Marya Carter
Quick Facts
Biography
Marya "Sally" Carter (born Zella Maria Grajeda; May 12, 1942) is an American model and actress. She was Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month for its May 1962 issue.
Early life
Marya Carter was born Zella Maria Grajeda on May 12, 1942, in Los Angeles, California.
Career
Modeling
Carter was Playboy magazine's Playmate of the month for its May 1962 issue, preceded by Roberta Lane, who was the Playmate for the April 1962 issue. Her centerfold was photographed by Paul Morton Smith.
Carter was succeeded by Merissa Mathes for the June 1962 issue of Playboy.
Acting
During the 1960s and 1970s, Carter pursued an acting career, mostly appearing in B-movies and guest roles on television. Carter used several names for her credits; among them were Sally Carter, Sally Carter Hunt, Sally Carter Ihnat, and Sally Ihnat.
She made her screen debut playing a juror in William Marshall's 1961 sci-fi/adventure film The Phantom Planet starring Dean Fredericks, Coleen Gray, and Anthony Dexter.
Carter's other major TV appearances include two episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show (1964), an episode of Police Story (1974), an episode of The New Land (1974), and three episodes of The Rookies (1973-1076, starring Georg Stanford Brown, Sam Melville, and Michael Ontkean).
Her last screen appearance was in "Dangerous Curves" episode (aired January 2, 1978) of the TV series Switchalongside Robert Wagner, Eddie Albert, and Charlie Callas.
Personal life
Carter was married three times.
Her first marriage was with Donald Scott Michel (November 23, 1963—February 1967). The marriage ended in divorce; they had a child together. She was then married to actor Steve Ihnat from May 23, 1970, until Ihnat's death from a heart attack on May 12, 1972. They had two children.
Carter was then married to the noted game show Peter Marshall (brother of actress Joanne Dru) from October 9, 1977, until the divorce in 1988.
Filmography
- Switch – "Dangerous Curves" (1978) ... Adele
- Charlie's Angels – "Terror on Ward One" (1977) ... Nurse Farragut
- The Rookies:
- Sudden Death (1976)
- Key Witness (1974) ... Mrs. Stafford
- Frozen Smoke (1973) ... Mrs. Potter
- The Trial of Chaplain Jensen (1975) (TV) ... Irene Daniels
- The New Land – "The Word Is: Persistence" (1974)
- Police Story – "Chain of Command" (1974) ... Janice Magill
- Emergency! – "Audit" (1973) ... First Woman
- The Red Pony (1973) (TV) ... Miss Willis
- Do Not Throw Cushions Into the Ring (1970) ... The Wife
- The New Interns (1964) ... Nurse
- The Greatest Show on Earth – "A Place to Belong" (1964) ... Jeannie
- My Favorite Martian – "Who Am I?" (1964) ... Nurse
- The Dick Van Dyke Show – "The Man from Emperor" (1964) ... Sexy Secretary/Florence
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour – "Goodbye, George" (1963) ... Starlet
- The Phantom Planet (1961) ... Juror