The world welcomed Yvette Carmen Mimieux on January 8, 1942 (though some sources report 1939). This beautiful 5'4 Capricorn was born in Los Angeles to Rene A. (French) and Carmen (Mexican) Mimieux and later had siblings of a sister Gloria Rita (born in October, 1943) and a brother Edouard (born in June, 1947). She graduated Hollywood High School in 1959. She held the titles in Miss Harbor Day (1957), Los Angeles Art Directors Queen (1958), Los Angeles Boat Show Queen (1958) and National Electric Week Queen (1959).
It is reported before her film career began that she was one of four finalist from a beauty contest picked by Elvis Presley (while he was filming "Jailhouse Rock") and invited her to come to the set and compete for a bit role in the movie ("girl in bathing suit"). She was not selected. She appeared on the Yancy Derringer TV Series (1959) as Ricky and then onto Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond TV Series as Nonnie Regan the episode "The Clown".
Then came the film Platinum High School as Lorinda Nibley with Mickey Rooney and Terry Moore. Next was a bit part named Margot in the TV Series Mr. Lucky (1960). After that came the role in which is a cult classic and forever placed her on
the movie stardom rode which was as "Weena" in the 1960 The Time Machine with
Rod Taylor. Then came a succession of films as "Where the Boys Are", The Four
Horseman of the Apocalypse", "Light in the Piazza" (as the most fragile and
beautiful Clara) and the "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm", "Diamond
Head" and "Toys in the Attic". In May 9, 1960 she graced the cover of "Life
Magazine" and again in October 25, 1963 issue. Then back to the TV series of
"Dr. Kildare" in a two part episode as Pat Holmes in 1964. After that came more
films such as "Joy in the Morning" with Richard Chamberlain, "The Reward", "Monkey's Go Home" for Disney, "The Caper of the Golden Bulls", "The Deperate Hours", "Dark of the Sun" with Rod Taylor, "Three in the Attic", "The Picasso Summer", and then "The Delta Factor".
She returned to TV in the series "The Most Deadly Game" (12 episodes) as Vanessa Smith. During the 1970's she was in "Death Takes a Holiday", "Black Noon", "Skyjacked", "The Neptune Factor", "Hit Lady (writer of this film)" in which she played a syndicate killer, "Journey into Fear", "The Legend of Valentino", "Jackson County Jail" with Tommy Lee Jones. Then came the TV Movie "Bell, Book and Candle" in which she played the Kim Novak role of the film version Gillian Holroyd (who else could have been so perfect to play a beautiful witch). Then came roles in "Snowbeast", "Ransom for Alice" "Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell", "Outside Chance", "Disaster on a Coastliner" and then returning to the Disney film "The Black Hole". The 1980's brought roles in "Circle of Power", "Forbidden Love", "Night Partners" and Obsessive Love" (she was a co-producer and co-writer of this project as well).
In 1985 Yvette graced us with her talents in the television series "Berrenger's. It was a one hour long drama set in a New York City department store. Her character was Shane Bradley. She was in 11 episodes and though it was created by David Jacobs of "Dallas" fame it didn't attract enough viewers and was cancelled. She then did a guest spot on an ill fated drama called "Lime Street". After that there were a few more appearances in the 1986 TV movie "The Fifth Missile", "The Love Boat" , and in 1990 was in the return of Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception" and finally the TV movie "Lady Boss" in 1992 which was derived from the "Jackie Collins" Novel.
Yvette was married to Director Stanley Donen on November 4, 1972 and divorced January 13, 1985. She then remarried business executive Howard Ruby on December 20, 1986 and they reside in Beverly Hills, California. Howard is Chairman, Founder and COO of Oakwood and is a renowned photographer. Howard has also traveled the world many times to expand his already impressive photography portfolio. After numerous trips to the Arctic to photograph polar bears, he witnessed the effects of climate change firsthand and was moved to partner with
National Wildlife Federation to develop an educational outreach program. This
program uses his emotional and dramatic photographs of melting ice and threatened polar bears to educate children as well as adults. Many Oakwood
employees volunteered in classrooms as part of this program. In addition to a special exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History where he was named "International Conservation Photographer of the Year" by National
Wildlife Federation (NWF), Howard has donated major bodies of his work to the
UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital and the UC Santa Barbara Donald Bren School of
Environmental Science and Management. Howard is a graduate of the University of
Pennsylvania's prestigious Wharton School of Business. As well as being married
to Yvette he is a father of four and grandfather of six. It is reported that
they also own a resort in Mexico called Beach Hacienda which is a private bed
and breakfast.
