Carolyn Craig was born Adele Ruth Crago on October 27, 1934, in Green Acres, New York, to Clarence, an engineer, and Ruth, a housewife. The family relocated to Santa Barbara, California, during her childhood. Craig's early career in acting began at the Santa Barbara Community playhouse. In 1955, she made her television debut in the movie Edgar Allan Poe At West Point. Additionally, she modeled for a series of photographs, portraying a "healthy housewife".
Her breakthrough role came when she played Elizabeth Taylor's sister in the 1956 drama Giant. This was followed by her leading role in the film noir Portland Expose. On September 30, 1957, Craig married businessman Charles Graham, with whom she had a son named Charles Edward. She then costarred with Vincent Price in the 1959 horror film House On Haunted Hill.
Craig also appeared on numerous television shows, including Perry Mason, The Rifleman, and The Life And Legend Of Wyatt Earp. Due to her youthful appearance, she was often cast as teenagers. Her marriage to Charles ended in 1961. Despite receiving positive reviews for her performances, Craig never achieved A-list stardom. In 1963, she joined the cast of the soap opera General Hospital.
The following year, Craig married Arthur France Bryden, the manager of a car dealership. Her final acting role was in a 1967 episode of the TV show T.H.E. Cat. Her marriage to Arthur ended in the spring of 1970, and she subsequently fell into a deep depression. On December 12, 1970, Craig committed suicide by shooting herself in her Culver City home, at the age of thirty-six. She was buried in an unmarked grave at Inglewood Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
