Personal life and career
Triola was born in Los Angeles. She never had children. She lived with actor Dick Van Dyke from 1976 until her death in 2009. Triola was married to actor Skip Ward for six months from November 1961 to June 1962. Triola majored in theater arts at UCLA. She was a lounge singer and dancer. She danced in the original 1958 Broadway theatre, Broadway production of ''Flower Drum Song'', directed by Gene Kelly. Her film acting career consisted of minor roles, including a stand-in in Marvin's 1965 film ''Ship of Fools (film), Ship of Fools'' and a guest role on the Dick Van Dyke television series ''Diagnosis: Murder''.Suing Lee Marvin
Although she and Marvin never married, Triola sought financial compensation similar to that available to spouses under California's alimony and community property laws. The result was the landmark case ''Marvin v Marvin'', Case citation, 18 Cal. 3d 660 (1976). The Supreme Court of California held that Triola could proceed with her suit, as it did state a cause of action and the trial court erred in granting judgment to Marvin on the pleadings. The case went to trial. On April 18, 1979, Judge Arthur K. Marshall ordered Marvin to pay $104,000 to Triola for "rehabilitation purposes", but denied her community property claim for one half of the $3.6 million which Marvin had earned during their six years of cohabitation. Both sides claimed victory, but in August 1981, the California courts of appeal, California Court of Appeal ruled that Triola could not show any contract between her and Marvin to justify any payment to her. As a result, Triola received no money from Marvin.Death
In April 2008, she underwent surgery for lung cancer. The cancer caused her death on October 30, 2009, at the home she shared with Van Dyke. She was 76 years old.External links
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Triola, Michelle 1932 births 2009 deaths 20th-century American actresses American film actresses American television actresses Deaths from lung cancer in California People from Greater Los Angeles UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science alumni Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) 20th-century American singers 20th-century American women singers 21st-century American women