Michele Carey was an American actress who gained prominence in the 1960s and 1970s, known for her distinctive beauty and dynamic performances. She is best remembered for her role as Josephine “Joey” MacDonald in the 1966 Western film El Dorado.
Early Life and Musical Talent
Born Michele Lee Henson on February 26, 1942, in Annapolis, Maryland, she was the daughter of Stanley Willard Henson Jr., a wrestling instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy, and Thelma Burnell Henson.
The family relocated to Rochester, Minnesota, where her father pursued medical studies. A child prodigy, Michele won a national piano competition at the Chicago Music Festival at age 13 and performed with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra.
Transition to Modeling and Acting
After graduating from Fort Collins High School in Colorado, Michele moved to Los Angeles in 1964 with her son to pursue a modeling career. She signed with the John Robert Powers Agency and quickly found success. However, her passion for acting led her to television, where she made her debut in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. in 1964.
Breakthrough in Film
Michele’s film career took off with her portrayal of Josephine “Joey” MacDonald in Howard Hawks’ El Dorado (1966), starring alongside John Wayne and Robert Mitchum. She continued to make her mark in Hollywood with roles in Live a Little, Love a Little (1968) opposite Elvis Presley, The Sweet Ride (1968), and Dirty Dingus Magee (1970) with Frank Sinatra.
Television Appearances
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Michele guest-starred in several popular television series, including Mission: Impossible (1969), It Takes a Thief (1970), The Wild Wild West, and Alias Smith and Jones. She also appeared in the TV movie The Norliss Tapes (1973) and provided the voice for the computer Effie in A Man Called Sloane (1979–80).
Personal Life
Michele was briefly married to her son’s father in 1961. She later married businessman Fred G. Strebel in 1999, residing with him in Hillsborough and Rancho Mirage until his passing on December 28, 2011.
Later Years and Passing
After retiring from acting in 1984, Michele made a brief return in the film In the Shadow of Kilimanjaro (1986). She passed away from natural causes on November 21, 2018, in Newport Beach, California, at the age of 76.
Michele Carey’s legacy endures through her memorable performances and contributions to the entertainment industry during a vibrant era of Hollywood history.
