Michelle Triola Marvin has died at the age of 75 on Friday, October 30. Marvin’s cause of death was lung cancer. Marvin died at home. Dick Van Dyke, her companion, was at her deathbed.

Marvin started her relationship with Dyke in 1976. Ms Marvin lived with Dyke for 30 years.

In 1972, Michelle Triola Marvin was the first woman to ask for palimony, or compensation, for having shared a partnership with Lee Marvin. Ms Marvin was a nightclub singer and actress.

Ms Marvin was not Lee Marvin’s wife but they were together for 6 years. Ms Marvin said she deserved half of his earnings made during the 6 years they were together. Ms Marvin asked for $1.8 million and was awarded $104 000. However, the success was short-lived as that award was thrown out by the Court of Appeals. Ms Marvin received nothing.

Ms Marvin lost her case but by then palimony had become a term and this paved the way for other people who wanted to sue for compensation after a broken relationship.

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This entry was posted on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 9:35 pm and is filed under Gossip.