Stella Garcia

Stella Garcia
Occupation Actress
Years active 1960s - 1990s

Stella Garcia was a Latina actress who appeared in the films The Private Lives of Adam and Eve, Change of Habit, The Last Movie and Joe Kidd. She was an actress that appeared to have a lot of promise but her career subsequently faded in the 1970s.

Background

It's possible that Garcia may have been in part influential in Clint Eastwood's interest in Transcendental Meditation. While filming Joe Kidd Stella Garcia who was in the film was listening to Transcendental Meditation tapes. These were by the same guru who had tutored the Beatles. After the film was finished, Eastwood went straight to TM practitioner Roxanne Tunis and underwent instruction in the meditation.[1]

Rumour of death

According the Imdb website she died on October 25, 2006 aged 64.[2] It has been noted on the Find a Grave website that the memorial for Stella M. Garcia has been mistaken for the actress of the same name and she was in fact still alive as of April 25, 2014.[3] She was photographed making an appearance at the April 25, 2014 screening of Dennis Hopper's The Last Movie at Paramount Studios, Hollywood, California.[4][5][6] Garcia arrived at the event with Jodi Wille who was director of the documentary The Source Family. Three of Dennis Hopper’s four children were also at the event.[7] She was also photographed at the event, standing in front of a poster of the movie.[8]

Career

1960s

Stella Garcia's first film role was in the early 1960s in The Private Lives of Adam and Eve.[9] In 1963, she had a small part in the Elvis Presley film Fun in Acapulco as the Señorita at Torito's.[10][11]

1970s

In the beginning of the 1970s she was an actress with promise. She was cast in the film The Last Movie which was the second directorial effort for Dennis Hopper who had just finished Easy Rider.[12] In the film she played Hooper's girlfriend.[13] The review from Variety included positive recognition for her part in the movie. This impressed Universal Studios who cast her as the female lead in the western Joe Kidd that starred Clint Eastwood. Her role in the film was that of Helen Sanchez, a Mexican-American activist.[14] She was the beautiful woman, the lover-partner of Luis Chama which was played by John Saxon.[15][16] For her part in the film she received positive reviews, especially from the Los Angeles Times. In spite of the attention she attracted for The Last Movie and Joe Kidd, her career in films appeared to fade.[17] She appeared in one other film during the 1970s which was the Albert Band directed She Came to the Valley, playing the part of a Christmas party guest.[18]

1990s

In 1996, she played the part of Maria in the film Eye for an Eye which starred Sally Field and Kiefer Sutherland.[19] In 1997, she had a part in the film Playing God as a South African Businesswoman.[20]

Filmography (selective)

Film
Title Role Director Year Notes #
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve Friday Mickey Rooney, Albert Zugsmith 1960
Fun in Acapulco Señorita at Torito's Richard Thorpe 1963
Hook, Line and Sinker Arm Wrestling Girl George Marshall 1969
The Last Movie Maria Dennis Hoopper 1971 Recognition for her role in a review from Variety
Joe Kidd Helen Sanchez John Sturges 1972 Positive reviews, incl one from LA Times.
She Came to the Valley Christmas Party Guest Albert Band 1973
Eye for an Eye Maria John Schlesinger 1996
Playing God South African Businesswoman Andy Wilson 1997

References

  1. ↑ Clint: The Life and Legend Patrick McGilligan Page 154
  2. ↑ Imdb Stella Garcia
  3. ↑ Find A Grave Stella Martha Macias Garcia
  4. ↑ Zimbio Paris Photo Los Angeles: Day 1, 1 of 3
  5. ↑ Zimbio Paris Photo Los Angeles: Day 1, 2 of 3
  6. ↑ Zimbio Paris Photo Los Angeles: Day 1, 3 of 3
  7. ↑ The New York Times Style Magazine April 28, 2014 Art and Film Luminaries Salute Dennis Hopper at Paris Photo Los Angeles By Steffie Nelson
  8. ↑ graphics8.nytimes.com Picture 2 (1LAX-jumbo.jpg)
  9. ↑ New York Times Movies, The Private Lives of Adam and Eve (1961), Acting Credits
  10. ↑ imdb Fun in Acapulco, Full Cast & Crew
  11. ↑ Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon: The Complete Guide to the Movie Trivia Game Jeff Milne 1963 Fun in Acapulco
  12. ↑ Latino Image Makers in Hollywood: Performers, Filmmakers and Films Since the 1960s Frank Javier Garcia Berumen Stella Garcia
  13. ↑ Dennis Hopper: Interviews Edited by Nick Dawson Page 57
  14. ↑ Latino Image Makers in Hollywood: Performers, Filmmakers and Films Since the 1960s Frank Javier Garcia Berumen Stella Garcia
  15. ↑ The Schenechtady Gazette Saturday August 18, 1979 Page 5 'Joe Kidd'- Loner Battles Against Gangs In Range War
  16. ↑ Westerns in a Changing America, 1955-2000 R. Philip Loy Page 130
  17. ↑ Latino Image Makers in Hollywood: Performers, Filmmakers and Films Since the 1960s Frank Javier Garcia Berumen Stella Garcia
  18. ↑ Artist Direct She Came to the Valley, Cast
  19. ↑ TV Guide Eye For An Eye 1996 Movie, Cast & Crew
  20. ↑ New York Times Movies, Playing God (1997), Acting Credits

External links


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