- Velia Martínez
Infobox Person
name=Velia Martínez
caption=
birth_date=14 June, 1920
birth_place=Tampa, Florida
death_date=22 May, 1993
death_place=Miami, FloridaVelia Martinez (born Velia Martinez-Febles on
June 14 ,1920 inTampa ,Florida -May 22 ,1993 inMiami ,Florida ) was a well known actress, singer and former nightclub dancer.She was born in Tampa to Spanish parents. In 1941, she settled in Havana, where she became a well-known show business personality. In 1945, while in Mexico, she married the Cuban actor, producer and writer,
Ramiro Gomez-Kemp (?-1981). They had two daughters Georgina andMayra Gomez-Kemp (1949-). She was an accomplished dancer and cabaret star, she performed in Cuba's most presigious theathers including the Montemarte. In 1945, she played the title role in the play "Filomena Marturano" in Havana's Thalia Theater, which is considered her pivotal role in her career. In 1958 she acted oppositeErrol Flynn in the movie "The Big Boodle". She left Cuba in 1960 with her family and lived two years inPuerto Rico where she appeared in a TV soap opera "Yo Compro Esa Mujer" (I'll Buy That Woman). In 1962, she came to Miami and continued performing on stage. In 1965 she appeared in "My Son Is Not What He Seams", at the Marti Theater. In 1966, she appeared in the movie, "The Devil's Sister" as Carmen Alvarado.In 1977, she reached the pinacle of popularity as the grandmother Adela in the
PBS series "¿Qué Pasa, USA? ". Her last great performance on stage was in 1989 inLuis Santiero 's play, "Mixed Blessings" at theCoconut Grove Playhouse and her last television role was of Elena, a hair salon owner in theUnivision series "Corte Tropical " in 1992.References
* "The Miami Herald" - May 25, 1993 - Velia Martinez, Grandmother on ¿Que Pasa USA?
* [http://www.guije.com/libros/television/febles/index.htm Guije article] es iconExternal links
* [http://www.quepasausa.org/ ¿Que Pasa USA? website]
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