'Palimony' figure Michelle Triola Marvin dies
edonline
Posted on Fri, Oct. 30, 2009
'Palimony' figure Michelle Triola Marvin dies
By ROBERT JABLON
Associated Press Writer
Michelle Triola Marvin, who waged a landmark palimony case against
former lover actor Lee Marvin of "The Dirty Dozen" fame, died Friday
at age 76.
She underwent surgery for lung cancer last year and died at the Malibu
home of actor Dick Van Dyke, her partner of 30 years, said family
spokesman Bob Palmer.
Michelle Marvin's birth name was Triola and she met Lee Marvin - who
died in 1987 - while working as an extra in his 1964 movie "Ship of
Fools." They lived together for six years and she took his last name
but never married. The relationship ended in 1970.
Afterward, she went to work as an agent's secretary at the William
Morris talent agency, Palmer said.
"She had a lot of friends in the (show) business," he said.
In 1979, after his support checks stopped, Marvin sued her former
lover for half of the estimated $3.6 million he had earned during
their relationship. She claimed he had promised her lifetime support.
Famed attorney Marvin Mitchelson represented her and dubbed the
request "palimony," equating it to the alimony legally available to
divorcing spouses.
A judge rejected Marvin's community property request but granted her
$104,000 for "rehabilitation." The award was later overturned on
appeal.
Although Marvin came away with no money, the sensational case spurred
similar trials and, through a state Supreme Court ruling, established
in California law the right of unmarried partners to sue for joint
property on grounds that their partners had violated a relationship
contract.
Palmer said Marvin didn't dwell on the case and wasn't bitter, even
though she was forever associated with it. Many said she came up with
the concept of palimony, but it was really Mitchelson, he said.
"She just shrugged it off," Palmer said. "If Lee Marvin's name came
up, she said he was a great guy.
Her relationship with Van Dyke began in the late 1970s and they moved
to Malibu in 1986.
In addition to Van Dyke, Marvin is survived by her sister, Diane
Triola Johnson of Los Angeles; a niece and a nephew.
Kris Baker
news:stsme5t844h11nfem...@4ax.com...
> http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/movies/AP/story/1308843.html
>
> Posted on Fri, Oct. 30, 2009
>
> 'Palimony' figure Michelle Triola Marvin dies
>
> By ROBERT JABLON
> Associated Press Writer
>
> Michelle Triola Marvin, who waged a landmark palimony case against
> former lover actor Lee Marvin of "The Dirty Dozen" fame, died Friday
> at age 76.
>
> She underwent surgery for lung cancer last year and died at the Malibu
> home of actor Dick Van Dyke, her partner of 30 years, said family
> spokesman Bob Palmer.
Here she is, with Dick:
http://photos.upi.com/slideshow/lbox/9880b5d73612fb441d1dc0a21e7aee84/HOLLYWOOD-BENEFIT.jpg
Kris
PaulMofATL
She must have some talent that isn't obvious. What a freakin cow.
earthage
Here she is with Lee Marvin back in 1965, when she was 32.
http://it.encarta.msn.com/media_121620550_761597894_-1_1/Lee_Marvin.html
peo...@need.com
And idiot Christians think that GAY marriage is somehow a threat to
marriage while "common law" marriage is a threat to the very Law
itself.
Frieda Ferguson
Let me guess, you are as queer as a 3 dollar bill. Move to Barney
Frank's home state if you don't like it.
God's Debris
<paralle...@ggmail.com> wrote:
Why'd he ever leave Laura?