Magnifying glass Velez

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Lupe Veléz and Johnny Weissmüller (1933)

Lupe Vélez , actually María Guadalupe Vélez de Villalobos (born July 18, 1908 in San Luis Potosí , Mexico , † December 13, 1944 in Beverly Hills , California ), was a Mexican actress.

life and career

Lupe Vélez began her career as a dancer and soon made the leap to the USA. She was discovered in 1926 by the producer Hal Roach and gave her some extras in his comedies, before she made her breakthrough in 1927 with her appearance as the fiery Señorita in The Gaucho alongside Douglas Fairbanks . The following year, she starred in David Wark Griffith's adaptation of Ladies of the Pavement and began an affair with her Wolf Song partner, Gary Cooper , that made headlines. In 1928 she was named one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars .

In contrast to many other foreign actors, she managed the transition from silent film to sound film relatively well, and she took over the female role in The Squaw Man from Cecil B. DeMille . Eventually, her heavy accent proved to be an obstacle and her career ebbed by the mid-1930s. During this time, Velez made headlines mainly through her passionate marriage to Johnny Weissmüller . In 1939 she made her comeback: alongside Leon Errol , she starred in a number of cheaply made but box office-based comedies which the RKO studio had produced under the title Mexican Spitfire . She is also known for her tit for tat routine with Laurel and Hardy in the film Hollywood Party (1934).

On December 13, 1944, Lupe Vélez died at the age of 36 by suicide with an overdose of sleeping pills.

Filmography (selection)

  • 1927: What Women Did for Me (short film)
  • 1927: Douglas Fairbanks, the Gaucho ( The Gaucho )
  • 1929: Lady of the Pavements
  • 1929: Where East Is East
  • 1931: The Squaw Man
  • 1932: Congo
  • 1932: The Half Naked Truth
  • 1934: Palooka
  • 1934: Hollywood Party
  • 1936: Gypsy Melody
  • 1939–1943: Mexican Splitfire film series (eight films)
  • 1941: Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga
  • 1944: Nana

Web links

Commons : Lupe Vélez  - collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Vélez, magnifying glass
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Villalobos, María Guadalupe Velez de
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Mexican actress
DATE OF BIRTH July 18, 1908
PLACE OF BIRTH San Luis Potosí (city) , Mexico
DATE OF DEATH December 13, 1944
Place of death Beverly Hills , California