R.I.P. Olga San Juan
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Associated Press Tuesday, January 6th 2009, 4:55 PM
Olga San Juan.
BURBANK , Calif. Olga San Juan , the actress dubbed the "Puerto Rican Pepperpot" for singing and dancing roles alongside the likes of Bing Crosby , has died. She was 81.
San Juan died Saturday night at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank of kidney failure stemming from a long-term illness, said her son-in-law Barry Adelman , executive producer of the Golden Globe Awards .
Of Puerto Rican descent, San Juan was born and raised in Brooklyn , N.Y. She started dancing when she was 5 or 6 years old, said Adelman, and performed as a girl with mambo percussionist Tito Puente .
She began her acting career in radio and theater, then went on to movies in the mid-1940s.
"Those were the days where the studios were very active in building images. She was very tiny, but very spunky and lively. So the name Puerto Rican Pepperpot fit," Adelman said.
San Juan appeared opposite Fred Astaire and danced with him in the 1946 musical "Blue Skies," and also sang with Crosby in the film, according to a press release.
She also appeared in such '40s films as "Duffy's Tavern," ''Variety Girl" and "One Touch of Venus."
In 1951 she starred in the Broadway production of Lerner and Loewe's "Paint Your Wagon."
San Juan was the ex-wife of the late actor Edmond O'Brien . They met at a publicity luncheon for Fox studios and married in 1948, according to the press release.
The pair had three children. It was the second marriage for O'Brien, who won a best supporting actor Oscar in 1954 for "The Barefoot Contessa."
San Juan retired in the 1950s to raise her children. The couple divorced in 1976. O'Brien died in 1985.
San Juan is survived by her children Bridget O'Brien Adelman , a television producer, and actors Maria O'Brien and Brendan O'Brien , plus her sister Aura Grady and three grandchildren.
Her funeral and a memorial service were scheduled for Friday at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills , according to the press release.
Olga San Juan.
BURBANK , Calif. Olga San Juan , the actress dubbed the "Puerto Rican Pepperpot" for singing and dancing roles alongside the likes of Bing Crosby , has died. She was 81.
San Juan died Saturday night at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank of kidney failure stemming from a long-term illness, said her son-in-law Barry Adelman , executive producer of the Golden Globe Awards .
Of Puerto Rican descent, San Juan was born and raised in Brooklyn , N.Y. She started dancing when she was 5 or 6 years old, said Adelman, and performed as a girl with mambo percussionist Tito Puente .
She began her acting career in radio and theater, then went on to movies in the mid-1940s.
"Those were the days where the studios were very active in building images. She was very tiny, but very spunky and lively. So the name Puerto Rican Pepperpot fit," Adelman said.
San Juan appeared opposite Fred Astaire and danced with him in the 1946 musical "Blue Skies," and also sang with Crosby in the film, according to a press release.
She also appeared in such '40s films as "Duffy's Tavern," ''Variety Girl" and "One Touch of Venus."
In 1951 she starred in the Broadway production of Lerner and Loewe's "Paint Your Wagon."
San Juan was the ex-wife of the late actor Edmond O'Brien . They met at a publicity luncheon for Fox studios and married in 1948, according to the press release.
The pair had three children. It was the second marriage for O'Brien, who won a best supporting actor Oscar in 1954 for "The Barefoot Contessa."
San Juan retired in the 1950s to raise her children. The couple divorced in 1976. O'Brien died in 1985.
San Juan is survived by her children Bridget O'Brien Adelman , a television producer, and actors Maria O'Brien and Brendan O'Brien , plus her sister Aura Grady and three grandchildren.
Her funeral and a memorial service were scheduled for Friday at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills , according to the press release.