Kaye Elhardt
Birth nameKaye Valerie Elhardt
Birth dateAugust 28, 1935
Birth placeLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Death dateSeptember 1, 2004 (aged 69)
Death placeLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeHollywood Forever Cemetery
EducationMarymount College
OccupationActress
Other namesKay Elhardt
Years active1956–1977
SpouseGeorge A. Cariker (1975; divorced)

Kaye Elhardt (August 28, 1935 – September 1, 2004)[1] was an American actress with dozens of television appearances in a career spanning from 1956 to 1977. She was known for her many roles in Warner Brothers (WB) television series, including 77 Sunset Strip, Hawaiian Eye, Surfside 6, Maverick, Bourbon Street Beat, Colt .45, and Bronco, but also did multiple episodes of Perry Mason and My Three Sons.[2]

Early life

Kaye Valerie Elhardt was born in Los Angeles, the only child of Leonard Elhardt, a salesman and real estate developer from Minnesota, and Faye Fenusz Elhardt from Wyoming.[1][3][4] During the summer of 1951 she took part in a city-sponsored youth chorus program.[5] She studied dramatics at Marymount College in Westwood, California.[6][7]

Early career

During her junior year she appeared in her first professional stage role for the musical High Button Shoes.[8] Her first starring stage role came as she entered her senior year, when she played "Laurey Williams" in Green Grow the Lilacs.[7] The production included some original songs by Rod McKuen. Elhardt performed six songs,[7] and was judged by the Los Angeles Times reviewer "A winsome and spirited young actress", who "displayed dramatic talent and a voice of appealing caliber".[9] Elhardt's professional voice coach was Harold Hurlbut.[10]

Her screen career began with bit parts on television, starting with West Point during December 1956.[11] She did episodes of three shows,[10] then had the female lead in another musical, New England Summer in August 1957. She again received high marks for this production from the Los Angeles Times: "Kaye Elhardt, possessor of a lovely lyric voice... not only sings with taste and charm, but she is an unusually talented actress".[12]

Career

Elhardt played Peaches in the 1958 ABC comedy Love That Jill.[13] She also made more than 40 appearances on television series. Among her three guest appearances on Perry Mason with Raymond Burr, she played defendant Ginny Talbot in the 1962 episode, "The Case of the Borrowed Baby."

She was featured on Family Affair; Highway Patrol with Broderick Crawford; Wagon Train with Ward Bond; Sea Hunt with Lloyd Bridges; seven different roles in 77 Sunset Strip with Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.; Bourbon Street Beat with Andrew Duggan, Richard Long, and Van Williams; Bat Masterson with Gene Barry; My Three Sons with Fred MacMurray; The Tab Hunter Show with Tab Hunter; Surfside Six with Troy Donahue and Van Williams; Hawaiian Eye with Robert Conrad; Bronco; Yancy Derringer with Jock Mahoney; Colt .45; Philip Marlowe with Philip Carey; and more than a score of others.

Personal life

All through college and most of her acting career, Elhardt lived with her parents in the Kentner Canyon area, north of Sunset Boulevard in Brentwood, Los Angeles.[14] Her family had real estate interests in Shasta County, California[15][16] and Elhardt appears to have become a realtor after show business.[17]

Elhardt married George A. Cariker in Los Angeles on April 20, 1975.[18] They were divorced six months later.[19]

Stage performances

Listed by year of first performance (excluding student performances)
YearPlayRoleVenueNotes
1956High Button ShoesSinging GirlCarthay Circle TheatreElhardt's first professional stage credit starred Jack Haley Jr.[8]
Green Grow the LilacsLaurey WilliamsMorgan TheaterElhardt's first starring role was produced by the Santa Monica Theater Guild.[9]
1957New England SummerEmily WebbMorgan TheaterProduced by the Santa Monica Theater Guild, Elhardt again had the female lead in this musical.[12]
1958CarouselJulie JordanMunicipal AuditoriumElhardt starred in this production by the Singer's Workshop of Long Beach, California.[20]
1965The Three MusketeersRoxbury Memorial ParkOpen air musical comedy production by Equity Library Theatre West.[21]

