Anecdotes

Universal Pictures, which hired her quite frequently, would not sign her to a contract because she refused its request that she lose weight.

Sang briefly with Xavier Cugat's band in the early '40s and recorded the song "Tico-Tico".

Briefly in films as a child, she was stereotyped early in her career as an ethnic dancer, playing harem beauties, island girls, senoritas, and Indian maidens.

Her last name is Spanish for "executioner".

Her mother Maria Beatriz Kraft Teran was born in the town of Hermosillo in the state of Sonora in Mexico.

Her father, Armando Verdugo Salazar, was born in Arizona to parents from the state of Sonora in Mexico.

When she married writer Charles R. Marion in 1946, Jack Oakie served as best man.

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1709 Vine Street in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.

Her New York Times obituary began with: "Elena Verdugo... portrayed one of the first Latina professionals in a television series in the United States and in doing so was credited with inspiring Hispanic women to strive for greater self-respect.".

In July 2005 she appeared as a guest at the Western Film Fair in Charlotte, NC, along with Ty Hardin, Ed Nelson, Donna Douglas, Jo Morrow, Richard Anderson, Lorna Gray (aka Adrian Booth) and Henry Darrow.

She married twice, both times in March, just two days and 26 years apart, first to prolific film and TV writer Charles R. Marion on 3/24/46, and second to psychiatrist Charles Rosey Rosewall on 3/26/72.

Mother of Richard Marion.

She was married for a total of just over 50 years--her first marriage lasted 10 years and 57 days, her second lasted 39 years and 359 days.

Grandmother of Jessie S. Marion and Maggie Marion.

Grandmother-in-law of Dean Cameron.

Second husband Charles Rosey Rosewall died six days short of their 40th wedding anniversary.

Mother-in-law of Ruth Silveira.