Lilly Munster

The death of the Canadian born actress, Yvonne De Carlo, yesterday, best known for playing Lilly Munster on TV's THE MUNSTERS marks another sad chapter of another great personality from the 1960's disappearing. Despite a strong carrer in many serious films, the character role of Lilly Munster helped to really define actress Yvonne De Carlo, just like the serious actor Burgess Meredith, who will best remembered for his role as The Penguin on TV's BATMAN. Yvonne De Carlo will be so remembered by so many fans simply because her role of Lilly was so perfect and a great foil to the childlike Herman. The Lilly role was that great.

THE MUNSTERS had so many cool things that made the show a hip item in the 1960's. A hot 60's surf inspired guitar theme song. A wild custom car built by genuis customizer George Barris, using a Ford Falcon V8 and other unlikely parts paired together. In real life the car is smaller than you think, partially to give Herman Munster that giant appearance. And the characters of Grandpa played by Al Lewis, Herman played by Fred Gywnne and Lilly played by De Carlo could not have been cast any better. The show was a perfect comedy. You knew just like Casper The Ghost, that Herman would end scaring normal folk at some point with an absurd and corny comedy speeded up camera technique bit sure as the rain coming in nearly every eposode, but it was sure fun each and every time.

Actor Butch Patrick who played the child Eddie Munster on the show offered a huge tribute to Al Lewis on his www.themunsters.com website only months ago. Now the sad job of offering another eulogy to another fallen cast member comes along. Interestingly, Butch Patrick does Halloween Party bookings from the website as well. But while a full grown and middle age Eddie Munster loses something in the translation, I know all the fans no doubt love him anyway. Butch Patrick continues to be one of the best fans of THE MUNSTERS and his website is terrific in every way, giving other loyal fans of the show a shrine on the internet to gather around at sad times like this.

THE MUNSTERS was a great 1960's show in every regard. Yvonne De Carlo was the perfect Lilly Munster. She'll be deeply missed by millions of very loving fans.