Profile of the Day: Rita Hayworth

Posted October 17, 2022 by Amanda | No Comment

Today we remember legendary actress and dancer Rita Hayworth on what would have been her 104th birthday.

Image: Rita Hayworth / Wikimedia Commons

She was born Margarita Carmen Cansino on October 17, 1918 in Brooklyn, New York. Hayworth was the oldest child of two dancers, Eduardo Cansino, Sr. and Volga Hayworth. Her paternal grandfather was Antonio Cansino, a renowned Spanish classical dancer. She was dancing professionally by the age of 12 alongside her father. The pair performed in nightclubs in both the U.S and Mexico. It was in Mexico that a 16-year-old Hayworth was first spotted by a producer from Fox Film Company.

During the 1940s, Hayworth was one of the era’s top stars. She exhibited a natural talent for dancing on screen and starred in several musicals. Today, she holds the distinction of being one of six women to have danced with both Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. Over the course of her long career, she appeared in over 61 films, most notably starring in the noir classic Gilda.

On May 14, 1987, Hayworth passed after years of struggling with Alzheimer’s.

Explore Rita Hayworth’s family tree on Geni and share how you’re connected to the the star.