Annette Charles (née Cardona; March 5, 1948 – August 3, 2011)[1] was an American actress, dancer, and educator best known for her role as Charlene "Cha-Cha" DiGregorio in the 1978 feature film Grease. She made several appearances on television as well.
Annette Charles | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Annette Cardona March 5, 1948 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | August 3, 2011 (aged 63) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1968–2009 |
Early life
editCharles was born Annette Cardona in Los Angeles, California, of Mexican and Italian ancestry.[2]
Career
editCharles became an actress, and was best known for her role as Charlene "Cha Cha" DiGregorio in the 1978 feature film Grease. She made several appearances on television as well.
Charles later earned a bachelor's degree from Antioch University Los Angeles in psychology and theater, and a master's degree in social work from New York University before becoming a speech communication professor in the Chicano Studies department at California State University, Northridge.[3][4][5]
Personal life and death
editCharles died on August 3, 2011, in Los Angeles from lung cancer, aged 63.[6] She initially was hospitalized for pneumonia.[7]
Credits
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Grease | Charlene "Cha-Cha" DiGregorio | |
| 1979 | In Search of Historic Jesus | Mary Magdalene | documentary |
| 1985 | Latino | Marlena | as Annette Cardona |
| 2009 | Transylmania | Administrator |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | The High Chaparral | Jill | episode: "Follow Your Heart" |
| 1970 | The Flying Nun | Louisa | episode: "My Sister, the Doctor" as Annette Cardona |
| 1970 | Gunsmoke | Rita | episode: "The Noonday Devil" as Annette Cardona |
| 1972 | The Mod Squad | Cory | episode: "No More Oak Leaves for Ernie Holland" as Annette Cardona |
| 1972 | Bonanza | Carmen | episode: "The Customs of the Country" |
| 1972 | Banacek | Cecelia Gomez | episode: "No Sign of the Cross" as Annette Cardona |
| 1972-1974 | Emergency! | Mrs. Harrow / Wife | 2 episodes |
| 1974-1977 | Barnaby Jones | Angela / Lucy Stahl | 2 episodes |
| 1976 | The Bionic Woman | Elora / Emerald | 2 episodes |
| 1977 | Man from Atlantis | Ginny Mendoza | episode: "The Death Scouts" as Annette Courset |
| 1978 | Centennial | Senora Alvarez | TV miniseries, episode: "Only the Rocks Live Forever" |
| 1979 | Can You Hear the Laughter? The Story of Freddie Prinze | Billy | TV movie |
| 1980 | The Incredible Hulk | Rita Montoya | episode: "Falling Angels" |
| 1981 | Musical Comedy Tonight II | TV documentary | |
| 1987 | Magnum, P.I. | Maria Torres | episode: "On the Fly" |
References
edit- ^ Barnes, Mike (August 4, 2011). "'Grease' Actress Annette Charles Dies at 63". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 3, 2012.
- ^ Godoy, Maria (August 6, 2011). "Remembering Annette Charles, a.k.a. Cha Cha, 'The Best Dancer At St. Bernadette's'". Pop Culture Happy Hour: Pop Culture News and Analysis from NPR. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- ^ Morrison, Teresa. "In Memoriam: Annette Cardona". College of Humanities, California State University, Northridge. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- ^ "Cha Cha from Grease dead at 63". Access Hollywood. August 4, 2011. Archived from the original on September 9, 2011.
- ^ "Annette Cardona". RateMyProfessors.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
- ^ Tata, Samantha (August 26, 2011). "Professor and "Grease" actress Annette Cardona dies". Daily Sundial. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- ^ Chaney, Jen (August 4, 2011). "Annette Charles, Cha Cha from 'Grease,' has died". Washington Post. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
