Vincent was born in Harrod, Ohio,[1] the daughter of Sybil Irwin and the Rev.

A newspaper article published July 7, 1944, reported, "she was urged to go to Hollywood by talent scouts.

Michael G. Fitzgerald and Boyd Magers quote Vincent's recollection, "I was a model – someone saw my picture – and I landed a stock contract at Universal.

")[4] She returned to the stage in 1957, appearing in The Man on a Stick at the Pasadena Playhouse.

A Republican, Vincent supported Dwight Eisenhower's campaign during the 1952 presidential election.