Celia Kaye facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Celia Kaye
Senior yearbook photo
Born	Celia Kay Burkholder (1942-02-24) 24 February 1942 (age 83) Carthage, Missouri, US
Other names	Celia Milius
Years active	since 1962
Spouse(s)	John Milius (m. 1978; div. bef. 1987)

Celia Kaye (born February 24, 1942) is an American actress. She is known for her role in the 1964 movie Island of the Blue Dolphins. This role helped her win a Golden Globe award.

Early Life and Interests

Celia Kaye was born in Carthage, Missouri. Her father was a chemical engineer, and her mother ran a preschool. Her family moved to Wilmington, Delaware, when she was one year old. She has German and Cherokee descent.

Celia was a very active student. She graduated with high honors from Henry C. Conrad High School. She loved performing arts, learning both dance and organ. She was also a talented diver and swimmer. She toured with the Wilmington swim club, showing off her swimming skills. Celia also worked as a model and studied at the Philadelphia Modeling and Charm School.

Acting Career Begins

In 1959, Celia Kaye moved to California. She earned a scholarship to the Pasadena Playhouse, a famous acting school. She finished her studies there in 1961. Soon after, she started acting on television. She got a big role in the TV show The New Loretta Young Show. She played Marnie, the daughter of Loretta Young's character.

While working on the show, Celia continued her education. She took classes at Los Angeles City College at night. She also studied modern jazz dance at Eugene Loring's American School of Dance.

Becoming a Movie Star

Celia became a movie star when she got the main role of Karana in the 1964 film Island of the Blue Dolphins. This movie was based on a popular book. About 1,500 people tried out for the role, but Celia was chosen.

The movie's producers did not know about her Cherokee heritage when she was cast. However, the press later highlighted it. They noted that she looked "like an Indian with her dark hair and skin." After filming, Celia stayed to learn about how movies are put together. Before her first movie was even released, she filmed two more movies for Universal Pictures. These were Wild Seed and Fluffy.

Awards and Later Roles

After Island of the Blue Dolphins came out, Celia won an award. In 1965, she received the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer. She shared this award with Mia Farrow and Mary Ann Mobley.

The movie itself was generally well-liked as a fun children's film. Celia's acting received different opinions. Some critics thought her performance was simple. Others said she handled a difficult role with grace.

Over the next few years, Celia appeared in more movies, TV shows, and plays. She also studied anthropology and social sciences at UCLA in the evenings. After the 1960s, she acted less often and in smaller roles. She was even an extra who looked like actress Merle Oberon in the movie The Day of The Locust. By 1978, she was often called a "former actress." However, she has continued to take on occasional roles since then.

Personal Life

Celia Kaye married director John Milius on February 26, 1978. They had one child together. They later separated by 1987 but have remained friends.

Film and Television Roles

Television Appearances

Film Roles