Estelita Rodriguez

Biography

Combustible Cuban entertainer Estelita Rodriguez made her American film bow in 1945. After a few years' worth of supporting roles and specialties in the studio's B-Western product, she was promoted to her own starring series, which Republic hoped would match the popularity of 20th Century Fox's Carmen Miranda films. Heading vehicles bearing such titles as Cuban Fireball, Rodriguez -- billed simply as Estelita -- usually played a Latin American spitfire with a propensity for bursting into song at the slightest provocation. She retired from films after playing a prominent supporting role in Howard Hawks' Rio Bravo (1958), returning in 1966 for another featured part in the unforgettable Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter. Married four times, her first husband was American actor Grant Withers. She died at age 37.