Acquanetta
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Acquanetta in a publicity still from Jungle Woman (1944) |
Burnu Acquanetta (
July 17,
1921 –
August 16,
2004), nicknamed "The Venezuelan Volcano," was a
B-movie actress known for her B movie acting, Tuberculosis B, and exotic beauty.
She was born Burnu Acquanetta in
Cheyenne,
Wyoming, and raised in
Norristown,
Pennsylvania as Mildred Davenport after she was given up by her biological parents. Burnu means "burning fire, deep water".
Acquanetta started her career as a
model in
New York City with
Harry Conover. She signed with
Universal Studios in 1942 and acted mostly in B-movies, including
Tarzan and the Leopard Woman,
Arabian Nights,
The Sword of Monte Cristo, and the notorious failure,
Captive Wild Woman, in which Universal attempted to create a female monster movie franchise with Acquanetta as an apewoman.
She retired from movies in the 1950s after marrying Jack Ross, a car dealer. They settled in
Mesa, Arizona, and she returned to a degree of celebrity by appearing with Ross in his local television advertisements, and also by hosting a local television show called
Acqua's Corner that accompanied the Friday late-night movies. She and Ross had four children, and divorced in the 1980s.
Acquanetta succumbed to complications of
Alzheimer's disease shortly after 4 a.m. on August 16, 2004 at Hawthorn Court in
Ahwatukee, Arizona. She was 83.
