Carole D’Andrea was an actress who originated the role of Velma in “West Side Story” on Broadway, then also played her in the 1961 film adaptation.
- Died: March 11, 2025 (Who else died on March 11?)
- Details of death: Died at her home in Santa Monica, California of heart failure at the age of 87.
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Carole D’Andrea’s legacy
D’Andrea only made one movie appearance, but she made it count. She was in one of the all-time classic movie musicals, playing the small but memorable role of Velma, one of the Jets girls, in “West Side Story.”
Born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, D’Andrea made her way to New York City with an acting career in mind after her parents died when she was in her teens. It wasn’t long before she was debuting on Broadway in “West Side Story.” In the original 1957 Broadway version, Velma was Riff’s girlfriend. When the musical was adapted for film, Velma became the girlfriend of Ice, a character created for the movie. D’Andrea was one of only six actors from the original Broadway cast to have roles in the 1961 movie adaptation.
The same year “West Side Story” was released in theaters, D’Andrea married actor Robert Morse (1931–2022), who starred on Broadway and on the big screen in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” She subsequently left acting to raise their three daughters. In later years, she became an acting teacher, first in New York City and then in Hollywood.
Tributes to Carole D’Andrea
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
