Annette Charles (née Cardona; March 5, 1948 – August 3, 2011) 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.
Early life Charles was born Annette Cardona in Los Angeles, California, of Mexican and Italian ancestry.
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.
Personal life and death Charles died on August 3, 2011, in Los Angeles from lung cancer, aged 63. She initially was hospitalized for pneumonia.
Credits + Film Year Title Role Notes1978 Grease Charlene "Cha-Cha" DiGregorio 1979 In Search of Historic Jesus Mary Magdalene documentary1985 Latino Marlena as Annette Cardona2009 Transylmania Administrator + Television Year Title Role Notes1968 The High Chaparral Jill episode: "Follow Your Heart"1970 The Flying Nun Louisa episode: "My Sister, the Doctor" as Annette Cardona1970 Gunsmoke Rita episode: "The Noonday Devil" as Annette Cardona1972 The Mod Squad Cory episode: "No More Oak Leaves for Ernie Holland" as Annette Cardona1972 Bonanza Carmen episode: "The Customs of the Country"1972 Banacek Cecelia Gomez episode: "No Sign of the Cross" as Annette Cardona1972-1974 Emergency! Mrs. Harrow / Wife 2 episodes1974-1977 Barnaby Jones Angela / Lucy Stahl 2 episodes1976 The Bionic Woman Elora / Emerald 2 episodes1977 Man from Atlantis Ginny Mendoza episode: "The Death Scouts" as Annette Courset1978 Centennial Senora Alvarez TV miniseries, episode: "Only the Rocks Live Forever"1979 Can You Hear the Laughter? The Story of Freddie Prinze Billy TV movie1980 The Incredible Hulk Rita Montoya episode: "Falling Angels"1981 Musical Comedy Tonight II TV documentary1987 Magnum, P.I. Maria Torres episode: "On the Fly"
References
External links