She’s best remembered for her role as Morticia Addams, the macabre matriarch of the 1964 version of The Addams Family, but Carolyn Jones didn’t always have it easy. Throughout her yo-yoing career, she battled through health issues, typecasting, multiple marriages, and at times, even poverty. Still, the dedicated actress valued her profession as much as life itself—or, possibly, even more. From ingénue to icon, this is the story of the indomitable Carolyn Jones.

From the very beginning, Hervé Villechaize got a taste of how unfair the world could be, whether the lesson came from mistreatment at school or the chronic aches and discomfort that accompanied his health condition. However, through all the hardships he endured, he could always find solace in his art, and he never stopped chasing his passion as an actor—until it all became too much to bear.

Jack Lemmon was a jack of all trades. He could do it all: comedy—slapstick and romantic—and hard-hitting dramas. Then there were his eyes, which showed a vulnerability that made audiences want him to succeed—no matter what craziness he was up to. And speaking of craziness, there was a LOT of it.