Actress Linda Dangcil Dies

West Side Story, Rawhide, More

Actress-singer-dancer Linda Dangcil died May 7, 2009, in Los Angeles. Dangcil, who had been battling throat cancer for eight years, was 67.

Dangcil began her professional career on Broadway at the age of 12, when she appeared with Mary Martin in Peter Pan. She also appeared in the TV version.

Jerome Robbins chose her as one of the principal dancers in his film West Side Story. As a TV series regular, Dangcil played Sister Ana with Sally Fields in The Flying Nun and Elena on the PBS bilingual children series, Villa Alegre. She also guest starred in such TV series as Rawhide, The Rifleman, Stagecoach West, The Judge, The Bold Ones and Here Come the Brides.

On stage, she sang and danced several roles in the First National Tour of A Chorus Line at the Shubert Theater. She was last seen on the Los Angeles stage in the role of Sally in the East West Players production of Follies. She also lent her voice to several cartoon characters.

A teacher and mentor to many young performers, Dangcil choreographed and assisted in many productions at her high school alma mater, Immaculate Heart, and directed several new productions for Los Angeles Play Festivals. She also was active on several SAG committees.

She is survived by her husband, jazz musician Dick Hamilton, a daughter, a son, a brother and a granddaughter.