Rita Hayworth Spouse: Biography, Cause of Death, Movies, Gilda, Net Worth, Facts

Rita Hayworth (born Margarita Carmen Cansino; October 17, 1918 – May 14, 1987) was an American actress, dancer, and singer who became a Hollywood icon during the 1940s. Her enduring nickname, “The Love Goddess,” reflected her status as a top pin-up and screen legend. Throughout her career, she was acclaimed for starring in classics such as Gilda, Only Angels Have Wings, Cover Girl, and The Lady from Shanghai. Hayworth’s contributions earned her a place on the American Film Institute’s list of greatest female screen legends.

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Despite her on-screen success, she faced personal struggles, including five marriages and a well-publicized battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, which she brought to public attention to raise awareness.

Here is a quick overview of key facts about Rita Hayworth:

Biography

Rita Hayworth was born Margarita Carmen Cansino on October 17, 1918, in Manhattan, New York City, the eldest of three children. Her father, Eduardo Cansino, was a Spanish dancer of Romani descent from Castilleja de la Cuesta, near Seville, Spain. Her mother, Volga Hayworth, was an American of Irish and English ancestry who had performed in the Ziegfeld Follies. Eduardo wanted Margarita to become a professional dancer, while her mother hoped for an acting career. Her paternal grandfather, Antonio Cansino, was a famous Spanish dancer who popularized the bolero and ran a renowned dancing school in Madrid. Margarita began dance lessons at age three and a half, under the tutelage of her uncle, Angel Cansino.

At age eight, she joined her father in a Broadway show, The Greenwich Village Follies, as part of “The Four Cansinos.” In 1926, she appeared in the short film La Fiesta for Warner Bros., under the name Rita Cansino. The following year, in 1927, her father moved the family to Hollywood, believing dance could be featured in movies. He opened a dance studio and taught stars like James Cagney and Jean Harlow. When Margarita turned 12, she partnered with her father in “The Dancing Cansinos,” performing in nightclubs and bars, including in Tijuana, Mexico, since California law prohibited minors from working in such venues.

In 1934, at 16, Hayworth debuted in Cruz Diablo for Warner Bros., still using Rita Cansino. She played small roles in In Caliente (1935), Under the Pampas Moon (1935), and Charlie Chan in Egypt (1935). Winfield Sheehan of Fox signed her to a six-month contract and planned to cast her in Ramona (1936), but Fox’s merger under Darryl F. Zanuck led to non-renewal. Sheehan suggested she change her name to Rita Hayworth, using her mother’s maiden name, and modify her appearance to broaden her appeal.

More

Hayworth then signed with Columbia Pictures, where Harry Cohn promoted her as a glamorous star. She appeared in minor roles in five Columbia B-movies in 1937 and five more in 1938. In 1939, Cohn loaned her to Howard Hawks for Only Angels Have Wings, a role that boosted her profile and led to a Life magazine cover in 1940. Cohn continued to build her up with Music in My Heart (1940), The Lady in Question (1940), and Angels Over Broadway (1940).

In 1941, Hayworth starred in The Strawberry Blonde with James Cagney and danced with Fred Astaire in You’ll Never Get Rich, where she received top billing, repeating this in You Were Never Lovelier (1942). Astaire called her his favorite dance partner, praising her energy. In 1944, she starred in Cover Girl with Gene Kelly, becoming Columbia’s biggest star. In 1946, she played the iconic femme fatale Gilda, performing the famous one-glove striptease in “Put the Blame on Mame,” making her a cultural icon.

Hayworth’s fame brought personal struggles. She married Orson Welles in 1943 and had a daughter, Rebecca, in 1944; they divorced in 1947. In 1949, she wed Prince Aly Khan of Pakistan and lived in Europe, having daughter Yasmin, but divorced in 1953. She later married Dick Haymes (1953–1955) and James Hill (1958–1961), both ending in divorce. She married five times in 24 years.

In the 1950s, she starred in Affair in Trinidad (1952), Salome (1953), and Pal Joey (1957). By the 1960s, she appeared in fewer films, like The Happy Thieves (1961) and The Wrath of God (1972). In the 1970s, she made TV appearances on The Carol Burnett Show and Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In. Hayworth was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 1980, which became public in 1981. She died on May 14, 1987, at age 68. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked her 43rd on its list of greatest female screen legends.

Cause of Death

Rita Hayworth died on May 14, 1987, at 68 in Manhattan. The official cause was complications from Alzheimer’s disease, diagnosed in 1980. By 1981, her health declined, and a court placed her under her daughter Y asmin’s care. Hayworth suffered severe memory loss, confusion, and physical decline. She entered a semicoma in February 1987 and passed away in May. President Ronald Reagan issued a statement praising her courage. She was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California, with “To yesterday’s companionship and tomorrow’s reunion” on her gravestone. As of early 2026, her battle with Alzheimer’s is still a milestone in raising awareness and funding for research.

