María de los Dolores (Asúnsolo) del Río (1904 - 1983)

Born 3 Aug 1904 in Durango, Durango, Durango, México

Ancestors

Died 11 Apr 1983 at age 78 in Newport Beach, Orange, California, Estados Unidos de América

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Biography

Dolores (Asúnsolo) del Río is Notable.

María de los Dolores Asúnsolo López-Negrete was born in Durango, Mexico, on August 3, 1904. She was the daughter of Jesus Leonardo Asúnsolo Jacques and Antonia López-Negrete. She came from a wealthy aristocratic family, which lost all of its assets during the Mexican Revolution.

Coming from a higher social position in Mexican society, Dolores received her completely religious education from Collège Français de Saint-Joseph. After watching a performance by Anna Pavlova in 1919, Dolores decided to become a dancer. Although she was insecure, a portrait of her was painted by Alfredo Ramos Martínez.

In 1921, while at a party, Dolores met Jaime Martínez del Río Viñent. They married on April 11 that year. Her only pregnancy ended in a miscarriage in 1924; she was advised by her doctors that she should never again become pregnant, so she never had any children during her lifetime.

In 1925, Dolores began her acting career in Hollywood under the name of "Dolores Del Rio." She debuted in "Joanna," a film made by Edwin Carewe, in which she appeared for only five minutes. While Dolores' popularity as a silent film actress blossomed, her marriage with Jaime did not. She divorced him in 1928 after the premiere of "Ramona." Dolores began to separate herself from Edwin professionally after "Evangeline" succeeded at the box office.

She acted in her first sound film, "The Bad One," in 1930, with success. It was during this time that she married Cedric Gibbons on August 6. After suffering from a kidney infection, she started her job at RKO Pictures. Her contract with RKO was terminated in 1934, but she continued to star in several films.

Dolores began an affair with Orson Welles in 1940, which resulted in a divorce from Cedric. She toured the United States with Cedric in order to revive her acting career. Nevertheless, Dolores ended her relationship with Orson in 1942. She returned to Mexico that same year.

In 1943, Dolores appeared in her first Spanish-language film, "Flor silvestre." She then made appearances in other films made by Mexican and American directors. She did not appear in a film in 1955, so she acted on stage as well.

Dolores married Lewis A. Riley on November 24, 1959, after a ten-year courtship. She made her final film appearance in 1978, in "The Children of Sanchez." Dolores made her final public appearance in 1981 when she attended the 25th San Francisco International Film Festival.

Dolores del Río died from liver disease in Newport Beach, California, on April 11, 1983, at the age of 78. Her ashes were interred at the Panteón de Dolores in Mexico City.

Sources

See also:

• Wikipedia: Dolores del Río
• Wikidata: Item Q124057, en:Wikipedia