Actress Annette Charles, who played Cha Cha, the villain’s feisty girlfriend who famously danced with John Travolta in Grease, died Wednesday, according to California State University – Northridge, where she was a part-time professor. The 63-year-old actress, who also appeared in television shows like Magnum, P.I., The Incredible Hulk, and The Bionic Woman before leaving acting in 1987, had cancer. “She was a very dynamic and inpirational speaker, ” says Dr. David Rodriguez, the chair of the school’s Department of Chicana/o Studies. “She also had such a great sense of social consciousness and social justice, and her students just loved her.”
Aug 4
2011
06:25 PM ET
'Grease's Cha Cha, Annette Charles, dies
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Just saw a clip from “Grease” (gym dance scene). Ms. Charles tore it up, danced the socks off Jeff Conaway and John Travolta, and blew Olivia Newton-John off the floor. Amazing dancer. So nice to hear that she was a lovely woman as well. Condolences to her family, friends, and fans. Cha-Cha forever!
Oh, I’m bummed. I loved her dancing in Grease. Rest in Peace, Annette.
So sad. Hating Cha Cha DeGregorio was a big part of my childhood. Rest in peace, Annette.
With Annette Charles death, she and the late Jeff Conaway are the 2 cast members from Grease to pass on this year.
They call me Cha-Cha cause I’m the best dancer at St. Bernadette’s. RIP Annette.
They never post pictures. It’s infuriating.
With the worst reputation!!! RIP Mis Charles. OMG, I was so upset to read this. At least she went out classy. I saw her in recent Youtube videos a while back, and she looked happy and healthy. Sad.
sorry to hear about her death. She was very sexy in Grease, one of my favorite movies!
which one is cha cha???
Ever hear of Google?
High five Sachel… you took the words right out of my mouth.
Or YouTube??
I had heard that the actress who portrayed Cha-Cha was a professor and I always thought that was just great. Ms. Charles was a great example of an actress in a small part stealing the show, she was so good in Grease. May she RIP.
Terrific dancer, but she looked way too old for the part of a high schooler in Grease. They all were, in fact Stockard Channing was older than her, but didn’t look it.
cha cha is in a better place she will be dearly missed