{{Short description|American actress (1937–2021)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Yvonne Wilder | image = YvonneWilder1962.png | alt = A young fair-skinned woman, with short dark hair and dark eyes | caption = Othon (later Wilder), from a 1962 newspaper | other_names = | birth_name = Yvonne Othon | birth_date = September 21, 1937 | birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S. | death_date = November 24, 2021 (aged 84) | death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1959–1993 | known_for = | notable_works = | spouse(s) = | relatives = }}
'''Yvonne Wilder''' (born '''Yvonne Othon''', September 21, 1937 – November 24, 2021) was an American actress, comedian, writer, and artist. She appeared in ''West Side Story'' on stage and in the 1961 film, and had a busy career in American television from the 1960s into the 1990s.
== Early life == Yvonne Othon was born in the Bronx, New York City. Her parents were from Cuba and Puerto Rico, but Othon did not learn to speak Spanish as a child.<ref>{{Cite news|date=May 28, 1978|title=Yvonne Wilder: 'I've Always Been Funny'|pages=153|work=The Pittsburgh Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90632753/yvonne-wilder-ive-always-been-funny/|access-date=December 15, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She attended the High School for Performing Arts, with further training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|date=December 3, 2021|title=Yvonne Wilder, Actor Known for 'West Side Story' and 'Seems Like Old Times,' Dies at 84|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/yvonne-wilder-dead-84-actor-west-side-story-1235123213/|access-date=December 15, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Career == As a young actress and dancer, Yvonne Othon appeared in shows starring Imogene Coca<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wallace|first=Kenneth G.|date=July 28, 1959|title=Imogene Coca Tops Tappan Zee Musical|pages=31|work=The Record|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90632106/imogene-coca-tops-tappan-zee/|access-date=December 15, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and Carol Burnett. While she was studying in London, Othon appeared in a West End production of ''West Side Story'',<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Miyamoto|first=Nobuko|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hDsgEAAAQBAJ&dq=Yvonne+Othon&pg=PA74|title=Not Yo' Butterfly: My Long Song of Relocation, Race, Love, and Revolution|year= 2021|publisher=Univ of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-38065-3|pages=73–74|language=en}}</ref> and later played Anita in the first international touring company of the show.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|date=March 16, 1962|title=Admiral is No Big Shot to Yvonne Othon|pages=14|work=Jefferson City Post-Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90631851/admiral-is-no-big-shot-to-yvonne-othon/|access-date=December 15, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Othon's first screen credit was as Consuelo in ''West Side Story'' (1961).<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Lenker|first=Maureen Lee|date=May 6, 2021|title=The cheekiest line from this iconic 'West Side Story' song was actually improvised|url=https://ew.com/movies/west-side-story-line-america-improvised/|access-date=December 15, 2021|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Blum|first=Daniel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ukFl5C_3npMC&dq=Yvonne+Othon&pg=PA97|title=Screen World 1962|date=1962|publisher=Biblo & Tannen Publishers|isbn=978-0-8196-0303-6|pages=97|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Chakiris|first=George|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a8QIEAAAQBAJ&dq=Yvonne+Othon&pg=PA70|title=My West Side Story: A Memoir|date=March 1, 2021|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-1-4930-5548-7|pages=70|language=en}}</ref> She and Rita Moreno were among the few Puerto Rican performers playing Puerto Rican characters in the film,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Yamamoto|first=J. K.