Carol Thurston

Carol Thurston (born Betty Lou Thurston; September 27, 1920 – December 31, 1969) was an American film and television actress who played the fictitious Emma Clanton in eight episodes (1959–1961) of the ABC/Desilu Western television series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp.

Background

Thurston was born Betty Lou Thurston in North Dakota of Irish descent to Harvey E. Thurston and the former Marie O'Loughlin. By 1930, she was residing with her family in Forsyth in Rosebud County in southeastern Montana. By the time she was 12, she began to work in her father's country repertory company. The Thurstons moved to Billings, Montana, where she was active in the Billings Civic Theater and graduated from Billings High School. In 1942, she moved with her family to Hollywood, where her father began employment with Lockheed Aircraft.

Film

Thurston was typecast in the role of exotic native girls. She made her motion-picture debut in 1944, when Louella Parsons reported that Thurston had been selected over several other actresses by director Cecil B. De Mille to play the role of the Indonesian girl "Three Martini" in The Story of Dr. Wassell. That date came and went, however, without incident; less than three weeks later, the wedding was called off. In July 1956, Thurston embarked on her second marriage; this time to television actor John Russo (known variously as John Duke, Barry Russo, J.D. Russo, and John Duke Russo). By 1959, the two had become estranged, and by February of that year, Thurston was dating actor Jay Douglas. By January 1960, although neither of them had initiated divorce proceedings, each spouse was otherwise engaged – Russo with actress Dolores Michaels and Thurston with screenwriter Robert Creighton Williams. Eventually, the divorce was finalized, and on February 7, 1962, Thurston and Williams were wed.

Filmography