Carmen Perret

Carmen Perret (2010)

Les Campbell

(m.1989; his death 1995)

Julio Chandler (m.2021)

**Carmen Yvette Perret** (born September 7, 1961) - is an American singer, songwriter, actress and fashion designer.

## Biography

### Early Life

Carmen Yvette Perret was born on September 7, 1961 in San Francisco, California, the daughter of pediatrician Donna (née Vaccari), and journalist Gaspar Perret. She has two younger siblings, a brother and sister. On her paternal side she is of French, Portugese, Swiss and Uruguayan descent, while on her maternal side she is of Italian and Maltese ancestry. Her father died in 1972 in a car crash, aged 35. Then with her mother and siblings, she moved to her mother's hometown, Santa Monica and was living there with her mother's parents. Her mother remarried in 1975. She attended Santa Monica High School, which she graduated in 1979. In her high school years, she joined school band and became lead singer there, later she also joined theatral club. Due to improving her interests in schools, she had problems with grades and studying, but as she said ''I'm happy that I graduated! For me school was place for improving my interestes and I'm proud of myself that I made that choice''.

### Career

At the age of 18, through her stepfather, production assistant Norman Goodwin, Perret took a job in California Studios as a costume designer, she mainly sew vintage clothing, because as she stated vintage is her love. In 1978, she has her first big screen appearance in film *Sweet Holidays*. The reason she got that role, was that hat and dress that she sew did not fit other actresses. As she later admitted, she planned it. Perret has also played in *Sweet Holidays 2* in 1981, where she sang her self-write song *Sunny Beach*. After singing in this movie, she left work at California Studios to create a pop rock band. In November 1981, two months after she left California Studios, Perret already had her band Vintage. Other members of group were guitarist Curtis Marsh and drummer Ian Stafford, who were Perret's friends from school band. Their first single *Limit* was released on December 2, 1981. As Ian's father was working in radio, their first song was in radio several times. After releasing nine other songs, in July 1982, band has released album *Our Luckiness*. Band had a break from composing from August 1982 until September 1991, due to band members's private lives. In Winter 1993, band has released another album *Show Me How*. Band had split up in 1996. After that, Perret decided to continue her acting career. In 1997, she got role in series *Lost and Found* (1992-2005), and was playing there for 8 years, until series's end. In 2006, she got role in drama movie, *Like A Butterfly*, which was nomminated for an Oscar. In 2009, she got an Oscar in category best supporting actress from movie *Sue Me*. In 2010, she has released  album *Candy Cursing* as a solist. In 2011, she got order to prepare costumes for a Vintage movie *Something You Were Thinking*, in which she later played. In March 2012, she found her vintage fashion mark Vaccari, which name was inspired by her mother's maiden name. Since June 2015, she is playing in a historical series, *Old Hollywood*.

### Personal Life

On January 16, 1982 she married actor Claude Hunt. Already after two months, Perret filed for divorce, which was finalized in June same year. In December 1982, she announced her relationship with rock star, Les Campbell. Their first daughter, Fleur Maia, was born on October 14, 1984. Couple's second daughter, Everleigh Harlow, was born on May 1, 1987. Perret and Campbell engaged in 1988 and wed in a private ceremony on March 14, 1989. Soon after marriage, family moved to Los Angeles. In February 1995, when Carmen and daughters were visiting her mother, Les was found dead in their residence. Cause of his death, was drug overduse. After that, Perret and her daughters moved to her mother in Santa Monica, but after four years, they moved back to Los Angeles and bought new residence. In March 2018, she announced that she is in two years relationship with former footballer, Julio Chandler. They wed on March 18, 2021. With husband, she resides in Beverly Hills.