Filmography

Film (by year of first release)
YearTitleRoleNotes
1958Senior PromGirl in YellowUncredited
1959The Crimson KimonoNunUncredited
Stump RunLeatha GaskinFilmed near Eugene, Oregon during May 1959 by an independent producer and local backers.[22]
1963Violent Midnight[fn 1]Delores MartelloFilmed on location in Connecticut in late summer 1961.[23]
1965Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini MachineGirl in Nightclub[24]
1966The Navy vs. the Night MonstersDiane
Any WednesdayCecileUncredited
1970AirportKay HartUncredited
1977The Billion Dollar HoboMiss Evans
Television (in original broadcast order, excluding commercials)
YearSeriesEpisodeRoleNotes
1956West PointDouble ReverseNancy's Trading PartnerHer first screen credit was a small part in this Gene Roddenberry teleplay.[11]
1957Matinee TheaterUnknown EpisodeElhardt's performance is known only from a newspaper blurb by her voice coach.[10]
Dr. ChristianHit and RunMary Haven[10]
Fireside TheatreContact
Telephone TimeI Get Along...[fn 2]BettyElhardt plays a co-ed at Indiana; with Hoagy Carmichael and Walter Winchell.[25]
1958Tombstone TerritoryThe Rebels' Last ChargeRichard Reeves and Elhardt were the guest stars in this episode.[26]
The MillionaireThe Peter Barkley StoryDora
Love That JillTonight's the NightPeachesElhardt was only in the first episode of this series.[13]
Highway PatrolInsulinJoan Haggard
Sea HuntGold BelowBetty
Harbor CommandHostageEllen Leeds
The Rough RidersThe MaccabitesNaomi
1959Yancy DerringerOutlaw at LibertySally Snow
77 Sunset StripDownbeatApril MyfordThe first of eight episodes Elhardt would do on this WB show.
Rescue 8One More StepMelinda StarkActress (Elhardt) falls off of a theater catwalk and is left dangling high above stage.[27]
MaverickPappyJosephine St. Cloud[28]
77 Sunset StripSix Superior SkirtsWanda HillElhardt sits in on joint jam session with the Mary Kaye and Frankie Ortega Trios.[29]
Colt .45Yellow TerrorLucieElhardt is miscast as a dance hall girl.[30]
General Electric TheaterPlatinum on the RocksLenore MartinGeorge Burns stars as a jewel thief after Elhardt's jewelry.[31]
Bourbon Street BeatLight Touch of TerrorAlise BonvillanA psychotic killer is after Elhardt.[32]
Philip MarloweHit and RunGloria Fielding
1960Johnny MidnightThe Villain of the PiecePaula Shafto
77 Sunset StripThe StarletKay DonnellyElhardt plays an aspiring actress whose suicide arouses suspicion.
Tightrope!First Time OutBetty Carlson[33]
Tombstone TerritoryYoung KillerMary Rice
The Donna Reed ShowThe First Time We MetPat ArcherElhardt plays a nurse whom Donna Reed matches with a doctor (Bob Hastings).[34]
Wagon TrainThe Luke Grant StorySue
Bat MastersonBlood on the MoneyEva Rogers
The Tab Hunter ShowBe My GuestCynthia[35]
77 Sunset StripThe Laurel Canyon CaperBelinda LaneElhardt sings on camera but her voice was dubbed over by Eileen Wilson.[2]
Surfside 6Bride and SeekLois CulverGrant Williams and Elhardt made this WB detective show...[36]
Hawaiian EyeBaker's Half DozenDody Baker...about the same time they did this other WB detective show.[37]
1961Surfside 6Invitation to a PartyVirginia Barker[38]
77 Sunset StripVamp Until ReadyJulie Lee[39]
The Many Loves of Dobie GillisThe Battle of Maynard's BeardLt. Portia Potter[40]
Perry MasonThe Case of the Duplicate DaughterMuriell Gilman[41]
The AquanautsThe Landslide AdventureNancy Wilson
Surfside 6The Wedding GuestMillie Owens[42]
BroncoThe Cousin from AtlantaGail Summers
77 Sunset StripThe Deadly SoloIrene McCallum[43]
1962My Three SonsThe Girls Next DoorAnn StoefferElhardt plays an airline stewardess.[44]
Perry MasonThe Case of the Borrowed BabyGinny TalbotElhardt is the defendant accused of murder.[45]
Hawaiian EyeScene of the CrimeGloria MatthewsElhardt is a reporter on a boar-hunting trek on Kauai.[46]
The Comedy SpotOctavious and MeJill DrakeThirty-minute unsold pilot broadcast on a summer fill-in show.[47][48]
Perry MasonThe Case of the Lurid LetterDoris Wilson[49]
196377 Sunset StripWalk Among TigersMartha Emerson[50]
196477 Sunset StripNot Such a Simple KnotPaula BarnesElhardt is older sister to math genius.[51]
1965My Three SonsSteve and the ComputerMiss Baxter
1966My Three SonsCall Her MaxKatherine[52]
HankOperation MatriculationMiss Treadwell
1967My Three SonsThe Good EarthReceptionist
1968My Three SonsMy Wife, the WaitressSharon
Family AffairA Man's PlaceMiss Martin
1969Family AffairThe StowawayToni[53]