Movies

Rita Hayworth appeared in 61 films over 38 years. She showcased her talents as a dancer, singer, and dramatic actress. Key movies include:

• Cruz Diablo (1934) – Early uncredited role as Rita Cansino
• In Caliente (1935) – Uncredited
• Under the Pampas Moon (1935) – Carmen
• Charlie Chan in Egypt (1935) – Nayda
• Only Angels Have Wings (1939) – Judy MacPherson
• Music in My Heart (1940) – Patricia O’Malley
• The Lady in Question (1940) – Natalie Roguin
• Angels Over Broadway (1940) – Nina Barona
• The Strawberry Blonde (1941) – Virginia Brush
• You’ll Never Get Rich (1941) – Sheila Winthrop
• Blood and Sand (1941) – Doña Sol
• My Gal Sal (1942) – Sally Elliott
• You Were Never Lovelier (1942) – Maria Acuña
• Cover Girl (1944) – Rusty Parker/Maribelle Hicks
• Tonight and Every Night (1945) – Rosalind Bruce
• Gilda (1946) – Gilda Mundson Farrell
• Down to Earth (1947) – Terpsichore/Kitty Pendleton
• The Lady from Shanghai (1947) – Elsa Bannister
• The Loves of Carmen (1948) – Carmen
• Affair in Trinidad (1952) – Chris Emery
• Salome (1953) – Princess Salome
• Miss Sadie Thompson (1953) – Sadie Thompson
• Fire Down Below (1957) – Irena
• Pal Joey (1957) – Vera Prentice-Simpson
• Separate Tables (1958) – Ann Shankland
• They Came to Cordura (1959) – Adelaide Geary
• The Story on Page One (1960) – Josephine Brown/Jo Morris
• The Happy Thieves (1961) – Eve Lewis
• Circus World (1964) – Lili Alfredo
• The Money Trap (1965) – Rosalie Kenny
• The Poppy Is Also a Flower (1966) – Monique Marko
• The Rover (1967) – Aunt Caterina
• The Bastard (1968) – Martha
• Road to Salina (1970) – Mara
• The Wrath of God (1972) – Señora De La Plata

Hayworth’s films remain popular classics. As of early 2026, they are available on streaming platforms and celebrated in retrospectives.

Gilda

Rita Hayworth is most famous for her role as Gilda Mundson Farrell in the 1946 film noir Gilda. The film was directed by Charles Vidor and co-starred Glenn Ford. It is considered a defining work of the genre and made Hayworth an international sex symbol and cultural icon. She plays a seductive, mysterious femme fatale married to a casino owner (Ford’s character) who becomes involved in gambling and intrigue. Her performance, especially the famous one-glove striptease to the song “Put the Blame on Mame,” shocked audiences and censors at the time.

This performance cemented her status as “The Love Goddess.” The black satin gown, red hair, and confident attitude became symbols of 1940s glamour.

Net Worth

Rita Hayworth’s net worth at the time of her death on May 14, 1987, was estimated at $3–$5 million (equivalent to about $7–$12 million in 2026 dollars after inflation adjustment). Her wealth came from her successful acting career, including salaries from major films (especially during her 1940s peak), profit shares from some productions (like The Loves of Carmen in 1948), and a production company she formed, The Beckworth Corporation. She earned top billing and high pay at Columbia Pictures under Harry Cohn, though she often faced financial struggles due to bad marriages, legal battles, and health issues. Her five marriages brought complications: she claimed her first husband, Edward C. Judson, took much of her money, and her later husband, Dick Haymes, left her with debts. In the 1980s, her Alzheimer’s diagnosis and medical costs reduced her finances.

Facts

Here are some interesting and important facts about Rita Hayworth:

• She was born Margarita Carmen Cansino; her stage name Rita Hayworth came from her mother’s maiden name.
• At age 12, she danced professionally as her father’s partner in “The Dancing Cansinos” act.
• To appear more mature and “Latin,” her hair was dyed black, and she had electrolysis to raise her hairline.
• In 1941, a Life magazine photo of her in a black lace negligee made her one of the top pin-up girls for American soldiers during World War II.
• She was the second most popular pin-up girl after Betty Grable during WWII.
• Fred Astaire called her his favorite dance partner, praising her exuberance in You’ll Never Get Rich (1941) and You Were Never Lovelier (1942).
• Her role in Gilda (1946) included a famous one-glove striptease to “Put the Blame on Mame,” shocking audiences and censors.
• Hayworth was married five times in 24 years: Edward C. Judson (1937–1942), Orson Welles (1943–1947), Aly Khan (1949–1953), Dick Haymes (1953–1955), and James Hill (1958–1961).
• She had two daughters: Rebecca Welles with Orson Welles (born 1944, died 2004) and Yasmin Aga Khan with Aly Khan (born 1949).
• Hayworth was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 1980 and became one of the first celebrities to speak publicly about it, helping raise awareness.
• She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 at 1645 Vine Street.
• In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked her 43rd on its list of greatest female screen legends.
• Hayworth was a lifelong Democrat and supported Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1944 presidential campaign.
• She was a Catholic but her marriage to Aly Khan was considered illicit by Pope Pius XII.
• Hayworth died on May 14, 1987, at age 68 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Her gravestone at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California, reads: “To yesterday’s companionship and tomorrow’s reunion.”
• As of early 2026, Hayworth’s films are still widely available on streaming platforms, and her legacy continues in retrospectives, film festivals, and discussions of Golden Age Hollywood and women in film.