History of Charo in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 28, 2024

Charo, born María Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Baeza, is a Spanish entertainer known for her work in American television and film since the 1960s. She is a multi-talented performer, recognized for her acting, singing, comedy, and flamenco guitar skills.

March 13, 1941: Possible Birthdate of Charo

Charo's Spanish birth certificate, passport, and American naturalization papers all list her birthdate as March 13, 1941.

1947: Possible Birth Year of Charo

Charo at one point claimed to have been born in 1947, though this contradicts other claims.

1949: Possible Birth Year of Charo

Charo claimed to have been born in 1949, which contradicts other statements about her age.

January 15, 1951: Charo's Claimed Birthdate

In a court hearing in 1977, Charo asserted that her official documents were incorrect and that her actual birthdate was January 15, 1951.

1951: Charo Claims Falsified Age for Marriage

When asserting that she was born in 1951, Charo claimed that her parents allowed her to falsify her age to appear older when she married Cugat.

1964: Discovery of Charo by Xavier Cugat

While filming a television special in Spain in 1964, Xavier Cugat "discovered" Charo.

April 1966: Conflicting Reports on Charo's Age

An April 1966 column reported that Charo was 20 years old at the time of her wedding to Cugat. This contradicts other reports that listed her age as 17 or 18.

April 1966: Announcement of Charo and Cugat's Wedding Plans

News broke in April 1966 about the upcoming wedding of Charo and Xavier Cugat.

August 7, 1966: Wedding of Charo and Xavier Cugat

Charo and Xavier Cugat were wed on August 7, 1966.

1966: Marriage to Xavier Cugat

In 1966, Charo married bandleader Xavier Cugat, who was significantly older than her, and moved to the United States with him.

1975: Charo's Rising Fame and Popularity

By 1975, Charo's fame had grown substantially, with 80 percent of a national television sample recognizing her. Her popularity, however, remained relatively low, leading to speculation about the impact of constant talk show appearances on a performer's career.

1975: Announcement of Charo's Comedy Show

In 1975, ABC announced a comedy show starring Charo. Although it was initially met with criticism, it eventually aired as a special in 1976.

May 1976: Airing of Charo's Television Special

Charo's television special aired in May 1976 after facing delays and initial skepticism from critics.

August 24, 1976: Airing of Unsold Pilot "Charo and the Sergeant"

On August 24, 1976, an unsold pilot for a show called "Charo and the Sergeant" aired on ABC. The show followed Charo, a dancer at a nightclub, and her Marine Corps husband. Though not picked up, the taped episodes were broadcast overseas on the American Armed Forces Network.

October 1977: Official Recognition of Charo's 1951 Birthdate

A Las Vegas judge ruled Charo's 1951 birth year to be official in October 1977 after she provided affidavits from her parents, though this claim has been met with skepticism.