Actress Annette Charles ('Cha-Cha' from Grease film) dies at 63

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 8/5/11 at 5:56pm

Actress Annette Charles, perhaps best-known for her role as Cha Cha DiGregorio in "Grease," has died. She was 63.

Her agent Derek Maki confirms she died Wednesday night. A longtime friend, Los Angeles Councilman Tom LaBonge, says she died in Los Angeles after a battle with cancer.

Her death comes a little more than two months after the death of "Grease" actor Jeff Conaway, whose character Kenickie was Cha Cha's date at the school dance.

Besides "Grease," Charles appeared on many television shows during the 1970s and early 1980s, including "Barnaby Jones," "The Bionic Woman," "Magnum, P.I.," "Bonanza," "The Mod Squad," "Gunsmoke" and "The Flying Nun."

Born Annette Cardona, she became a speech professor under that name at California State University, Northridge.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20110805/us-obit-annette-charles/

[bk]

Posted: 8/5/11 at 9:38pm

She was mostly Annette Cardona. I knew her for over forty years - we went to LACC together (she was Rosemary to my Finch - our Smitty was Linda Hart and Frump was Mike Lembeck). She was a dear, sweet, wonderful gal, always. Not listed in the credits above are the national tour of Promises, Promises, and the Acid Queen in Tommy at the Aquarius Theater in Hollywood in the early 70s. It wasn't much of a "battle" with cancer. Apparently, she found out exactly four weeks ago, had done one session of chemo and was in so much pain she just said, "Forget it." And then she passed away.

RIP, sweet Annette.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/5/11 at 10:04pm

bk, thanks for sharing that, and I'm sorry for your loss.

I have a good friend who took dance classes from her for a long time, and really loved her. He had nothing but nice things to say.

RIP

[zamedy]

Posted: 8/5/11 at 10:14pm

So sad. I loved her.
It's so true.. Only the good die young.

[scott68]

Posted: 8/5/11 at 11:40pm

She'll always be the best dancer at St. Bernadette's.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/6/11 at 12:36am

I truly miss her dancing! Her dancing was funky fresh! RIP Cha Cha!

[chatter]

Posted: 8/6/11 at 5:16pm

I saw her in Man of La Mancha in San Francisco. She was stunning.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 8/6/11 at 10:33pm

It's so nice to read such kind and warm remembrances of someone who seems to have touched people in a very positive way. To all of you have lost a friend, especially bk, I send my condolences.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 8/6/11 at 10:33pm

It's so nice to read such kind and warm remembrances of someone who seems to have touched people in a very positive way. To all of you have lost a friend, especially bk, I send my condolences.