| Rosa del Rosario | |
| Birth Name: | Rose Stagner y Rosario |
| Birth Date: | 15 December 1917 |
| Birth Place: | Manila, Philippine Islands |
| Death Place: | Modesto, California, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Actress |
| Years Active: | 1932–1954 |
Rose Stagner, better known by her screen name Rosa del Rosario (December 15, 1917 – February 4, 2006), was a Filipino-American actress. Regarded as one of the most prominent figures during the Golden Age of Philippine Cinema,[1] she has appeared in 60 photoplays[2] and was the first Filipino actress to appear in multiple Hollywood films Border Bandits (1946) and Anna and the King of Siam (1946).[3] [4] She was the first actress to play the Filipino comic-book superhero Darna on screen in 1951.[5] She was honored with a special Ani Award and was inducted into the Eastwood City Walk of Fame for her significant contributions to Philippine film industry.[6]
She was born to an American father (Frank H. Stagner) and a Filipino mother from Pampanga (Aquilina del Rosario). She began studying at the age of seven and was enrolled in public schools. She attended Isabelo de los Reyes Elementary School until sixth grade. She studied at the Manila High School until tenth grade. She was an average student, although her grades fluctuated from time to time. She did odd jobs at bakeshops and sold cookies, siomai and empanada at the movie theaters, which enabled her to watch movie for free.
Her film debut was at the age of fourteen when she was cast as the daughter of Carlos Padilla Sr. and Alma Bella in the horror film Satanas (1932). She starred in her first major movie Ligaw na Bulaklak (1932) opposite Rogelio de la Rosa. She held the distinction of being the first actress to play the first Filipino superheroine on screen, Darna (1951) and Darna at ang Babaing Lawin (1952). Among her memorable movies were Doktor Kuba (1933, with Patrocinio Carvajal), Minda Mora (1929) and Zamboanga (1937) both with Fernando Poe Sr., Nang Magulo ang Maynila (1937, with Domingo Principe), Himala ng Birhen sa Antipolo (1947, with Rogelio de la Rosa), Caprichosa (1947, with José Padilla Jr.), Tandang Sora (1947, with Leopoldo Salcedo), Kumander Sundang (1949, with Efren Reyes) and Rosario Cantada (1951, with Ben Perez). She also appeared in Hollywood films such as Border Bandits (1946), Anna and the King of Siam (1946, uncredited) and American Guerilla in the Philippines (1950, uncredited).
She left the Philippines in 1956 and moved to Novato, California. She was married to John Samit and had two children named Geraldine and Terry. She was also the grandmother of two girls named Hannah and Sarah.
Del Rosario died of pancreatic cancer on February 4, 2006, in Novato, California, at the age of 88.