Then I met Lee Marvin, and my life was never the same

Michelle Triola, a singer, joined the cast of “Ship of Fools.” hoping that her small role as a dancer in the film would lead to more significant parts. instead of putting her name in lights, the role led to a tumultuous sixyear relationship with Lee Marvin, the actor. and a landmark court decision affecting the property rights of thousands of unmarried couples.

Born in Chicago in 1933. Miss Triola was like many children who moved to Los Angeles after World War II and set their sights on a movie career. She spent every free moment practicing singing and dancing and turned down the chance to attend college.

After graduating from high school, she started singing professionally in nightclubs in Hollywood and on the Playboy Club circuit. When she was 20 years old, she was a featured dancer in Las Vegas and Reno. At 27, she decided to follow the advice of her parents, a businessman and a housewife, and “settle down and get married.” The marriage, to Skip Ward, an actor. ended in less than a year. she said in an interview the other day, because “we were just too immature.”

In 1963, she went to Europe and sang in nightclubs for 3300 to $1,000 a week. She returned to Hollywood a year later, more determined than ever to be a successful performer.

Then I met Lee Marvin, and my life was never the same.” she said. “After a few weeks of dating, he moved into my Hollywood Hills apartment. After the movie, ‘Ship of Fools’ was completed, we went to Mexico, and for the next six years we were together.”

Miss Triola continued to work. She made a record, “Promise Me Your Love,” but did not promote it because she went to England to be with Mr. Marvin. Soon, she said, she found herself spending most of her time decorating the couple’s $250,000 Malibu beach house and entertaining their show business friends.

When in 1966 the white‐haired actor won an Academy Award for his performance as the drunken gunfighter in “Cat Ballou.” she was at his side. In 1970, she legally changed her name to Marvin.

A few months later, the actor left her to marry his high school sweetheart. Pamela Feeley. Miss Marvin tried to resume her career, but she said nobody wanted to hire a 37‐year‐old singer who had not performed in years.

She supported herself by watering plants, typing scripts and doing odd jobs for friends until she found a $125a‐week secretarial position at the William Morris Agency in Beverly Hills.

PROC. BY MOVIES