Beverley Owen

Best known for playing the conventionally pretty Marilyn during the first season of the classic sitcom "The Munsters" (CBS, 1964-66), Beverley Owen was born Beverley Ogg in Ottumwa, Iowa in 1937. Owen always wanted to be an actor, starring in a production of "The Little Fir Tree" at age eight, but at her parents' advice, she attended college before pursuing a career in entertainment, graduating from the University of Michigan. Soon afterward, she relocated to New York and began auditioning for small roles as an actor and model while working as a secretary for CBS at shows like "Captain Kangaroo" (CBS, 1955-1992). Owen eventually began landing acting jobs, making her debut in 1956 on an episode of "As the World Turns" (CBS, 1956-2010). She would go on to appear on "Wagon Train" (NBC, 1957-1965) and "The Virginian" (NBC, 1962-1971) before auditioning for the upcoming series "The Munsters," a comedy about a family of ghoulish monsters with one daughter who does not quite fit in.

Owen landed the role and began co-starring on the series, which proved to be a hit. However, after the first season ended, Owen decided to focus her attention elsewhere, and the role was taken over by Pat Priest. Owen largely retired from acting and continued to reside in New York, where she had maintained a home base even at the height of her Hollywood success. Beverley Owen died in 2019 at 81. She was 81 years old.