Rita Hayworth

Rita Hayworth
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Name	Rita Hayworth
Caption	Hayworth in the 1940s
Birth name	Margarita Carmen Cansino
Birth date	17 October 1918
Birth place	New York City, U.S.
Death date	14 May 1987
Death place	New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, dancer
Years active	1931–1972
Spouse	Edward C. Judson (1937–1942), Orson Welles (1943–1947), Prince Aly Khan (1949–1953), Dick Haymes (1953–1955), James Hill (1958–1961)
Children	2, including Yasmin Aga Khan

Rita Hayworth was an American actress and dancer who became one of the defining sex symbols of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Renowned for her glamorous screen presence and exceptional dancing ability, she starred in numerous successful films throughout the 1940s. Her iconic image, particularly the pin-up from *Life* magazine and her role in *Gilda*, cemented her status as a cultural icon. Beyond her film career, her highly publicized personal life, including marriages to figures like Orson Welles and Prince Aly Khan, kept her in the global spotlight.

Early life and career beginnings

Born Margarita Carmen Cansino in Brooklyn, she was the eldest child of Spanish-born dancer Eduardo Cansino and Ziegfeld Follies showgirl Volga Hayworth. Her family relocated to Los Angeles, where she began performing as part of The Dancing Cansinos act with her father from a young age, appearing in venues like the Caliente Club in Tijuana. Her early film appearances were under her birth name for studios like Fox Film Corporation, including small roles in films like *Dante's Inferno*. A transformative contract with Columbia Pictures head Harry Cohn led to a dramatic image overhaul, including changing her hairline and surname, officially launching her career as Rita Hayworth.

Rise to stardom

Her breakthrough role came in the Howard Hawks film *Only Angels Have Wings* opposite Cary Grant, which showcased her newfound sophistication. She further demonstrated her dancing prowess alongside Fred Astaire in *You'll Never Get Rich* and You Were Never Lovelier with Astaire and Adolphe Menjou. The musical *Cover Girl*, co-starring Gene Kelly and featuring choreography by Stanley Donen, was a major hit and solidified her as a top box-office draw. During World War II, her popularity soared, and her photograph became one of the most famous pin-ups, even adorning the atomic bomb dropped on Bikini Atoll during Operation Crossroads.

Hollywood career and iconic roles

Hayworth reached the zenith of her fame with her performance in Charles Vidor's film noir classic *Gilda*, where her introduction and the musical number "Put the Blame on Mame" became legendary. She continued to work with major directors, starring in Orson Welles' The Lady from Shanghai, a film noted for its innovative hall of mirrors climax. Other notable films include the Technicolor musical *Down to Earth* and the drama *The Loves of Carmen*. In the 1950s, she appeared in successful productions like *Salome* and Miss Sadie Thompson alongside José Ferrer, and later starred in *Pal Joey* with Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak.

Personal life and relationships

Her personal life was a constant focus of the press, beginning with her first marriage to much older businessman Edward C. Judson, who helped manage her early career. Her 1943 marriage to acclaimed director Orson Welles produced a daughter, Rebecca Welles, but ended in divorce. In 1949, she caused an international sensation by marrying Prince Aly Khan, son of the Aga Khan III and a prominent figure in international society; their daughter, Yasmin Aga Khan, was born in 1949. Subsequent marriages to singer Dick Haymes and producer James Hill also ended in divorce. Her relationships were often tumultuous and widely covered by publications like Photoplay.

Later years and legacy

In her later career, she appeared in films such as *Separate Tables* and The Money Trap, but her output diminished. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in the early 1980s, which was revealed to the public after her death. She passed away in 1987 at her home in New York City. Hayworth's legacy endures as one of Hollywood's greatest stars; she is the subject of biographies, documentaries, and was posthumously awarded the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award. Her life and struggle with Alzheimer's helped raise public awareness of the disease, championed by her daughter Yasmin Aga Khan, who became a leading advocate for the Alzheimer's Disease International organization.

Category:American film actresses Category:20th-century American dancers