15 Fun Facts About Cara Williams

Cara Williams was an actress during the Golden Age of Hollywood and is popularly remembered for her roles in The Defiant Ones, Pete & Gladys, and The Cara Williams Show. Here are 15 fun facts about Cara Williams!

1. That’s Not Her Name
   Her birth name was Bernice Kamiat. She was born in Brooklyn, NY June 29, 1925, to Benjamin Kamiat and Flora Schwartz.
2. Changing Directions
   After retiring from acting, Cara Williams pursued interior design.
3. Of All The Roles
   Her favorite roles included Pete & Gladys, The Defiant Ones, Meet Me In Las Vegas, and The Man From The Diner’s Club. When it comes to the many famous faces she worked alongside, one she particularly adored was Sidney Poitier, who was a co-star in The Defiant Ones.
4. “No.”
   The last book she ever read was The Power of No.
5. Promising Young Child Star
   Williams started pursuing the art of performance as a child. She did voice work for Porky Pig cartoons at age 13.
6. Contract Player
   20th Century-Fox signed Cara at the age of 16. At that time, she was credited as Bernice Kay.
7. A Family Affair
   Cara’s last film role in 1978, The One Man Jury, featured a small cameo from her son, John Blythe Barrymore.
8. Acting Royalty
   Cara spent much of the 1950s as a Barrymore – one of the most famous acting dynasties of all time. She married John Drew Barrymore, father of Drew Barrymore, in 1952 and remained with him until 1959.
9. Love Her Madly
   Cara Williams’ third husband was Asher Dann, the first manager of The Doors. They remained married for 54 years until Dann’s passing in 2018.
10. Monte Carlo with Audrey
    One of Audrey Hepburn’s earliest roles was alongside Cara Williams. Monte Carlo Baby, also known as We Go to Monte Carlo, was released in France in 1951 and finally made its way to the USA in 1953. It isn’t available to stream, however, if you can find it, watch with the knowledge that it’s possible Cara played a part in placing Audrey in the “right place at the right time.” Williams turned down the role Hepburn had been cast in because she didn’t want to be in Europe for that amount of time. It was there that Audrey was spotted and cast for the Broadway production of Gigi.
11. “Greatest Comedy Timing In Showbusiness”
    According to Williams, a mutual friend of both her and Lucille Ball was asked to introduce her to Lucy. Cara admitted she didn’t want to meet Lucille until hearing that she had told the friend Cara had “the greatest comedy timing in showbusiness.” Humphrey Bogart had also given a similar compliment to Cara. 
12. All About Eve
    One of Cara’s favorite films was All About Eve, a 1950 film starring Bette Davis and Anne Baxter that also features Marilyn Monroe.
13. Always Look Your Best
    Cara loved gifting people clothing and telling them how to dress. A common thing she used to say was “You can’t go out unless you look fabulous!”
14. Breakfast At Cara’s?
    Author of literary classics such as Breakfast At Tiffany’s and In Cold Blood, Truman Capote, maintained a great friendship with Cara Williams, whom Capote had met at a party.
15. Unfinished Business
    Cara Williams loved writing and was in the process of writing a book before her passing on December 11, 2021.

Breakfast At Dominique’s is proud to be creating the Officially Licensed Signature Coffee Blend of Cara Williams. A nutty fudge brownie blend created in honor of Williams being a self-professed chocoholic (bonus fun fact!). While waiting for the release of her blend, please visit our shop to check out the other icon blends we proudly create.

Sources: IMDB, Cara’s daughter, Justine Jagoda, a recorded phone interview with Gary Sweeney (formerly The Midnight Palace), The Hollywood Reporter