Michelle Triola Net Worth, Movies, Married, Children, Death

Michelle Triola, popularly known as a former lounge singer, was first noticed while she was performing at Jerry Lewis‘ club on the Sunset Strip. Also, she was an American actress and dancer. She had notable performance in TV Series 7^th Annual American Cinema Award, The 6^th Annual American Cinema Awards, and The 5^th Annual American Cinema Awards.

However, at the age of 76, she died of lung cancer on October 30, 2009. From 1976, she was living with Dick Van Dyke until her death. She could never be blessed with own child in her lifetime. However, she is known as the late step-grandmother of Garret Gerlich who is the famous actor.

Early Life and Education

Michelle Marie Triola was born on 13 November 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States of America. Late Triola was an American native and possessed white ethnicity. Her birth sign was Scorpio.

On November 13, 1933, Triola majored in theatre arts from the University of California.

Career 

Michelle pursed her professional career as a lounge singer and dancer. Eventually, she diversified her range and started dancing in the Broadway production of Flower Drum Song in 1958. The production department was directed by Gene Kelly.

Subsequently, Triola began performing a small role including a guest role on the Television series Diagnosis: Murder via Dick Van Dyke. She also acted as a stand-in on Marvin’s movie Ship of Fools.

As an actress, she had two major credits in TV shows The Lustful Truck (1998) and Diagnosis Murder (2001).

Net Worth

Michelle had earned a reasonable amount of money during her lifespan. As an actress, Michelle Triola’s net worth might not be less than five figures.

In 1976, California Supreme Court implemented a new rule stating, “unmarried women could sue for a divisional property when a relationship ended.” It was Michelle who made the legal history.

Michelle Triola Marvin was the one after whose appeal brought up the concept of palimony settlement for unmarried couples.

She sued for the property and was awarded $104,000 for rehabilitative purposes from the court.  She had taken the concern to the court saying that she deserves part from $3.6 million net worth of Lee Marvin. As though not legally married, their relationship was based on a contract(unwritten).

However, she was blocked from collecting the money by the Appeal Court.

Personal Life 

Triola married Skip Ward on November 26, 1961, and divorced on June 8, 1962. In 1964, Michelle was in a relationship with Actor Lee Marvin. But after 6 years of relationship, the lovers broke their companion.

The couple was never legally married. However, she had claimed for financial support with Lee Marvin during her separation. Later, Triola was in a relationship with Dick Van Dyke in 1976. She met him as his agent’s secretary.

Michelle Triola was in a relationship, with Dick Van Dyke in 1976.

Source: Country Living

Dick Van Dyke once said,

She was easy to talk to. Michelle understood me. She was suing actor Lee Marvin at that time. But, I was drawn into a relationship with her.

Since the day, she shared a common roof with him until her death. She was not legally married to Dick Van Dyke either. So that, she never became the step-mother of Dyke’s children named Stacy Vari Dyke, Carrie Beth Van Dyke, and Barry Van Dyke.

Death

On 30 October 2009, Michelle died in Van Daye’s home at the Malibu, California. Lung cancer was the cause she had to leave the world. Before the traumatic incidence, she had undergone surgery for lung cancer in April 2008. Dick Van Dyke said that he sang and talked to her when she was sick in bed. That day he was doing the same until the nurse informed him that she was no more.