Notes

  1. ^ The working title was The Death Watcher.
  2. ^ The full episode title was "I Get Along Very Well Without You".

References

  1. ^ Kaye Valerie Elhardt in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  2. ^ Rich, Allen (April 14, 1962). "Mason "Defendant" Is Interviewed". The Valley Times. p. 18. – via Newspapers.com
  3. ^ 1940 United States Federal Census for Kaye Elhardt, California > Los Angeles > Los Angeles > 60-446, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  4. ^ 1950 United States Federal Census for Kaye V Elhardt, California > Los Angeles > Los Angeles > 66-2154, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  5. ^ "Singing Out (photo caption)". The Los Angeles Times. September 27, 1951. p. 55. – via Newspapers.com
  6. ^ "Marymount Presents "Years Ago"". The Tidings. November 25, 1955. p. 6. – via Newspapers.com
  7. ^ "Marymount Girl Stars In "Lilacs"". The Tidings. September 7, 1956. p. 8. – via Newspapers.com
  8. ^ Von Blon, Katherine (April 14, 1956). "Rollicking Music Show Carthay Hit". The Los Angeles Times. p. 13. – via Newspapers.com
  9. ^ Von Blon, Katherine (September 8, 1956). "'Green Grow the Lilacs' Staged In Santa Monica". The Los Angeles Times. p. 33. – via Newspapers.com
  10. ^ "The Talent Parade". Los Angeles Evening Citizen-News. April 27, 1957. p. 9. – via Newspapers.com
  11. ^ "Blind Date Gets Lesson In Courtesy At "West Point"". Daily Times-Mail. December 22, 1956. p. 18. – via Newspapers.com
  12. ^ Von Blon, Katherine (August 28, 1957). "'New England Summer' Captivating Musical". The Los Angeles Times. p. 25. – via Newspapers.com
  13. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. 2nd ed. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 631. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  14. ^ California, U.S., Voters Registrations, 1900-1968, for Kaye Elhardt, Los Angeles County > 1962 > Roll 176, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  15. ^ "Subdivision Law Crackdown By County Officials". Record-Searchlight. April 16, 1966. p. 3. – via Newspapers.com
  16. ^ "Leonard G. Elhardt". Record-Searchlight. July 27, 1968. p. 13. – via Newspapers.com
  17. ^ "Haddad Realty". Los Angeles Times. October 27, 1974. p. 380. – via Newspapers.com
  18. ^ Kaye V Elhardt in the California, U.S., Marriage Index, 1960-1985, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  19. ^ Kaye V Elhardt in the California, U.S., Divorce Index, 1966-1984, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  20. ^ "Workshop Tells Leads for 'Carousel' in Fall". The Independent. August 17, 1958. p. 48. – via Newspapers.com
  21. ^ "Theatrical Group Plans Musical". Los Angeles Evening Citizen-News. March 5, 1965. p. 13. – via Newspapers.com
  22. ^ "Story About Moonshiners to Be Filmed in Marcola Area". The Eugene Guard. April 6, 1959. p. 13. – via Newspapers.com
  23. ^ Addeo, Ed (September 19, 1961). "Ford, Hope Lange to Co-Star". Los Angeles Evening Citizen-News. p. 21. – via Newspapers.com
  24. ^ "Bikinied Robots In Rivoli Film". The La Crosse Tribune. November 20, 1965. p. 15. – via Newspapers.com
