Rebecca Welles was the daughter of two legendary Hollywood stars: Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles. She was born on December 17, 1944, at a time when her parents’ marriage was already falling apart. She grew up in a turbulent environment, with a mother who suffered from alcoholism, emotional problems, and Alzheimer’s disease; and a father who was more focused on his filmmaking career than his family. She had a strained relationship with both of them, and spent most of her childhood in boarding schools and summer camps in different countries. She also had a half-sister, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, from her mother’s fifth marriage to Prince Aly Khan.
Rebecca Welles’ Acting Career
Rebecca Welles followed in her parents’ footsteps and pursued an acting career. She made her first TV appearance in 1951, under her birth name Reba Tassell, on Studio One. She later changed her name to Rebecca Welles, and appeared in about 50 TV shows, including Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Gunsmoke, Bat Masterson, and Perry Mason. She also appeared in four feature films, such as Good Morning, Miss Dove (1955) and Desire Under the Elms (1958). Her last onscreen appearance was in 1964, on Arrest and Trial.
Rebecca Welles’ Personal Life
Rebecca Welles married twice in her life. Her first husband was Barton Goldberg, whom she married in 1946. They had two daughters together: Elizabeth and Gwen Welles, who also became an actress. They divorced in 1961. Her second husband was TV director Don Weis, whom she married in 1961. They remained married until his death in 2000.
Rebecca Welles lived a very private life, away from the spotlight of Hollywood. She declined to be interviewed by biographers of her parents, and rarely spoke about them publicly. She moved to Tacoma, Washington, where she worked as a medical assistant for a dermatologist. She also enjoyed gardening, painting, and traveling.
Rebecca Welles’ Death
Rebecca Welles died on October 17, 2004, at the age of 59. The cause of her death was not revealed in the media, but according to her half-sister Chris Welles Feder, she had been battling a very aggressive cancer that took her life quickly. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered in Puget Sound.
Rebecca Welles’ life and death remain shrouded in mystery, as she was the daughter of two of the most famous and influential people in Hollywood history. She had a difficult childhood, a modest acting career, and a quiet personal life. She left behind two daughters, two half-sisters, and many fans who still wonder about her story.
