Actress
Cuban-born spitfire who became a favorite of Republic Studios mogul Herbert J. Yates and a spicy addition to a number of Roy Rogers westerns (from 1945) as a senorita type. Rumors of a long-standing affair with Yates followed her throughout her career.
Was preparing to star in the life story of Lupe Velez (which ironically enough has still-unanswered questions lingering about it as well) at the time of her sudden death, which still remains suspicious (although influenza has been listed, the cause of death was never made public). She was found dead on the kitchen floor of her Los Angeles-area home.
Interred at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, California. Her grave marker lists her birth year as 1928, but many sources suggest she was much older, listing her birth year as 1913 or 1915.
Ex-husband Grant Withers killed himself in 1959 a few years after their divorce.
Cuban-born singer and actress, performing from the age of nine. Trained for acting at MGM stock school after being signed under contract by the studio in 1942. Joined Republic Pictures on a five-picture deal in September 1949. Went freelance in 1952, the following year enjoying particularly successful stints at the Coconut Grove and the Empire Room at the Waldorf Astoria.
