Carol was friends with actor Gardner McKay, star of the 1960s television series, Adventures in Paradise. McKay introduced Carol to a major modeling agency, which kick-started her career.
Carol Merrill: When Vanna (White) wrote her book, I remembered how most of America though I couldn't talk. One day, after the show had been on a long time, Monty brought me up into the audience and let me talk. And I talked, and I talked, and I talked.
Monty Hall: I never said "door" without saying "Carol Merrill." "Let's see what Carol Merrill has behind door No. 2." "What Carol Merrill has in the box." So she and Jay Stewart, my announcer, became stars.