Gloria Castillo

Early years

Castillo was born in Belen, New Mexico. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Castillo, and she graduated from Belen High School. Her first acting experience came in a production of The Man Who Came to Dinner in high school. She graduated from the University of New Mexico in June 1954, majoring in music, drama, and education. She appeared in a production of the play Late Love in July 1954, at the Little Theater in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and later at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California.

Television

Castillo was signed by MGM production manager Harry Joe Brown in 1954. She first appeared on television on the General Electric Theater (1954) and in an episode of I'm A Fool (1954). Later she was in episodes of Disneyland (1959), The Millionaire (1959) and Zorro (1959).

Film

Castillo's first movie roles were in 1955 in The Night of the Hunter and The Vanishing American. Most frequently Castillo can be seen in sci-fi and B-movie films made in the late 1950s. Some of the titles in which she appears are Invasion of the Saucer Men (1957), Reform School Girl (1957) and Teenage Monster (1958).

Clothing business

In the 1960s, Castillo and her husband began Chessa Davis, a women's clothing company. Skirts designed by her were featured in fashion magazines and sold in department stores.

Personal life

Castillo married Hollywood writer, producer, and director Ellis Kadison. Her brother is actor Leo Castillo. Her second child is singer-composer Joshua Kadison.

Death

Castillo died on October 24, 1978, at the age of 45, from an extremely rare form of cancer. Kadison's song "Mama's Arms," which appears on his smash debut album, Painted Desert Serenade was inspired by his late mother.