It is reported before her film career began that she was one of four finalist from a beauty contest picked by Elvis Presley (while he was filming "Jailhouse Rock") and invited her to come to the set and compete for a bit role in the movie ("girl in bathing suit"). She was not selected. She appeared on the Yancy Derringer TV Series (1959) as Ricky and then onto Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond TV Series as Nonnie Regan the episode "The Clown".
Then came the film Platinum High School as Lorinda Nibley with Mickey Rooney and Terry Moore. Next was a bit part named Margot in the TV Series Mr. Lucky (1960). After that came the role in which is a cult classic and forever placed her on
the movie stardom rode which was as "Weena" in the 1960 The Time Machine with
Rod Taylor. Then came a succession of films as "Where the Boys Are", The Four
Horseman of the Apocalypse", "Light in the Piazza" (as the most fragile and
beautiful Clara) and the "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm", "Diamond
Head" and "Toys in the Attic". In May 9, 1960 she graced the cover of "Life
Magazine" and again in October 25, 1963 issue. Then back to the TV series of
"Dr. Kildare" in a two part episode as Pat Holmes in 1964. After that came more
films such as "Joy in the Morning" with Richard Chamberlain, "The Reward", "Monkey's Go Home" for Disney, "The Caper of the Golden Bulls", "The Deperate Hours", "Dark of the Sun" with Rod Taylor, "Three in the Attic", "The Picasso Summer", and then "The Delta Factor".
She returned to TV in the series "The Most Deadly Game" (12 episodes) as Vanessa Smith. During the 1970's she was in "Death Takes a Holiday", "Black Noon", "Skyjacked", "The Neptune Factor", "Hit Lady (writer of this film)" in which she played a syndicate killer, "Journey into Fear", "The Legend of Valentino", "Jackson County Jail" with Tommy Lee Jones. Then came the TV Movie "Bell, Book and Candle" in which she played the Kim Novak role of the film version Gillian Holroyd (who else could have been so perfect to play a beautiful witch). Then came roles in "Snowbeast", "Ransom for Alice" "Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell", "Outside Chance", "Disaster on a Coastliner" and then returning to the Disney film "The Black Hole". The 1980's brought roles in "Circle of Power", "Forbidden Love", "Night Partners" and Obsessive Love" (she was a co-producer and co-writer of this project as well).
In 1985 Yvette graced us with her talents in the television series "Berrenger's. It was a one hour long drama set in a New York City department store. Her character was Shane Bradley. She was in 11 episodes and though it was created by David Jacobs of "Dallas" fame it didn't attract enough viewers and was cancelled. She then did a guest spot on an ill fated drama called "Lime Street". After that there were a few more appearances in the 1986 TV movie "The Fifth Missile", "The Love Boat" , and in 1990 was in the return of Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception" and finally the TV movie "Lady Boss" in 1992 which was derived from the "Jackie Collins" Novel.
Yvette was married to Director Stanley Donen on November 4, 1972 and divorced January 13, 1985. She then remarried business executive Howard Ruby on December 20, 1986 and they reside in Beverly Hills, California. Howard is Chairman, Founder and COO of Oakwood and is a renowned photographer. Howard has also traveled the world many times to expand his already impressive photography portfolio. After numerous trips to the Arctic to photograph polar bears, he witnessed the effects of climate change firsthand and was moved to partner with
National Wildlife Federation to develop an educational outreach program. This
program uses his emotional and dramatic photographs of melting ice and threatened polar bears to educate children as well as adults. Many Oakwood
employees volunteered in classrooms as part of this program. In addition to a special exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History where he was named "International Conservation Photographer of the Year" by National
Wildlife Federation (NWF), Howard has donated major bodies of his work to the
UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital and the UC Santa Barbara Donald Bren School of
Environmental Science and Management. Howard is a graduate of the University of
Pennsylvania's prestigious Wharton School of Business. As well as being married
to Yvette he is a father of four and grandfather of six. It is reported that
they also own a resort in Mexico called Beach Hacienda which is a private bed
and breakfast.