Carol Roy

[Garry Hayes]

Has anybody heard anything about Carol Roy? I just heard she is not with us any more.
Garry Hayes

[Magic Newswire]

I spoke with Marvyn about 2 weeks ago. Carol was "not well" but hanging in there. I've not spoken to him recently.

[Magic Newswire]

After posting the above message, I received the following from Dale Salwak:

I am saddened to report that Carol Roy, who for fifty years shared the stage with her beloved husband, Marvyn, passed away on the afternoon of May 2nd after several years of declining health at their home in La Quinta, California -- their "Island in the Sun." Carol lived a full life, enriched by thousands of friends the world over as she indeed enriched theirs. Paris, the Lido, the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas, Radio City Music Hall, Ed Sullivan, the Magic Castle - they did it all, together, becoming an inspiration to an ever-growing magical family. Marvyn's dedication in his book, "Mr. Electric: Unplugged," says it all: "For Carol - Together we rode the wind and touched the stars."

[Debbie Leifer]

I am profoundly sad that the wonderful, charming, and very funny Carol Roy has passed away. In my opinion, she was the best assistant/partner in all of magic!

First Danny Gans yesterday, now Carol Roy today, the sad news keeps mounting. At the top of his game as a Vegas headliner, at only 52, the passing of Danny Gans is a sheer tragedy. I am still wrapping my mind around the impact of such a young, healthy, vital performer being suddenly gone.

Today, to learn that one of my heroes, Mrs. Electric, Carol Roy has passed has brought me to tears. As many here must know, sadly, her health had been failing the past few years, and of course it must have been torture for Marvyn, as that seems like one of the great love affairs in magic. Their amusing interaction during his interview at Magic Live a few years ago was priceless.

As a "perfect" act they were my role model, and I always said she was the BEST assistant in all of magic. Of course I meant partner, not merely an assistant. I am so upset to learn of this loss to the magic community, another legend, a beauty, and a very sweet lady, gone.

[Donal Chayce]

Oh, my...this is such sad news.

Does anyone have information re: services, memorial donations, tributes, family requests, etc.?

[jason156]

Very sad indeed.

On a side note, I went to magicpedia to do some research and found no entry at all for Marvyn Roy.

[David Oliver]

This is indeed a sad time for magic. Carol was a joy to watch and to work with. She was the world's best onstage partner. Her accolades will be heard far and wide for generations to come. She may have said "it ain't all glamour," but she certainly brought glamour to us all! It was an honor to have known her.

My prayers and thoughts go out to Marvyn.

[naquada]

i heard about carol late last night UK time but didnt have access to the interest to check anything more or get emails to confirm..

its sad indeed.. and my deepest thoughts and condolences go to Marvyn on his loss...

[Dick Christian]

A sad day indeed. Personally only met Carol and Marvyn once, but enjoyed and admired their performances many times. She truly lit the stage as brightly as any of his brightest lights!

[Matthew Field]

Carol Roy's Genii columns were a delight -- intelligent and funny. She will be missed. My condolences to Marvyn and their family.

Matt Field

[Richard Kaufman]

Carol and Marvyn were first mentioned in Genii in 1956, two years after they met (and the year they were married). She was a lovely lady and took quite a liking to my wife.

[Dustin Stinett]

This is very sad news, even though we knew it was coming: My condolences to Marvyn.

For the younger folks out there who dont know, Marvyn and Carol Roy were among the first magic acts to work Las Vegas on a regular basis. They blazed the trail for Siegfried & Roy and everyone else who followed.

Marvyn shares many great stories about their remarkable career in his autobiography, which is as much a love story and a tribute to his beloved partner in life: I highly recommend it.

Aloha Carol; we will miss that radiant smile.

Dustin

[raj k]

Their amusing interaction during his interview at Magic Live a few years ago was priceless.

I vividly recall this interaction as well and enjoyed every second of it. She exhibited more spice and spunk than women one third her age and was highly entertaining without even trying.

Much respect.

[Magic Newswire]

I called the Roy's today and was asked to pass on the following:

Marvyn is very appreciative for the outpouring of love and support that he has been receiving from around the world. They will hold a private service this Thursday for family only. A more public memorial service is being planned for late June at the Magic Castle. Additional details to follow as the plans are finalized.

In lieu of flowers, Marvyn is asking that donation in honor of Carol be made to one of two charities.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation
www.NOF.org
1232 22nd St. NW
Washington, DC 20037

-or-

Magic Children's Foundation
7252 Yolanda Ave.
Reseda, Ca 91335

If you would like to send a card or letter to Marvyn, you can do so at the following address:

Marvyn Roy
C/O Dale Hindman
The Magic Castle / Academy of Magical Arts
7001 Franklin Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90028-8600

[Donal Chayce]

Thanks for that info, Dodd.

