Godspeed Yvette Mimieux

Yvette Mimieux, who appeared in the movies The Time Machine (1960), Where the Boys Are (1960), and The Light in the Piazza (1962), died on January 17 2022 at the age of 80.

Yvette Mimieux was born on January 8 1942 in Los Angeles. Prior to her acting career Miss Mimieux had done some professional modelling. She was only 15 when publicist Jim Byron discovered her on a Hollywood Hills bridle path. She took classes in singing and dancing, and she also acted in local theatre before she was signed by MGM in 1959.

Yvette Mimieux made her television debut in an episode of Yancy Derringer in 1959. In 1960 she guest starred on One Step Beyond and Mr. Lucky. Her first credited role in a film was in Platinum High School in 1960. That same year she appeared in her breakout role as Weena in The Time Machine (1960). She followed it with the movie Where the Boys Are (1960).

Yvette Mimieux began the Sixties with the movie The Light in the Piazza (1962). During the decade she appeared in the films The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1962), The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962), Diamond Head (1962), Toys in the Attic (1963), Looking for Love (1964), Joy in the Morning (1965), The Reward (1965), Monkeys, Go Home! (1967), The Caper of the Golden Bulls (1967), The Mercenaries (1968), Three in the Attic (1968), The Picasso Summer (1969), and The Delta Factor (1970). On television she guest starred on Dr. Kildare and appeared in the TV movie The Desperate Hours. In the 1970-1971 season she was part of the cast of the short-lived series The Most Deadly Game.

During the Seventies Yvette Mimieux appeared in the movies Skyjacked (1972), The Neptune Factor (1973), Journey into Fear (1975), Jackson County Jail (1976), and The Black Hole (1979). On television she appeared in the TV movies Death Takes Holiday; Black Noon; Hit Lady; The Legend of Valentino; Bell, Book and Candle; Snowbeast; Ransom for Alice; Outside Chance; Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell; and Disaster on the Coastliner.

In the Eighties Yvette Mimieux was a regular on the short-lived show Berrenger's. She guest starred on the shows The Love Boat and Lime Street. She appeared in the movies Forbidden Law, Night Partners, Obsessive Love, The Fifth Missile, and Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception. In 1992 She appeared in the TV movie Lady Boss.

I sometimes think Yvette Mimieux was underrated as an actress. She gave an incredible performance in Where the Boys Are as Melanie, whose story took a turn to the tragic. She also did well as Olivia de Havilland's mentally disabled daughter in The Light in the Piazza. Even in her lesser known films, such as Three in the Attic and The Picasso Summer, she could be impressive. Yvette Mimieux's appearance has often been commented on, but I think her talent was much, much more remarkable.