Quick Facts About Jacqueline Carlin
- Full Name: Jacqueline Mary Carlin
- Date of Birth: November 20, 1942
- Date of Death: July 1, 2021 (Age 78)
- Birthplace: Essex Fells, New Jersey, USA
- Known For: Actress; Ex-wife of Chevy Chase and Terry Melcher
- Occupation: Actress, Model
- First Marriage: Chevy Chase (1976–1980)
- Second Marriage: Terry Melcher (1981–1997)
- Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Jacqueline Carlin was an American actress and model whose life intersected with two of the entertainment industry’s most recognizable figures. She was the first wife of comedian and actor Chevy Chase, and later married music producer Terry Melcher — the son of Hollywood legend Doris Day. While Carlin maintained a relatively private existence compared to her famous husbands, her personal story touched on some of the most talked-about chapters in American pop culture, from the rise of Saturday Night Live to the dark legacy of the Manson Family. She passed away on July 1, 2021, at the age of 78. Though often identified through her relationships, Carlin had her own career in acting and modeling that spanned parts of the 1970s and 1980s.
Early Life and Background
Where Was Jacqueline Carlin Born?
Jacqueline Mary Carlin was born on November 20, 1942, in Essex Fells, a small borough in Essex County, New Jersey. Essex Fells sits in the western part of the county, a quiet residential community about 25 miles from Manhattan. Details about Carlin’s parents, siblings, and upbringing were never widely reported. She kept her childhood and family background out of the public record for most of her life.
What is known is that she eventually made her way into the entertainment world, working as both a model and an actress. By the mid-1970s, she had established herself in New York and Los Angeles circles, which is where she crossed paths with a young comedian who was about to become a household name.
Jacqueline Carlin’s Marriage to Chevy Chase
When Were Jacqueline Carlin and Chevy Chase Married?
Jacqueline Carlin married Chevy Chase in 1976. At the time, Chase was at the peak of his early fame. He had joined the cast of Saturday Night Live for its debut season in 1975 and quickly became the show’s breakout star, known for his deadpan humor and his recurring role on the “Weekend Update” segment.
The marriage placed Carlin in the middle of one of the most high-profile careers in American comedy. Chase left SNL after the first season and moved into film work, landing roles that would define his career throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, including Foul Play (1978) and Caddyshack (1980).
However, the marriage did not last. Carlin and Chase divorced in 1980 after four years together. Neither spoke publicly in great detail about the reasons for the split. Chase went on to marry Jayni Luke in 1982, a marriage that has lasted over four decades. Carlin, meanwhile, moved on to a very different chapter of her personal life.
Jacqueline Carlin’s Marriage to Terry Melcher
Who Was Terry Melcher?
In 1981, just a year after her divorce from Chevy Chase, Jacqueline Carlin married Terrence Paul “Terry” Melcher. Melcher was a music producer and the only child of actress and singer Doris Day and her first husband, trombonist Al Jorden.
Terry Melcher had built a respected career in the music industry during the 1960s. He produced hit records for The Byrds, including their version of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965. He also worked with The Beach Boys, Paul Revere & the Raiders, and other acts of the era.
The Manson Connection
Melcher’s name became permanently tied to one of the most infamous crimes in American history. In the late 1960s, he had lived at 10050 Cielo Drive in the Benedict Canyon area of Los Angeles. Charles Manson had sought Melcher out, hoping to secure a recording contract. Melcher visited Manson’s commune at the Spahn Ranch but ultimately declined to sign him.
By the time of the Tate-LaBianca murders in August 1969, Melcher had already moved out of the Cielo Drive home. The property was then being rented by director Roman Polanski and his wife, actress Sharon Tate. Tate and four others were murdered there by members of the Manson Family. Whether Manson sent his followers to the address specifically because of his grudge against Melcher has been debated by investigators and authors for decades. Regardless, the connection haunted Melcher for the rest of his life.
When Carlin married Melcher in 1981, these events were already more than a decade old, but they remained a permanent part of his public identity. The couple stayed married for sixteen years before divorcing in 1997. Terry Melcher died on November 19, 2004, from melanoma, at the age of 62.
Acting Career
Jacqueline Carlin worked as both an actress and a model. She appeared in several television shows and films during the 1970s and 1980s. Her acting credits were modest compared to the careers of her famous husbands, but she maintained a working presence in the industry during those years.
Public records of her specific roles are limited, and she did not pursue the kind of high-profile career that would have kept her in entertainment news on her own merits. Modeling work supplemented her acting, and she was known in industry circles in both New York and Los Angeles. After her second divorce in 1997, Carlin stepped further away from the public eye and lived a largely private life.
Later Life and Death
After her divorce from Terry Melcher, Jacqueline Carlin withdrew almost entirely from public life. She did not give interviews, attend industry events, or maintain a public social media presence. For the last two decades of her life, she lived quietly and out of the spotlight.
Jacqueline Carlin passed away on July 1, 2021, at the age of 78. Her death received limited media coverage at the time. She was survived by those who knew her privately, though specific details about surviving family members were not made public. Her passing marked the end of a life that, while lived mostly in private, had been woven through some of the most memorable stories in American entertainment history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Jacqueline Carlin?
Jacqueline Carlin (1942–2021) was an American actress and model. She was best known as the first wife of comedian Chevy Chase and as the second wife of music producer Terry Melcher, the son of Doris Day.
Was Jacqueline Carlin married to Chevy Chase?
Yes. Jacqueline Carlin and Chevy Chase were married from 1976 to 1980. They divorced after four years, during the period when Chase was transitioning from Saturday Night Live to a film career.
Was Jacqueline Carlin married to Terry Melcher?
Yes. Carlin married Terry Melcher in 1981, one year after her divorce from Chevy Chase. The couple remained married until 1997. Melcher was a music producer known for his work with The Byrds and for his indirect connection to the Manson Family murders.
When did Jacqueline Carlin pass away?
Jacqueline Carlin died on July 1, 2021, at the age of 78. She had been living a private life for many years before her death, and her passing received limited public attention.
Did Jacqueline Carlin have children?
There is no publicly confirmed information about whether Jacqueline Carlin had children. She kept her personal and family life private throughout her later years.
