Lita Baron was a Spanish-born actress and nightclub performer best known for her role as Renita Perez, Ricky Ricardo’s former dance partner from Cuba, on an episode of the classic comedy series I Love Lucy. The 1952 episode, titled “Cuban Pals,” found Lucy trying to emulate Baron’s bombshell character, after becoming jealous of her.
As an actual nightclub performer, Baron appeared at legendary Hollywood hotspots such as Ciro’s and The Mocambo. She and her bandleader, Bobby Ramos, developed and hosted Latin Cruise, one of the first weekly TV musical variety shows in Los Angeles.
She also appeared on the television series City Detective, The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse, Frontier Doctor, Death Valley Days, and The Texan, which was produced by and starred her husband, Rory Calhoun.
Lita Baron was a Spanish-born actress and nightclub performer best known for her role as Renita Perez, Ricky Ricardo’s former dance partner from Cuba, on an episode of the classic comedy series I Love Lucy. The 1952 episode, titled “Cuban Pals,” found Lucy trying to emulate Baron’s bombshell character, after becoming jealous of her.
As an actual nightclub performer, Baron appeared at legendary Hollywood hotspots such as Ciro’s and The Mocambo. She and her bandleader, Bobby Ramos, developed and hosted Latin Cruise, one of the first weekly TV musical variety shows in Los Angeles.
She also appeared on the television series City Detective, The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse, Frontier Doctor, Death Valley Days, and The Texan, which was produced by and starred her husband, Rory Calhoun.
Baron met Calhoun after a performance at Ciro’s. They married in 1948 and had three daughters together, before divorcing in 1970. They also appeared in several movies with one another: 1955’s The Treasure of Pancho Villa, with Shelley Winters; 1956’s Red Sundown and 1979’s Bitter Heritage.
Additionally, Baron appeared in the short film "Champagne for Two," with George Reeves, as well as the features Jungle Jim (also with Reeves) and Border Incident, with Ricardo Montalban.
Baron died December 16, 2015, in Palm Springs, California. She was 92.
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