The Enigmatic Lady Colyton: Unmasking Her Ties to the Mysterious Addams Family

Summary

Charles Addams' second wife, Lady Colyton, played an important role in his life and legacy as she secured the rights to The Addams Family cartoons in their divorce settlement.

Lady Colyton and Addams had a turbulent marriage, characterized by frequent disputes about finances and Addams' creations. Consequently, they ended up getting divorced after a brief two-year period. Although Lady Colyton did not serve as the inspiration for Morticia Addams, all of Addams' wives somehow embodied the character, reflecting his personal notion of the perfect woman.

The Lady Colyton played a crucial role in The Addams Family's history and shared a special bond with its creator, Charles Addams. Originally appearing as delightfully macabre comic strips in The New Yorker during the 1930s, The Addams Family portrayed cartoonist Charles Addams' twisted perspective on the conventional family. Addams' exceptional work brought him fame, earning him a reputation as an eccentric individual known for his dark humor and peculiar behavior. Despite his turbulent personal life, including three marriages, most of this remained separate from his artistic creations, yet his essence could be found within his greatest masterpiece.

With the release of the 1960s TV series, The Addams Family's legacy was solidified, expanding further through subsequent films, video games, and various other forms of media, ultimately breathing life into this eerie and eccentric family. The finest adaptations of The Addams Family capture the essence of Addams' original cartoons, providing a unique glimpse into the man's idiosyncrasies. Even contemporary series such as Netflix's Wednesday prove that the Addams clan remains an influential force in popular culture.

Lady Colyton Was Addams Family Creator Charles Addams' Second Wife

Lady Barbara Colyton, known for her eccentric name, married Charles Addams in 1954. Despite divorcing Addams, she retained her royal name, which she acquired through her marriage to the first Lord Colyton. Their marriage was marked by constant disagreements over money and the legacy of Addams' creations. Ultimately, they ended their marriage in 1956 after just two years together.

Interestingly, Lady Colyton's connection to Charles Addams endured due to their divorce settlement. As part of the agreement, she secured the rights to The Addams Family cartoons. Sadly, Addams passed away in 1988 without witnessing the immense success of the franchise. However, Lady Colyton was able to witness the booming popularity of the works through the release of the 1991 film The Addams Family, starring Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston. She continued to receive substantial royalties from this highly lucrative pop culture phenomenon.

Was Lady Colyton The Inspiration For Morticia Addams?

Lady Colyton, despite her cleverness and femme-fatale energy, was not the source of inspiration for Morticia Addams. In fact, she married the cartoonist years after the goth icon had already made her mark in The New Yorker. The prevailing myth suggested that Morticia was inspired by Addams' first wife, Barbara Jean Day, but they actually met a few years after The Addams Family comics were introduced. In a way, all of Addams' wives embodied qualities of Morticia, leading to speculation that his depictions of the character reflected his idealized vision of a woman.

After a messy divorce with Colyton in 1956, Addams remained a bachelor for many years until he met Marilyn Matthew "Tee" Miller, whom he married in 1981. With their shared twisted sense of humor, the couple decided to marry in a pet cemetery, dressed as Morticia and Gomez (via MeTV). Although none of Charles Addams' wives were Morticia herself, their influence on the creator of The Addams Family is evident in the enduring legacy and ongoing popularity of the franchise.