Estelita Rodriguez was a Cuban actress who rose to fame in Hollywood in the 1950s. She starred in many Westerns with Roy Rogers, as well as in the classic film Rio Bravo with John Wayne and Dean Martin. She was known for her beauty, charm, and singing talent. But her life was also marked by tragedy and turmoil. She had four marriages, a troubled relationship with her father, and a mysterious death at the age of 37. What was the cause of her death? And why was no autopsy ever performed?
Early Life and Career
Estelita Rodriguez was born on July 2, 1928, in Guanajay, Cuba. Her father, Manuel Rodriguez, was a wealthy landowner and politician who supported Fulgencio Batista, the dictator who ruled Cuba before Fidel Castro. Her mother, Estela Rodriguez, was a singer and dancer who encouraged her daughter’s artistic aspirations.
Estelita began singing and performing at an early age. She won a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at the age of 14, but the studio dropped her before she could make a movie. She then moved to New York with her mother and sister, where she worked as a nightclub singer and model.
In 1945, she signed a five-picture deal with Republic Pictures, the studio that specialized in Westerns and serials. She made her film debut in Mexicana, opposite Tito Guizar and Constance Moore. She then appeared in nine films with Roy Rogers, playing his love interest or sidekick. She also starred in other projects for Republic, such as Cuban Fireball, Havana Rose, and Tropical Heat Wave.
She became one of the most popular Hispanic actresses in Hollywood, earning the nickname “The Cuban Bombshell”. She was praised for her beauty, charisma, and singing voice. She also recorded several albums of Latin music, such as Estelita Sings Latin American Songs and Estelita Sings Boleros.
Personal Life and Death
Estelita Rodriguez had a turbulent personal life. She married four times and had one daughter, Nina Lopez, from her first marriage to Mexican singer Chu-Chu Martinez. Her second husband was actor Grant Withers, who had previously been married to Loretta Young. Her third husband was Ismael Alfonso Halfss, a Cuban businessman and politician who was involved in the anti-Castro movement. Her fourth and final husband was Dr. Ricardo A. Pego, a Cuban physician who moved to Los Angeles with her.
Estelita also had a strained relationship with her father, who disapproved of her career and lifestyle. He tried to control her finances and interfere with her marriages. He even threatened to kill her third husband if she did not divorce him.
On March 12, 1966, Estelita Pego was found dead on the kitchen floor of her home near North Hollywood/Van Nuys, California. She was 37 years old. Her husband claimed that he had left her sleeping in bed that morning and returned to find her body. He said that she had been suffering from headaches and insomnia for some time.
The cause of her death remains unknown. No autopsy was ever performed on her body. Some sources say that she died of natural causes or a brain hemorrhage. Others suggest that she committed suicide or was murdered by someone close to her.
Her daughter Nina Lopez believes that her mother was killed by her father Manuel Rodriguez, who had hired a hitman to assassinate her. She claims that he wanted to silence her because she knew too much about his involvement in the Bay of Pigs invasion, a failed attempt to overthrow Castro in 1961.
Nina also says that her mother had received threatening phone calls from Cuba before her death. She says that she heard one of them herself when she was visiting her mother. She says that the caller said: “We know where you are. We’re going to kill you.”
Nina says that she tried to get justice for her mother’s death, but no one would listen to her or investigate the case further. She says that she was told by the authorities that there was no evidence of foul play and that they could not exhume her body without a court order.
Estelita Rodriguez is buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Mission Hills, California. Her grave is marked by a simple plaque that reads: “Estelita Pego – Beloved Wife And Mother – July 2nd 1928 – March 12th 1966”.
Legacy
Estelita Rodriguez is remembered as one of the first Hispanic actresses to achieve success in Hollywood. She broke stereotypes and barriers for other Latinas who followed in her footsteps. She also left behind a legacy of music and films that showcase her talent and personality.
Her daughter Nina Lopez has written a memoir about her mother’s life and death, titled Estelita: My Mother’s Life and Death in Hollywood. She has also collaborated with author Serena Burdick to create a historical fiction novel based on her mother’s story, titled Find Me in Havana.
Estelita Rodriguez’s life was full of glamour and drama, but also of mystery and tragedy. Her cause of death remains a mystery that may never be solved. But her memory lives on in the hearts of her fans and family.