[Richard Kaufman]

Here's the official press release from Mark Nelson, Dale Hindman, and Marvyn Roy:


Carol Roy
(November 27, 1929 May 2, 2009)

Carol Roy, one of the worlds most distinguished nightclub entertainers and wife and partner of Marvyn Roy, also known as Mr. Electric, has died in La Quinta, California at the age of 79 after a lengthy illness.

Born Carol Doris Williams in Wichita, Kansas on November 27, 1929 to Kenneth and Lavina Williams, Carol gained fame at a tender age, presenting a trick rope act on horseback in state fairs and rodeos beginning at age five. Later, trading her horse for ice skates, she became known as the Park Avenue Cowgirl, performing her rope specialty in a series of ice revues for producers Merriel Abbott, George Arnold and others, including Fantasy on Ice. It was while appearing at the Westward Ho Hotel in Phoenix that she first met young magician Marvyn Roy, whose magical specialty was then known as Artistry in Lights. After marrying Marvyn on Labor Day, 1956, the pair would gain world fame as Mr. Electric and Carol, performing illusions such as The Girl in the Lightbulb, the lighting of a 5,000 watt lighthouse bulb and the finale production of forty illuminated Bulbs from the Mouth.

The Mr. Electric act allowed Carol and Marvyn to travel the world and become international stars, beginning at the Lido in Paris, to other top nightspots in Europe, the Middle East, and Scandanavia before starring in the first Lido Revue show at the Stardust Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. During this time, Carols impact on the team became more and more evident, as she worked to change the acts choreography, music, and most importantly, Marvyns bowing technique. The pair appeared four times in one season on the Ed Sullivan Show on CBS-TV, and toured Russia with Sullivan and a hand-picked performing troupe in 1959.

In the United States, Marvyn and Carol became Las Vegas regulars, appearing in Donn Ardens Hallelujah, Hollywood! and as the opening act for Dean Martin at the MGM Grand, in the Folies Bergere revue at the Tropicana, and for many years on tour across the U.S. and Canada as the opening act for Liberace, with both the Mr. Electric act and as The Diamond Illusionist.

No matter what the name of the act, the magical team of Carol and Marvyn Roy was in constant demand for more than fifty years, around the world, on cruise ships on the high seas, and at magical gatherings across the globe, finally slowing their pace and semi-retiring to the southern California desert community of La Quinta in 1996. There they appeared in several seasons of Riff Markowitz production of The Palm Springs Follies and continued to appear and receive accolades from various magical associations worldwide, including the Dragon Award and the Masters Fellowship and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Academy of Magical Arts (the Magic Castle) in Hollywood, the non-profit magical organization founded by Marvyns boyhood friends Bill and Milt Larsen.

Specialty acts come and go, said Milt Larsen, but Marvyn and Carol lived up to the billing, In all the world there is only one Mr. Electric. For fifty years, Carol Roy supplied the energy that made Mr. Electric light up the stage. Robert Lamoureux, president of the Magic Castle, said, Carol Roy was one of the worlds foremost magical assistants, and with Marvyn made a legendary mark on show business. She was a brilliant lady and a truly class act. No matter how brightly Marvyn Roy may have shown on stage, his radiance was challenged by the enthusiasm and smile of his brilliant partner and co-star Carol. Together they rode the wind and touched the stars.

Carol is survived by her husband of 52 years, Marvyn; her son John Lange and his wife Julie and granddaughters Mallory and Lindsay, closest friend Dale Hindman and thousands of friends and loving colleagues at the Magic Castle and around the world.

Funeral services are private. A memorial service is planned for June at the Magic Castle. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Osteoporosis Foundation,1232 22nd Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-1292, and the Magic Childrens Foundation, 7252 Yolanda Street, Reseda, CA 91335.

[Lee Almond]

So very sad. The first Genii Bill sent to me had Marvyn & Carol on the cover. Joe told me about two years ago Carol was not well. I had the pleasure of meeting the "Electrics" at one of Joe's Conclave conventions back in the 70's, a great experience! Carol seemed to love being back in Kansas. Rest in peace Carol.
Peace All,
Lee

[David]

I hope someone will collect all of her delightful and insightful magazine writings in book form. They are too precious to lose.

[Magic Newswire]

For those that have yet to see it, I posted the official Obituary and photo that went out to the media yesterday.

When I was on the phone yesterday, Dale was reviewing it with Marvyn for final changes. I cannot imagine how hard that must have been.

[Dave Shepherd]

That's a cool clip at Magic Newswire with Marvyn and Carol on the TV show.

However, I'm pretty sure that was Merv Griffin, not Mike Douglas, on whose show they appeared.