. His cause of death was never revealed. Michele did not have any children from her marriage to Fred G. Strebel.
What happened to Michele Carey?
Michele Carey was a popular actress in the 1960s and 1970s. Her career slowed after the mid-1980s. Her final on-screen role was in the 1986 film In the Shadow of Kilimanjaro. After that, she stepped away from acting.
For decades, she kept a low profile. Michele Carey’s last photo shared publicly showed her looking graceful, even in later years. Fans heard little from her until the sad news broke that Michele Carey died in November 2018 at the age of 76.
It is believed she enjoyed a comfortable life after retiring. Reports suggest she made money by “flipping” high-end homes in Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills, and Malibu.
Source: Getty Images
What was Michele Carey's cause of death?
The late actress died of a natural cause, and she was laid to rest in Fort Collins beside her parents. Her father died in 2018, while her mother died in 2016. Carey was survived by three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Where is Michele Carey buried?
Michele Carey is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California.
What was Michele Carey's net worth?
At the time of her death, Michele Carey’s net worth was estimated at around $5 million. Her wealth came from her successful acting career and later from profitable real estate investments.
Michele Carey's quick facts
- How old was Michele Carey at the time of death? She was 76 years old when she passed on in November 2018. Michele died of natural causes.
- Who played Joey in El Dorado? Michele was cast to play the lead role of Joey McDonald in the 1967 drama film.
- Who is Michele Carey's son? Michele was the proud mother of one child she gave birth to when she was in high school. The name of Michele Carey's son is Kevin Troy Schwanke.
- Who is Michele Carey spouse? She was married to Fred G. Strebel from 1999 to 2011.
- Did Michele Carey have any siblings? She had three siblings, namely Janine Robberson, George Henson II, and Stanley Henson III.
- Which schools did Michele Carey attend? For her high school education, she enrolled at Fort Collins High School.
Michele Carey’s biography tells the story of a star who rose quickly in Hollywood. She became one of the most successful actresses of her time. Though she is gone, her impact on the film industry in the 1960s and 1970s will always be remembered.
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