|date=December 15, 2011|title=Still One of the Sharks: Nobuko Miyamoto Looks Back at 'West Side Story' 50 Years Later|url=http://rafu.com/2011/12/still-one-of-the-sharks-nobuko-miyamoto-looks-back-at-west-side-story-50-years-later/|access-date=December 15, 2021|website=Rafu Shimpo|language=en-US}}</ref> and they both worked with Natalie Wood on her accent as Maria.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Barrios|first=Richard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4aa0DwAAQBAJ&dq=Yvonne+Othon&pg=PT181|title=West Side Story: The Jets, the Sharks, and the Making of a Classic|year=2020|publisher=Running Press|isbn=978-0-7624-6946-8|language=en}}</ref> She attended some reunion events related to ''West Side Story''.<ref name=":2" /> "She was a worldly, wiseass New Yorker, intelligent and ''very'' funny," recalled her friend and fellow dancer from ''West Side Story'', actress Nobuko JoAnne Miyamoto.<ref name=":1" />
Wilder was also known for roles in the vampire film, ''The Return of Count Yorga'' (1971), which she co-wrote;<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 26, 1971|title=Drama Roles Aided Quarry|pages=37|work=The Leaf-Chronicle|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90632871/drama-roles-aided-quarry/|access-date=December 15, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and in ''Silent Movie'' (1976), ''Bloodbrothers'' (1978), ''Why Not Stay for Breakfast?'' (1979), ''The Last Married Couple in America'' (1980), and ''Seems Like Old Times'' (1980).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|date=December 3, 2021|title=Yvonne Wilder, Actor Known for 'West Side Story' and 'Seems Like Old Times,' Dies at 84|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/yvonne-wilder-dead-84-actor-west-side-story-1235123213/|access-date=December 15, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>
Most of Wilder's work was in television, including roles in ''Hennesey'' (1962),<ref name=":3" /> ''CBS Workshop'' (1964), ''Hey, Landlord'' (1967), ''Bracken's World'' (1969), ''Room 222'' (1969–1970), ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (1972), ''The Courtship of Eddie's Father'' (1972), ''The Partridge Family'' (1971–1972), ''The Girl with Something Extra'' (1973), ''Death Sentence'' (1974), ''On the Rocks'' (1975–1976), ''The Practice'' (1976), ''Police Story'' (1977), ''Operation Petticoat'' (1977–1978),<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|last=Kleiner|first=Dick|date=November 11, 1977|title=Viewers Wild Over Wilder|pages=118|work=Fort Lauderdale News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90632307/viewers-wild-over-wilderdick-kleiner/|access-date=December 15, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> ''The Tenth Month'' (1979), ''One Day at a Time'' (1979), ''Archie Bunker's Place'' (1981–1982), ''Mama's Family'' (1983), ''Gimme a Break!'' (1986–1987), ''227'' (1988), ''The Equalizer'' (1986–1989), and ''Full House'' (1988–1991).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|date=December 3, 2021|title=Yvonne Wilder, Actor Known for 'West Side Story' and 'Seems Like Old Times,' Dies at 84|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/yvonne-wilder-dead-84-actor-west-side-story-1235123213/|access-date=December 15, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>
Wilder was also half of a comedy duo with Jack Colvin.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Thompson|first=Ruth|date=May 28, 1966|title='Hamlet' Proves Good Luck Piece for Colvin & Wilder|pages=10|work=The Brattleboro Reformer|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90633238/hamlet-proves-good-luck-piece-for/|access-date=December 15, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Brown|first=Vivian|date=July 21, 1966|title=Comedy Team Tells Teens to Laugh|pages=12|work=The Shreveport Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90633118/comedy-team-tells-teens-to-laughvivian/|access-date=December 15, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Later in life, she was a painter and sculptor,<ref name=":0" /> and wrote a play, ''Weehawken'', performed in Los Angeles in 1988.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Arkatov|first=Janice|date=April 17, 1988|title=Modern Notions of Love in 'Weehawken' at Tiffany|page=52|work=Los Angeles Times|id={{ProQuest|<!-- insert ProQuest data here -->}}}}</ref>
