Elena Verdugo

Elena Angela Verdugo (April 20, 1925[2] – May 30, 2017) was an American actress who began in films at the age of five in Cavalier of the West (1931). Her career in radio, television and film spanned six decades.

Elena Verdugo
Verdugo in 1955
Born
Elena Angela Verdugo[1]

(1925-04-20)April 20, 1925
Paso Robles, California, U.S.
DiedMay 30, 2017(2017-05-30) (aged 92)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1931–1985
Spouses
Charles R. Marion
​
​
(m. 1946; div. 1955)​
    Charles R. Rosewall
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1972; died 2012)​
    Children1

    Early life

    Elena Angela Verdugo was born on April 20, 1925, in the city of Paso Robles, California. She was the daughter of Mrs. Beatrice K. Verdugo. Verdugo studied dance, drama, and music as a youngster.[3][4]

    Career

    Film

    When Verdugo was 15, a judge appointed her mother as her legal guardian so that she could sign a film contract.[3] One of her early appearances was in Down Argentine Way (1940).[5] She made numerous film appearances through the 1940s, including two Universal horror films. While filming the Abbott and Costello comedy Little Giant (1946), she met and married screenwriter Charles R. Marion, who also wrote for the comedy team's radio show.

    Verdugo starred with Gene Autry and Stephen Dunne in The Big Sombrero (1949). She had a small part as the orange girl smitten by Cyrano's gallantry in the opening theater scene of the 1950 José Ferrer version of Cyrano de Bergerac.

    She co-starred in Thief of Damascus (1952) with Paul Henreid and John Sutton.

    Verdugo had a starring role as a singer in 1957's Panama Sal, a musical comedy film.

    Radio and television
    Verdugo in 1953

    Verdugo had a flair for comedy, and she garnered much laughter and applause in the title role of the hit situation comedy Meet Millie on both radio[6] and television (1952–1956).[7] She guest starred on The Bob Cummings Show in a 1958 episode titled "Bob and the Ravishing Realtor", playing the part of the realtor. In 1959, she played Maria Carroyo in "Incident at Spanish Rock", an episode of Rawhide.

    In May 1964 Verdugo appeared in a Season One episode of Petticoat Junction. She played business executive Mary Jane Hastings who returns to Hooterville to accept an achievement award, but treats the men of the town—and her smitten male assistant—shabbily.

    Verdugo is perhaps best known today for her role as office assistant/nurse Consuelo Lopez in the ABC series Marcus Welby, M.D., starring with Robert Young in the title role and James Brolin as the medical associate. The series aired from 1969 to 1976.[7]: 655 

    Recognition

    In 1971 and 1972, Verdugo was nominated for Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Drama category. Both nominations were for her performances on Marcus Welby, M.D.[8]

    She has a star at 1709 Vine Street in the television section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was dedicated on February 8, 1960.[9]

    Personal life

    Verdugo is a descendant of Jose Maria Verdugo, a Spanish soldier and recipient of the Rancho San Rafael, a land grant which included what is today the cities of Glendale, Burbank, La Crescenta, La Canada and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater and Eagle Rock.[10]

    Verdugo and Marion had one son, Richard Marion (born 1949), who became an actor/director. Her second husband was Charles "Rosy" Rosewall, M.D., a psychiatrist, who died in 2012.[10][11]

    Verdugo died on May 30, 2017, in Los Angeles at the age of 92.[10]

    Filmography
    Year Title Role Notes
    1931Cavalier of the WestLittle GirlUncredited
    1940Down Argentine WayArgentine DancerUncredited
    1941Blood and SandSpecialty DancerUncredited
    The Hard-Boiled CanaryGirlUncredited
    Belle StarrYoung GirlUncredited
    1942To the Shores of TripoliSpanish DancerUncredited
    The Moon and SixpenceAta
    1944Rainbow IslandMoana
    House of FrankensteinIlonka
    1945The Frozen GhostNina Coudreau
    1946Little GiantMartha Hill
    Strange VoyageCarmelita Lopez
    1947Song of ScheherazadeFioretta
    1948Shed No TearsMarilyn
    El Dorado PassDolores
    1949The Big SombreroEstrellita Estrada
    Tuna ClipperBianca Pereira
    The Lost TribeLi Wanna
    Sky DragonConnie Jackson, alias Marie Burke
    1950The Lost VolcanoNona
    Snow DogAndrée Blanchard
    Cyrano de BergeracOrange Girl
    1951Gene Autry and the MountiesMarie Duval
    1952Thief of DamascusNeela
    Jet JobMarge Stevens
    The PathfinderLokawa
    1953The MarksmanJane Warren
    1957Panama SalSal Regan
    1965Day of the NightmareMiss Devi
    1968How Sweet It Is!Vera Wax
    1969Angel in my PocketLila Sinclair
    1978The Boss' SonBetty

    References
    1. Aaker, Everett (May 25, 2017). Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. pp. 424–425. ISBN 9781476662503 – via Google Books.
    2. Hal Erickson (2014). "Elena Verdugo profile". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
    3. "Girl Moves Toward Film Career Goal". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. August 30, 1940. p. 17. Retrieved March 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
    4. Roberts, Sam (June 8, 2017). "Elena Verdugo, Who Lifted Latina Image on TV, Dies at 92". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
    5. "(untitled brief)". The Brooklyn Citizen. New York, Brooklyn. September 19, 1940. p. 12. Retrieved March 28, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
    6. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. P. 223.
    7. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
    8. "Elena Verdugo | Television Academy". Television Academy. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
    9. "Elena Verdugo". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
    10. Elena Verdugo, Emmy-Nominated Actress on 'Marcus Welby, M.D.,' Dies at 92
    11. "Dr. Charles (Rosy) ROSEWALL - obituary". legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary. Legacy.com. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
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