Carole D’Andrea – who famously portrayed Velma in West Side Story – has pᴀssed away at 87.

She had originated the role of Velma – a rich girl who falls for Riff (Michael Callin) – in the 1957 Broadway production of West Side Story.

Four years later she reprised the role in the iconic 1961 movie musical adaptation. 

D’Andrea was one of only six actors from the original Broadway cast ofthe musical to appear in the big screen feature as the others included: Tony Mordente, Tommy Abbott, William Bramley, Jay Norman and David Winters. 

News that the talented star of stage and screen had pᴀssed was revealed by her devastated family on Instagram as they spoke out about the loss and even revealed her cause of death.

Her three daughters took to the star’s social media page to write: ‘Dear Facebook/ Instagram friends of Carole D’Andrea, This is @andreadoven , @robinmorse708, & Hilary @hilaryhigh , Carole’s daughters. 

Carole D’Andrea – who famously portrayed Velma in West Side Story – has pᴀssed away at 87; the actress is pictured in Hollywood back in October 2002

D’Andrea starred iin the 1961 film version of West Side Story

News that the talented star of stage and screen had pᴀssed was revealed by her devastated family on Instagram as they spoke out about the loss and even revealed her cause of death

Her three daughters took to the star’s social media to write a message which began: ‘Dear Facebook / Instagram friends of Carole D’Andrea, This is @andreadoven , @robinmorse708, & Hilary @hilaryhigh , Carole’s daughters. ‘We are writing to let you know that our beloved mother pᴀssed away peacefully at home this past Tuesday, March 11th due to heart failure’

‘We are writing to let you know that our beloved mother pᴀssed away peacefully at home this past Tuesday, March 11th due to heart failure.’ 

The three daughters – Andrea Doven, 63, Robin Morse, 61, and Hilary Morse, 59 – who are all actresses in their own right went on to talk about their mother’s final days.

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They wrote: ‘It was a privilege to be by her side as she pᴀssed, and to witness in these last few weeks the grace and courage in which she carried herself as she prepared to, as our Godfather put it, “exit stage left.”

 The trio continued by revealing that the day their mother pᴀssed was a milestone day.

They concluded: ‘She also died on her 44th AA sobriety anniversary, which she said was “the day that I changed my life.”

‘She told us many times in her last few days what a quality life she led as a mother, grandmother, performer, and teacher.’

The three daughters also got sentimental before concluding the long message with the poem On The Death Of The Beloved by John O’Donohue.

They wrote: ‘She burned bright, our mother. She lived and loved fully, as many of you well know, and we as her daughters will do our best to pᴀss along her legacy for the rest of our days. For now, we are just trying to imagine how to proceed in a world without her.

‘In hopes to offer you solace we leave you with this poem, which we feel describes so exquisitely our profound grief and love for our mother.

D’Andrea (second from left) had originated the role of Velma – a rich girl who falls for Riff (Michael Callin) – in the 1957 Broadway production of West Side Story. Four years later she reprised the role in the iconic 1961 movie musical adaptation (pictured)

D’Andrea’s daughters – Andrea Doven, 63, Robin Morse, 61, and Hilary Morse, 59 – are seen in a Facebook post from 2019

‘Sending you all the love and warmth we have in our hearts, Andrea, Robin and Hilary.’

D’Andrea shared the three children with Tony Award winner and Mad Men star Robert Morse.

The two were married for two decades from 1961 to 1981. 

D’Andrea had quit acting to raise their three children but the trio have carried on her legacy in entertainment as  Robin and Hilary have also acted on Broadway, and Robin is a teacher at the Manhattan School of Music.

She went on to teach acting for many years at Carnegie Hall in New York before moving to Hollywood in the early 1990s where she continued teaching up to a week before her death.

Aside from her three daughters, she is also survived by grandchildren:  Lucia, Francis, Jagger, Marlon and Lance.