==Filmography==
===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Yvonne Wilder film credits<!-- WP:ACCESSIBILITY & MOS:TABLECAPTION --> |- ! Year !! Title !! Role <!-- !! Notes --> |- | 1961 || ''West Side Story'' || Consuelo |- | 1971 || ''The Return of Count Yorga'' || Jennifer Nelson |- | 1976 || ''Silent Movie'' || Studio Chief's Secretary |- | 1978 || ''Bloodbrothers'' || Phyllis De Coco (uncredited) |- | 1979 || ''Why Not Stay for Breakfast?'' || Helen |- | 1980 || ''The Last Married Couple in America'' || Margrette |- | 1980 || ''Seems Like Old Times'' || Aurora De La Hoya |}
===Television=== {{incomplete list|date=March 2025}} {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Yvonne Wilder television credits<!-- WP:ACCESSIBILITY & MOS:TABLECAPTION --> |- ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes |- | 1962 | ''Hennesey'' | Waitress / Wave Corpsman Bertha Bartosik | 2 episodes |- | 1964 | ''CBS Workshop'' | | 1 episode |- | 1967 | ''Hey, Landlord'' | Secretary | 1 episode |- | 1969 | ''Bracken's World'' | Esta Goldman | 1 episode |- | 1969–1970 | ''Room 222'' | Mrs. Guerroro / Mrs. Musgrove | 2 episodes |- | 1972 | ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' | Barbara Gardner | 1 episode |- | 1972 | ''The Courtship of Eddie's Father'' | Kathy | 1 episode |- | 1971–1972 | ''The Partridge Family'' | Waitress / Sheila | 4 episodes |- | 1973 | ''The Girl with Something Extra'' | Taffy | 1 episode |- | 1974 | ''Death Sentence'' | Elaine Croft | TV movie |- | 1975–1976 | ''On the Rocks'' | Lillian | 2 episodes |- | 1976 | ''The Practice'' | Mrs. Widdicomb | Episode: "The Snow Job" {{small|(S2.E5)}} |- | 1977 | ''Police Story'' | Angie | 1 episode |- | 1977–1978 | ''Operation Petticoat'' | Major Edna Howard | 23 episodes |- | 1979 | ''The Tenth Month'' | Mrs. Figueroa | TV movie |- | 1979 | ''One Day at a Time'' | Dr. Bradshaw | 1 episode |- | 1981–1982 | ''Archie Bunker's Place'' | Katherine Logan | 4 episodes |- | 1983 | ''Mama's Family'' | Scarlett May Dubois | 1 episode |- | 1986–1987 | ''Gimme a Break!'' | (various) | 5 episodes |- | 1986–1989 | ''The Equalizer'' | Lettie | {{Hidden|{{align|left|3 episodes}}| <br>"Wash Up" {{small|(S1.E16)}} <br>"Torn" {{small|(S1.E17)}} <br>"The Sins of Our Fathers" {{small|(S4.E8)}} }} |- | 1988 | ''227'' | Anna Gonzales | 1 episode |- | 1988–1991 | ''Full House'' | Irene Katsopolis | 7 episodes |}
== Personal life == Wilder married five times. Her third husband was Bob Kelljan (Robert Kelluchian). Her fifth husband was Zach Kleiman. She had one son, Chris.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|last=Kleiner|first=Dick|date=November 11, 1977|title=Viewers Wild Over Wilder|pages=118|work=Fort Lauderdale News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90632307/viewers-wild-over-wilderdick-kleiner/|access-date=December 15, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She died at home in Los Angeles on November 24, 2021, at the age of 84.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|date=December 3, 2021|title=Yvonne Wilder, Actor Known for 'West Side Story' and 'Seems Like Old Times,' Dies at 84|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/yvonne-wilder-dead-84-actor-west-side-story-1235123213/|access-date=December 15, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDB name|0928648}} * [https://yvonnewilder-watercolors.com/About_Yvonne.html Yvonne Othon Wilder's website] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp4sPpOK3RM Colvin & Wilder on ''The Hollywood Palace''] In 1964, on YouTube * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzjiJDwStWg Colvin & Wilder on ''Gimme a Break!''], on YouTube
{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Wilder, Yvonne}} Category:1937 births Category:2021 deaths Category:American film actresses Category:American dancers Category:Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni Category:American entertainers of Cuban descent Category:American actresses of Puerto Rican descent Category:American women comedians Category:Actresses from the Bronx Category:American television actresses Category:20th-century American actresses Category:20th-century American comedians Category:Comedians from the Bronx