Raven-haired Carol Forman, a talented actress with a captivating presence, rose to fame as one of the first villainesses in serials. Her remarkable attractiveness and cunning nature made her a formidable opponent for the heroes who dared to thwart her nefarious plans for global domination, atomic secrets, or other sinister schemes.
Born and raised in Alabama, Carol had always been drawn to the world of acting. She took every dramatic class, appeared in every play she could, and even boarded with a singing teacher to study and hone her craft. Her mother had arranged for her to take drama lessons and join a theatrical company, where she was soon spotted by director John Berry.
Berry gave Carol a part in his RKO film From This Day Forward (1946),and her impressive performance caught the attention of the studio, leading to a contract. However, Carol left after a year, seeking new opportunities.
In 1947, she landed the iconic role of Spider Woman in Republic's The Black Widow (1947),a part that would forever be associated with her. Republic promptly assigned her to more "bad girl" roles, but Carol declined, fearing being typecast in serials. She instead freelanced, taking on westerns and a Columbia serial, before returning to Republic for her turn as the villainous "Nila" in Federal Agents vs. Underworld, Inc. (1949).
After a few more westerns, another Columbia serial, and a brief stint in television, Carol Forman essentially retired from the big screen, opting instead to focus on television series, theatrical plays, and television commercials.
