“Forgotten Hollywood”- Passing Parade Claims Elena Verdugo
“`Elena Verdugo had a prolific film career, before concentrating on television; garnering two Emmy nominations for her performance on Marcus Welby M.D. Her movie roles include supporting work with Lon Chaney Jr. in House of Frankenstein and The Frozen Ghost; with Abbott and Costello in Little Giant; and Cyrano de Bergerac and Thief of Damascus.
“`Verdugo landed her first cinematic acting role in 1931. By her mid-teens, she was appearing in multiple films a year, including four in 1949 and a half-dozen in 1952. ELENA VERDUGO –>
“`Verdugo also was a singer and dancer. She performed in the 1940s with the Xavier Cugat Orchestra, and handled the vocals on his hit, Tico Tico, which was used in the finale of the 1945 film It’s a Pleasure!
“`After guest starring on classics such as The Bob Cummings Show, Petticoat Junction, 77 Sunset Strip, Rawhide, Route 66, The Red Skelton Hour, Ironside, Daniel Boone, Love American Style, and Mannix, she worked through the 1960s, before landing the role for which she’s best remembered. Elena also portrayed the title character in Meet Millie on television and radio for four years, beginning in 1954.
“`Starring Father Knows Best alum Robert Young, Marcus Welby, M.D. was an out-of-the-box smash, finishing its 1969-1970 rookie run in the prime time Top 10. The following year, it became the first ABC series to finish #1, moving ahead of Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and Gunsmoke. For its seven-season run, Elena was Consuelo Lopez, a nurse and office assistant to Young’s dedicated Santa Monica general practitioner. The show also featured James Brolin, and ended in 1976, after nearly 170 episodes.
“`Elena Verdugo was 92.
Until next time> “never forget”
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