Estelita Rodriguez

Estelita Rodriguez (July 2, 1925 – March 12, 1966) was a Cuban‑born actress who rose to prominence in the golden age of Hollywood Westerns and musical comedies. Born in Guanajay, Republic of Cuba, she began her performance career at the tender age of fifteen, singing and dancing with the Royal Havana Orchestra led by Anselmo Sacasas, a stint that earned her the nickname “the raven‑haired vocalist” for her expressive eyes and gestures. After a successful period as a radio star on Havana’s CMQ, she caught the attention of New York’s famed Copacabana, which led to a contract with Metro‑Goldwyn‑Mayer at seventeen, although she never appeared in an MGM picture. In 1945 she signed with Republic Pictures, debuting in Mexicana and quickly becoming a staple of Roy Rogers’ films, appearing in nine of his Westerns including the memorable Along the Navajo Trail. Her onscreen charisma earned her a starring contract and the lead in Belle of Old Mexico (1949), where she was praised for her versatility and charm. By the early 1950s she was being likened to the legendary Lupe Vélez, headlining musical comedies such as Cuban Fireball and Havana Rose, and later expanded to Hollywood productions with roles in Rio Bravo (1959) and several television appearances. Beyond acting, Estelita founded her own production company, Caribe Cine, Ltd., aiming to produce a biopic of Lupe Vélez before her untimely death at forty. Her personal life was as eventful as her career: she married four times—first to Chu‑Chu Martinez (with whom she had a daughter, Nina), then to actor Grant Withers, followed by Ismael Alfonso Halfss, and finally Dr. Ricardo A. Pego, who remained her husband until her passing. On March 12, 1966 she was found deceased in her Van Nuys home, and she was interred at San Fernando Mission Cemetery, leaving behind a legacy of vibrant performances that continue to be celebrated by fans of classic cinema.