Just a sampling of the Rio Grande Valley's people in Hollywood and/or in films. (There are many, many more known and unknown, but it's a start.) Click on their name for a link to more info--just a starting point. (I will have my students conduct further research.) These folks were either born in or lived in the Valley of deep S. Texas.
The following are Valleyites who were involved in the film industry who are now deceased: among them Star Trekkers, directors, singers, cinematographers, and writers, as well as a famous Flapper/silent film star, and others! They were involved with such films as The Wizard of Oz, Westerns, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, etc. . . . gone, but not forgotten!
*Fred Carson (1923—2001)
Harlingen: Stuntman, Actor
*Cleo Dawson (1902—1990)
Mission: Author, Actress, Psychologist
*Freddy Fender/Baldemar Huerta (1937—2006)
San Benito: Actor, Musician
*Fran Fullenwider (1945—1997)
Harlingen: Actress
*Lois January (1912—2006)
McAllen: Actress, Dancer, Singer
*Karen Kirschenbauer/Karen Kristofferson (1938—2005)
Brownsville: Actress (sister of Kris Kristofferson)
*Bernard L. Kowalski (1929—2007)
Brownsville: Director, Producer, Assistant Director
*Nancy Nash/Nancy Miller (1897—early 1960s)
McAllen: Actress, Silent Film Star, Flapper
*Rigoberto Felix Ordaz (1946—2016)
Mission: Actor, Cinematographer, Director, Screenwriter
*Trinidad Silva (1950—1988)
Mission: Actor
*David Spielberg (1939—2016)
Weslaco: Actor
*Charles Williams (1909—1975)
Brownsville: Screenwriter/Novelist
