Lola Falana was born on September 11, 1942 in Camden, New Jersey and she is an American dancer and actress of Cuban and African American descent.

Biography and Career

Lola Falana was born on September 11, 1942 in Camden, New Jersey and she is an American dancer and actress of Cuban and African American descent. She spent most of her childhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By the age of three she was dancing and by age five she was singing in the church choir.

By the time she was in junior high school, she was already dancing in nightclubs to which she was escorted by her mother. Pursuing a musical career became so important to her that against her parents wishes she left Germantown High School a few months before graduation and moved to New York City.

Her first dancin g gig was at Small's Paradise in Harlem. Dinah Washington, the Queen of Blue, was influential in fostering Lola's early career. While dancing in a nightclub, Falana was discovered by Sammy Davis Jr., who gave her a featured role in his 1964 Broadway musical Golden Boy.

She became a major star of Italian cinema beginning in 1967. In Italy she learned to speak fluent Italian. She was known as the Black Venus. During this time she was busy touring with Davis as a singer and dancer making films in Italy and reprising her role in Golden Boy during its revival in London.

Soon after the show was cancelled in 1987, she suffered a major setback. Her relapse was severe, her left side was paralyzed, she became partially blind, and her voice and hearing were impaired.

Recovery lasted a year and a half during which she spent most of her time praying. She converted to Roman Catholicism and worked her newly found spirituality into her everyday life. Though she performed again in Las Vegas shows in 1987 her practice of religion and faith became the center of her life.

Falana returned to Philadelphia and lived with her parents for a short time. She now tours the country with a message of hope and spirituality. In 1971 she was married to Feliciano Butch Tavares, one of five brothers of the popular R&B band Tavares.

General Appearance

Birth Name: Lola Falana
Birth: September 11, 1942

Why do we like Lola Falana?

We like her because she was a great actress and dancer.

Why is Lola Falana Famous?

She is famous because of her great talent as actress.

Lola Falana Lists

	1942 births
	Living people
	African American actors
	Cubans of Black African descent
	American dancers
	American film actors
	American musical theatre actors
	American television actors
	Converts to Roman Catholicism
	American Roman Catholics
	American entertainers of Cuban descent
	Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts alumni
	People from Camden, New Jersey
	People from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
	People with multiple sclerosis

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Lola Falana Pictures

 

Lola Falana Movies
A Man Called Adam The Liberation of L.B. Jones The Klansman Lady Cocoa Mad About You Ben Vereen---Comin` at Ya Flip Wilson Show Gladys Knight & the Pips Show New Bill Cosby Show
Lola Falana Filmography

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Tags: 1942, virgo, actress, camden

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Category: Actresses  - ( Actresses Archive)

Date Added: 26 November '12

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