Annette Charles

Annette Charles (born Annette Cardona; March 5, 1948 – August 3, 2011)[1] was an American actress 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

(1948-03-05)March 5, 1948
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedAugust 3, 2011(2011-08-03) (aged 63)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1968–1987

Personal life

Charles was born Annette Cardona in Los Angeles, California, of Mexican and Italian ancestry.[2] She died on August 3, 2011, in Los Angeles due to complications from cancer. She had initially been hospitalized for pneumonia.[3] She died of lung cancer.[4]

Career

Charles 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.[5][6][7]

Credits
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1978GreaseCharlene "Cha-Cha" DiGregorio
1979In Search of Historic JesusMary MagdaleneDocumentary
1985LatinoMarlena(as Annette Cardona)
2009TransylmaniaAdministrator(final film role)
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1968The High ChaparralJillEpisode: "Follow Your Heart"
1970The Flying NunLouisaEpisode: "My Sister, the Doctor", (as Annette Cardona)
1970GunsmokeRitaEpisode: "The Noonday Devil", (as Annette Cardona)
1972The Mod SquadCoryEpisode: "No More Oak Leaves for Ernie Holland", (as Annette Cardona)
1972BonanzaCarmenEpisode: "The Customs of the Country"
1972BanacekCecelia GomezEpisode: "No Sign of the Cross", (as Annette Cardona)
1972-1974Emergency!Mrs. Harrow / Wife2 episodes
1974-1977Barnaby JonesAngela / Lucy Stahl2 episodes
1976The Bionic WomanElora / Emerald2 episodes
1977Man from AtlantisGinny MendozaEpisode: "The Death Scouts", (as Annette Courset)
1978CentennialSenora AlvarezTV Mini-Series, Episode: "Only the Rocks Live Forever"
1979Can You Hear the Laughter? The Story of Freddie PrinzeBillyTV movie
1980The Incredible HulkRita MontoyaEpisode: "Falling Angels"
1981Musical Comedy Tonight IITV movie
1987Magnum, P.I.Maria TorresEpisode: "On the Fly"

References
  1. Barnes, Mike (August 4, 2011). "'Grease' Actress Annette Charles Dies at 63". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 3, 2012.
  2. 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.
  3. Chaney, Jen (August 4, 2011). "Annette Charles, Cha Cha from 'Grease,' has died". Washington Post. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  4. 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.
  5. Morrison, Teresa. "In Memoriam: Annette Cardona". College of Humanities, California State University, Northridge. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  6. "Cha Cha from Grease dead at 63". Access Hollywood. August 4, 2011. Archived from the original on September 9, 2011.
  7. "Annette Cardona". RateMyProfessors.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
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