Filipino actresses who deceased in 1997
Here are 1 famous actresses from Philippines died in 1997:
Rita Rica
Rita Rica (February 25, 1911 Jolo, Sulu-January 22, 1997 Concord) also known as Florence Little Gardner was a Filipino actor. Her children are called Marvin Edward Gardner Jr. and William Gardner.
Rita Rica was known for her fiery on-screen personality and her talent as a singer. She began her acting career during the early years of Philippine cinema in the 1930s and went on to appear in over 150 films throughout her career. Rica was considered one of the leading actresses of her time and was often cast in roles that showcased her versatility as a performer.
Aside from her success in the film industry, Rica also had a successful singing career. She was known for her signature song, "Dahil Sa Iyo," which became a classic in Filipino music. Rica continued to perform and record music throughout her life, even after retiring from acting.
Rita Rica was also known for her philanthropic work. She was a member of the Philippine Women's University Board of Trustees and was involved in various charitable organizations. Rica was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Merit for her contributions to Philippine cinema and culture.
Rita Rica passed away in California in 1997, but her legacy lives on as one of the pioneering actresses in Philippine cinema.
Rica's real name was Florence Little Gardiner. She was half-Filipino and half-American. Rica was born into a family of storytellers, musicians, and performers. Her mother was a composer and pianist, while her father was a playwright and musician. Rica grew up in Jolo, Sulu, where she was exposed to various cultures and art forms.
Rica started her acting career in 1929 when she was discovered by a film director while watching a movie in Cebu City. She made her debut in the film "Ang Prinsipe ng mga Anino" in 1933. Rica quickly rose to fame, and by the 1940s, she was one of the highest-paid actresses in the Philippine film industry.
During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, Rica continued to work in the film industry but refused to collaborate with the Japanese authorities. She even risked her life by using her influence to protect her colleagues from imprisonment or execution.
Rica was married twice. Her first husband was an American serviceman named Marvin Gardner, with whom she had two children. After their divorce, Rica married a Filipino businessman named Jose Conde. They remained married until Conde's death in 1972.
Rica was a devout Catholic and a member of the Catholic Women's League. She was also a supporter of the Philippine Red Cross and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. Rica's contributions to Philippine cinema and culture have been recognized with numerous awards, including the FAMAS Lifetime Achievement Award in 1975 and the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining in 1989.
In addition to her successful film and music careers and philanthropic work, Rita Rica was also a talented writer. She wrote several screenplays, as well as a book entitled "Anatomy of a Film," which was a guide to filmmaking. Rica's book was widely recognized as one of the most important Filipino publications on the art of filmmaking.For her contributions to the development and growth of Philippine cinema, Rica was honored with the prestigious Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Award in 1978. Rica's life and career have been the subject of several documentaries and biographies, with some of them being aired on national television.