Her first marriage was to television director Chuck Staley (1956–1960). They had a daughter, Sherrye Dee Staley (born 1959). During this time, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer signed Staley to contract, one of the last actresses to do so. Her working experience, seen taking a shower in the opening credits, with director Vincente Minnelli for "Bells Are Ringing", starring Judy Holliday, was, for her, a memorable start to her film career. She enjoyed a film and television career that lasted through the 1960s and into the early 1970s. Her first guest-starring role was on "The Untouchables".