Carole D’Andrea, who portrayed the Jet girl Velma in the original 1957 Broadway production of “West Side Story” and the 1961 Oscar-winning film adaptation, died on March 11, 2025, at her home in Santa Monica, California. She was 87.
The cause was heart failure, according to her daughter Andrea Doven, who confirmed the death to The Hollywood Reporter.
Her three daughters shared the news of her passing on her official social media pages, revealing that she died peacefully at home. They described her as a woman who “burned bright” and “lived and loved fully,” vowing to continue her legacy.
The daughters added that she passed away on the 44th anniversary of her Alcoholics Anonymous sobriety, a milestone she considered the day her life changed.
D’Andrea was one of only six actors from the original Broadway cast of “West Side Story” to appear in the United Artists feature film. The others were Tony Mordente, Tommy Abbott, William Bramley, Jay Norman, and David Winters.
Born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, D’Andrea pursued acting in New York after the death of her parents in a car accident. She turned down a scholarship to Penn State University to follow her artistic dreams, a decision that would ultimately lead her to Broadway.
Her breakthrough came when she originated the role of Velma in the groundbreaking 1957 Broadway production of “West Side Story.” In the story, Velma is a privileged girl who falls for Riff, the leader of the Jets gang. Beyond her primary role, D’Andrea also understudied the tomboy character of Anybodys in the stage production.
“West Side Story,” a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” set amid rival street gangs in New York City, became a cultural phenomenon. The subsequent 1961 film adaptation cemented its place in entertainment history, winning 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
D’Andrea’s Broadway career also included playing Dainty June in the original Broadway production of “Gypsy” in 1959.
In 1961, the same year the “West Side Story” film was released, D’Andrea married actor Robert Morse, who would later win a Tony Award and star in the television series “Mad Men.” Their marriage lasted until their divorce in 1981. During their 20-year marriage, the couple had three daughters: Robin, Hilary, and Andrea.
Two of her daughters, Robin and Hilary, entered the theatrical profession in their parents’ footsteps.
After stepping away from acting to raise her family, D’Andrea reinvented herself as an acting teacher. Beginning in the early 1990s, she taught acting classes in both New York City and Hollywood, sharing her expertise with new generations of performers.
Her commitment to teaching remained steadfast throughout her later years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she adapted to online instruction and continued teaching until just one week before her death.
The original 1961 “West Side Story” film featured an ensemble cast that included Natalie Wood as Maria, Richard Beymer as Tony, Rita Moreno as Anita, Russ Tamblyn as Riff, and George Chakiris as Bernardo. The film’s cultural impact has endured for decades, with a new adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg released in 2021.
In recent years, D’Andrea relocated to the West Coast, where she worked as a performance coach and acting teacher. An advocate for sobriety, she frequently spoke about how overcoming addiction had transformed her life.
Following the announcement of her death, tributes from family, friends, and fans poured in, remembering her contributions to film and theater, her dedication to family, and her inspirational journey through professional success and personal challenges.
D’Andrea is survived by her daughters and grandchildren. Her legacy lives on through her family and the countless performers she mentored and inspired over her decades-long career as a performer and teacher.
