Barbara Jean Day

Chas Addams originally started drawing his famous vamp, later named Morticia, in 1938. Morticia was the first creation of the Addams family. Charlie met Barbara Jean Day in 1942 who looked eerily similar to his cartoon. She became the first inspiration behind the character.

While their original date of marriage is unknown, their marriage lasted only eight years. Barbara yearned for motherhood while Charlie hated children. Charles supposedly had plenty of affairs outside of his marriage with Barbara. And supposedly she knew about most of them. But when Charlie decided he was open to adopting a baby, Barbara left him.

It has been claimed that Barbara hated having any resemblance to Morticia after her divorce from Charles, so she cut her hair and tried to remove herself as far away from Morticia as possible.

Sources

Kroplick, Howard. “Vanderbilt Cup Races.” Vanderbilt Cup Races - Blog - Mystery Foto #49 Solved: Charles Addams and His Wife Barbara Jean in Southampton Updated:10/30/16, 7 Dec. 2015, www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/mystery_friday_foto_49_do_you_recognize_henry_austin_clark_jr.s_friends.

Maslin, Janet. “Charles Addams: A Cartoonist's Life - Linda H. Davis - Book - Review.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 26 Oct. 2006, www.nytimes.com/2006/10/26/books/26masl.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=arts&pagewanted=print.

Sorel, Edward. “His Wicked Way With Women: Addams Not the Family Type.” Observer, Observer, 30 Oct. 2006, observer.com/2006/10/his-wicked-way-with-women-addams-not-the-family-type/.