Stella Garcia
Stella Garcia (born July 6, 1942) is an American actress who appeared in the films The Private Lives of Adam and Eve, Change of Habit, The Last Movie, and Joe Kidd.
Stella Garcia | |
---|---|
Born | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | July 6, 1942
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1960–1997 |
Career
Early roles
Garcia's first film role was in the early 1960s in The Private Lives of Adam and Eve.[1] In 1963, she had a small part in the Elvis Presley film Fun in Acapulco as the Señorita at Torito's.[2]
Success
At the beginning of the 1970s, she was cast in the film The Last Movie (1971) which was the second directorial effort for Dennis Hopper, who had just finished Easy Rider.[3] In the film she played Hopper's girlfriend.[4] 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, starring Clint Eastwood. Her role in the film was that of Helen Sanchez, a Mexican-American activist who was the lover of Luis Chama, played by John Saxon.[5][6][7] Her performance 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 subsequently began to decline.[8] She appeared in one other film during the 1970s, the Albert Band-directed She Came to the Valley, as a Christmas party guest.[9]
Later years
In 1996, she played the part of Maria in the film Eye for an Eye which starred Sally Field and Kiefer Sutherland.[10] Her final film role was in 1997, as a South African businesswoman in the film Playing God.[11]
She attended the April 25, 2014 screening of Dennis Hopper's The Last Movie at Paramount Studios, Hollywood, California.[12][13][14] Garcia arrived at the event with Jodi Wille, director of the documentary The Source Family. Three of Dennis Hopper’s four children were also at the event.[15][16]
Filmography
Title | Year | Role | Director | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Private Lives of Adam and Eve | 1960 | Friday | Mickey Rooney, Albert Zugsmith | |
Fun in Acapulco | 1963 | Señorita at Torito's | Richard Thorpe | Uncredited |
Change of Habit | 1969 | Singer | William Graham | drama; Uncredited |
The Last Movie | 1971 | Maria | Dennis Hopper | Uncredited, Recognition for her role in a review from Variety |
Joe Kidd | 1972 | Helen Sanchez | John Sturges | Positive reviews, incl. one from LA Times. |
She Came to the Valley | 1973 | Christmas Party Guest #20 | Albert Band | |
Eye for an Eye | 1996 | Maria | John Schlesinger | |
Playing God | 1997 | South African Businesswoman | Andy Wilson | (final film role) |
References
- New York Times Movies, The Private Lives of Adam and Eve (1961), Acting Credits
- Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon: The Complete Guide to the Movie Trivia Game Jeff Milne 1963 Fun in Acapulco
- Latino Image Makers in Hollywood: Performers, Filmmakers and Films Since the 1960s Frank Javier Garcia Berumen Stella Garcia
- Dennis Hopper: Interviews Edited by Nick Dawson Page 57
- Latino Image Makers in Hollywood: Performers, Filmmakers and Films Since the 1960s Frank Javier Garcia Berumen Stella Garcia
- The Schenechtady Gazette Saturday August 18, 1979 Page 5 'Joe Kidd'- Loner Battles Against Gangs In Range War
- Westerns in a Changing America, 1955–2000 R. Philip Loy Page 130
- Latino Image Makers in Hollywood: Performers, Filmmakers and Films Since the 1960s Frank Javier Garcia Berumen Stella Garcia
- Artist Direct She Came to the Valley, Cast
- TV Guide Eye For An Eye 1996 Movie, Cast & Crew
- New York Times Movies, Playing God (1997), Acting Credits
- Zimbio Paris Photo Los Angeles: Day 1, 1 of 3
- Zimbio Paris Photo Los Angeles: Day 1, 2 of 3
- Zimbio Paris Photo Los Angeles: Day 1, 3 of 3
- The New York Times Style Magazine April 28, 2014 Art and Film Luminaries Salute Dennis Hopper at Paris Photo Los Angeles By Steffie Nelson
- graphics8.nytimes.com Picture 2 (1LAX-jumbo.jpg)