  25. ^ "'Telephone Time' Feature Tells Birth of a Song". The Daily Herald. November 10, 1957. p. 31. – via Newspapers.com
  26. ^ "Appear In Story About Rebels (photo caption)". The South Bend Tribune. January 11, 1958. p. 20. – via Newspapers.com
  27. ^ "Tuesday March 14". The Los Angeles Times. March 12, 1961. p. 468. – via Newspapers.com
  28. ^ "A Buss From Beauregard". The Vancouver Sun. September 12, 1959. p. 59. – via Newspapers.com
  29. ^ "They're In Tune". The Tampa Tribune. October 11, 1959. p. 72. – via Newspapers.com
  30. ^ ""Yellow Terror" River Boat Drama on "Colt .45"". Daily Times-Mail. November 14, 1959. p. 12. – via Newspapers.com
  31. ^ "George Burns (photo caption)". Reno Gazette-Journal. November 20, 1959. p. 33. – via Newspapers.com
  32. ^ "Celebration (photo caption)". The Sacramento Bee. December 6, 1959. p. 94. – via Newspapers.com
  33. ^ "Mike Connors Befriends Youth". The Desert Sun. March 1, 1960. p. 8. – via Newspapers.com
  34. ^ "The Stones Play Matchmakers on "Donna Reed Show"". The Times-Mail. May 14, 1960. p. 11. – via Newspapers.com
  35. ^ "No Shortage of Beauty Evident in This Week's TV Shows". The Tampa Tribune. October 9, 1960. p. 69. – via Newspapers.com
  36. ^ "Hubbyless Heiress Seeks Help Dec. 19 on 'Surfside 6'". The Times-Mail. December 17, 1960. p. 13. – via Newspapers.com
  37. ^ "Six Sailors Left High and Dry on 'Hawaiian Eye'". The Times-Mail. December 24, 1960. p. 13. – via Newspapers.com
  38. ^ "Blackmail Suspected". The Times-Tribune. March 25, 1961. p. 31. – via Newspapers.com
  39. ^ "Foggy Search". The Modesto Bee. April 2, 1961. p. 46. – via Newspapers.com
  40. ^ "Today's Complete T.V. Programs". The Record. April 18, 1961. p. 34. – via Newspapers.com
  41. ^ "Perry Mason Drama Will Take New Turn". Longview Daily News. May 13, 1961. p. 30. – via Newspapers.com
  42. ^ "Surfside 6". Oklahoma City Advertiser. September 21, 1961. p. 18. – via Newspapers.com
  43. ^ "Friday, Dec. 1". The Boston Globe. November 26, 1961. p. 205. – via Newspapers.com
  44. ^ "Thursday: Wallach Stars in a Western". The Des Moines Register. January 28, 1962. p. 139. – via Newspapers.com
  45. ^ "TV Time". Decatur Herald. April 14, 1962. p. 11. – via Newspapers.com
  46. ^ "Manhandler". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. May 20, 1962. p. 120. – via Newspapers.com
  47. ^ "Special". Press-Telegram. July 15, 1962. p. 82. – via Newspapers.com
  48. ^ "Tuesday, July 17 (TV listings)". The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 15, 1962. p. 146. – via Newspapers.com
  49. ^ "Teacher Faces Town's Scorn". Longview Daily News. December 1, 1962. p. 20. – via Newspapers.com
  50. ^ "Friday, April 19". The Los Angeles Times. April 14, 1963. p. 383. – via Newspapers.com
  51. ^ "Friday Evening Television". Detroit Free Press. January 17, 1964. p. 34. – via Newspapers.com
  52. ^ "Thursday, Feb. 24". The Cincinnati Post. February 19, 1966. p. 34. – via Newspapers.com
  53. ^ "Television Casting Notes". The Valley Times. July 17, 1969. p. 15. – via Newspapers.com