| Annette Charles | |
| Birth Name: | Annette Cardona |
| Birth Date: | 5 March 1948 |
| Birth Place: | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Years Active: | 1968–2009 |
Annette Charles (née Cardona; March 5, 1948 – August 3, 2011)[1] was an American actress, dancer, and educator 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 was born Annette Cardona in Los Angeles, California, of Mexican and Italian ancestry.[2]
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.[3] [4] [5]
Charles died on August 3, 2011, in Los Angeles from lung cancer, aged 63.[6] She initially was hospitalized for pneumonia.[7]
| + Film | ||||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Grease | Charlene "Cha-Cha" DiGregorio | ||
| 1979 | In Search of Historic Jesus | documentary | ||
| 1985 | Latino | Marlena | as Annette Cardona | |
| 2009 | Transylmania | Administrator |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | The High Chaparral | Jill | episode: "Follow Your Heart" | |
| 1970 | The Flying Nun | Louisa | episode: "My Sister, the Doctor" as Annette Cardona | |
| 1970 | Gunsmoke | Rita | episode: "The Noonday Devil" as Annette Cardona | |
| 1972 | The Mod Squad | Cory | episode: "No More Oak Leaves for Ernie Holland" as Annette Cardona | |
| 1972 | Bonanza | Carmen | episode: "The Customs of the Country" | |
| 1972 | Banacek | Cecelia Gomez | episode: "No Sign of the Cross" as Annette Cardona | |
| 1972-1974 | Emergency! | Mrs. Harrow / Wife | 2 episodes | |
| 1974-1977 | Barnaby Jones | Angela / Lucy Stahl | 2 episodes | |
| 1976 | The Bionic Woman | Elora / Emerald | 2 episodes | |
| 1977 | Man from Atlantis | Ginny Mendoza | episode: "The Death Scouts" as Annette Courset | |
| 1978 | Centennial | Senora Alvarez | TV miniseries, episode: "Only the Rocks Live Forever" | |
| 1979 | Can You Hear the Laughter? The Story of Freddie Prinze | Billy | TV movie | |
| 1980 | The Incredible Hulk | Rita Montoya | episode: "Falling Angels" | |
| 1981 | Musical Comedy Tonight II | TV documentary | ||
| 1987 | Magnum, P.I. | Maria Torres | episode: "On the Fly" |