Lola Falana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lola Falana
Falana circa 1972
Born	Loletha Elayne Falana or Loletha Elaine Falana (1942-09-11) September 11, 1942 (age 82) Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation	Actress singer dancer
Years active	1961–1997
Spouse(s)	Feliciano Tavares Jr. ​ ​ (m. 1970; div. 1975)​

Lola Falana (born September 11, 1942) is a famous American singer, dancer, and actress. Her full name is Loletha Elayne Falana. She was nominated for a Tony Award in 1975 for her role in the musical Doctor Jazz.

Early Life of Lola Falana

Lola Falana was born in Camden, New Jersey. She was the third of six children. Her father, Bennett, was from Cuba and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Her mother, Cleo, was African-American.

Lola started dancing when she was three years old. By age five, she was singing in her church choir. In 1952, her family moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When she was in junior high, Lola was already dancing in nightclubs. Her mother went with her to these shows.

Lola wanted to be a performer very much. She left Germantown High School early to move to New York City.

Lola Falana's Performing Career

In 1958, Lola Falana got her first dancing job at age 16. She performed at a nightclub before Dinah Washington, a famous singer. Washington helped Lola in her early career.

Discovering Her Talent

While dancing in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Lola was noticed by Sammy Davis Jr.. He gave her a big role in his 1964 Broadway musical Golden Boy. After this musical, Lola started her music career in 1964. Her first song, "My Baby," was released in 1965. Later, she recorded music for Frank Sinatra's record label.

In the late 1960s, Sammy Davis Jr. helped Lola learn more about performing. In 1966, he cast her in her first movie, A Man Called Adam.

Becoming a Star in Italy

Lola Falana became a big star on Italian television and in movies starting in 1966. She learned to speak Italian fluently. She starred in three Italian movies, including a Spaghetti Western. She also sang and danced on the Italian TV show Sabato sera. People in Italy called her the "Black Venus."

During this time, Lola was very busy. She toured with Sammy Davis Jr. as a singer and dancer. She also made films in Italy and performed in Golden Boy again in London.

In 1969, Lola decided to work less closely with Sammy Davis Jr. They remained good friends. She told TV Guide that she wanted to be known for her own talents, not just as "the little dancer with Sammy Davis Jr."

American TV and Las Vegas

In 1970, Lola made her first American movie, The Liberation of L.B. Jones. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her performance. She was also the first black woman to model for the Fabergé "Tigress" perfume ads.

American TV audiences saw more of Lola Falana in the early 1970s. She often appeared on shows like The Joey Bishop Show and The Hollywood Palace. She showed off her singing, dancing, and comedy skills.

These appearances led to more chances. Bill Cosby hired her for his new variety show, The New Bill Cosby Show, which started on her 30th birthday in 1972. Throughout the mid-1970s, Lola was a guest on many popular TV shows. These included The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Muppet Show, and The Flip Wilson Show. She also had her own TV specials.

In 1975, Lola's disco song "There's A Man Out There Somewhere" was popular. That same year, she returned to Broadway in the musical Doctor Jazz. Even though the show was short, Lola was nominated for a Tony Award. She also won the 1975 Theater World Award.

With help from Sammy Davis Jr., Lola brought her act to Las Vegas. She became a top performer there. By the late 1970s, she was known as the "Queen of Las Vegas." She performed for sold-out crowds at famous hotels like The Sands and the MGM Grand. The Aladdin hotel offered her a very high salary to perform. At that time, Lola Falana was the highest paid female performer in Las Vegas. Her show ran for 20 weeks each year and was a major attraction.

While performing in Las Vegas, Lola also looked for other TV roles. She joined the cast of the CBS soap opera Capitol. She played Charity Blake, a wealthy entertainment leader.

Later Career and Life

In 1995, Lola Falana recorded a song called "Don't Cry, Mary." She no longer performs on stage. Instead, she travels to share messages of hope and faith. When she is not traveling, she lives quietly in Las Vegas. She works with The Lambs of God Ministry, a group she started. This ministry helps children who have lost their parents in Sub-Saharan Africa. Lola's last known musical performance was in 1997.

Personal Life

Marriage

In 1970, Lola Falana married Feliciano "Butch" Tavares Jr. He was one of the brothers in the popular music group Tavares. They divorced in 1975.

Health Challenges

In June 1987, Lola Falana became very sick with multiple sclerosis. This illness caused her left side to become paralyzed. She also had trouble seeing, hearing, and speaking. Her recovery took a year and a half. She spent most of this time praying. Lola believes her recovery was a spiritual experience. She became Catholic in 1988.

Even though she performed again in Las Vegas in 1987, her faith became the most important part of her life. After another health issue in 1996, Lola went back to Philadelphia to live with her parents for a short time.

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

• Sabato sera (1967) – Italy
• The Flip Wilson Show, season 1, episode 8 (1970)
• Teatro Dieci (1971) – Italy
• The New Bill Cosby Show (1972–1973)
• Hai visto mai? (1973) – Italy
• The Streets of San Francisco, episode "A String of Puppets" (February 7, 1974)
• Ben Vereen... Comin' at Ya (1975)
• Lola (1975)
• The Lola Falana Show, four variety specials on ABC (January – March 1976)
• The Love Boat, season 2, episodes 1 and 2 (1978)
• Liberace: Valentine's Day Special (1979)
• The Muppet Show, season 4, episode 11 (1979)
• Fantasy Island, "Spending Spree", season 2, episode 19 (1979)
• Lola, Lola y Lollo (1982)
• Made in Italy (1982) – Italy
• Capitol (1984–1986)

Images for kids

• 

  Lola Falana with Gino Bramieri on the Italian TV show Hai visto mai?, 1973.

See also

In Spanish: Lola Falana para niños