Known for movies

Short Info

Date Of BirthSeptember 11, 1942
SpouseFeliciano Vierra Tavares, Jr.
MarkPerformed her signature song "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets" during her Las Vegas shows.
FactBorn in Camden, New Jersey to Cleao Twine. The family later moved to Philadelphia. Lola attended Germantown High School in Philadelphia. She was raised as Episcopalian but later coverted to Roman Catholicism.


Lola Falana is a world-renowned entertainer, actress, and singer. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 1942, to parents who were both professional dancers. Her father, Carlos, was from Cuba, and her mother, Margaret, was from the United States. Falana began her career as a dancer, and later became a successful singer and actress.

Falana’s first big break came in 1964 when she was cast as a dancer in the film, The Jack Benny Program. She went on to appear in a number of other films and television shows throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In 1970, Falana made her Broadway debut in the musical, Sweet Charity. She also toured with Sammy Davis Jr. in his show, Sammy Davis Jr. and Friends.

Falana’s career took off in the 1980s when she starred in her own television show, The Lola Falana Show. The show was a huge success, and made Falana a household name. She went on to star in a number of films throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including The Wiz, Lady Sings the Blues, and Roots: The Gift.

In addition to her successful career as an entertainer, Falana is also a successful businesswoman. She has her own line of cosmetics, jewelry, and clothing. She also has a line of home products. Falana is estimated to be worth $5 million.

Falana has been married twice. Her first husband was dancer Frankie Laine. The couple divorced in 1974. Falana’s second husband is businessman Anthony Thomas. The couple has two children together.

General Info

Full NameLola Falana
Date Of BirthSeptember 11, 1942
Height1.65 m
ProfessionActor, Dancer, Singer
EducationGermantown High School
NationalityAmerican

Family

SpouseFeliciano Vierra Tavares, Jr.
ParentsCleo Falana, Bennett Falana

Accomplishments

NominationsTony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical, Golden Globe Award for Best New Star of the Year – Actress
MoviesSilverado, Lady Cocoa, The Klansman, The Liberation of L.B. Jones, Lola Colt, A Man Called Adam, Most Famous Hits: Tom Jones & Friends
TV ShowsThe New Bill Cosby Show, Ben Vereen... Comin' at Ya, Cos, Lola!

Social profile links

Marks

#Marks / Signs
1Wore a famous silk white evening gown during her Las Vegas shows
2Performed her signature song "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets" during her Las Vegas shows.

Facts

#Fact
1Retired and living with her parents in Philadelphia. [November 1996]
2Lola has recovered sufficiently from her bad attack of multiple sclerosis in 1996, which sent her to her parents' home in Philadelphia, to make her own home in her beloved Las Vegas. [June 2006]
3She and Joey Heatherton were the namesakes for the "Lola Heatherton" character as played by Catherine O'Hara on SCTV (1976) and SCTV Network (1981).
4Recorded on Reprise Records, the label owned by Frank Sinatra.
5Was a protégé of Dinah Washington.
6Father is from Cuba. He sang to Lola in Spanish. She later became a popular nightclub singer who performed in various lanuages.
7Born in Camden, New Jersey to Cleao Twine. The family later moved to Philadelphia. Lola attended Germantown High School in Philadelphia. She was raised as Episcopalian but later coverted to Roman Catholicism.
8Was nominated for Broadway's 1975 Tony Award as Best Actress (Musical) for "Doctor Jazz."
9Is of African-American and Cuban descent.
10In later years she has turned to religion for comfort and solace, touring much of the time as an evangelist.
11Was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis; after a brief period of (1987) remission, her MS returned in 1996.

Pictures

Movies

Actress

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Mad About You1989Casey's Secretary
Hotel1986TV SeriesSheila Wilson
Capitol1982TV SeriesCharity Blake (1984-1986)
Fantasy Island1979TV SeriesEsther Bolling
The Love Boat1978TV SeriesMara Carroll
Switch1977TV SeriesArmistice Simpson
Cos1976TV SeriesFrequent Guest
Lady Cocoa1975Coco
Ben Vereen... Comin' at Ya1975TV SeriesRegular Performer
Klansman1974Loretta Sykes
The Streets of San Francisco1974TV SeriesJackie Sterling
Hai visto mai?1973TV Mini-SeriesHostess
The New Bill Cosby Show1972TV SeriesRegular
Mod Squad1970TV SeriesMarci Weaver
The Liberation of L.B. Jones1970Emma Jones
The F.B.I.1969TV SeriesLenore Brooks
Black Tigress1967Lola Gate
Quando dico che ti amo1967Julia
A Man Called Adam1966Theo

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
50 años de2009TV Series performer - 2 episodes
La tele de tu vida2007TV Series performer - 1 episode
Lady Cocoa1975"Pop Goes the Weasel" Title song / performer: "Pop Goes the Weasel" Title song
Sammy and Company1975TV Series performer - 1 episode
The 43rd Annual Academy Awards1971TV Special performer: "Till Love Touches Your Life"
Black Tigress1967performer: "Scrivimi il tuo nome", "Uno come te"
The Ed Sullivan Show1964TV Series performer - 1 episode

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Vega$1979TV SeriesHerself
Hello, Here Is Berlin1979TV MovieHerself
The Television Annual: 1978/19791979TV Movie documentaryHerself
The Alan Hamel Show1979TV SeriesHerself
Liberace: A Valentine Special1979TV SpecialHerself
Sha Na Na1979TV SeriesHerself
The Jim Nabors Show1978TV SeriesHerself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1968-1978TV SeriesHerself / Herself - Guest / Herself - Musical Guest
ABC's Silver Anniversary Celebration1978TV SpecialHerself
Circus of the Stars #21977TV SpecialHerself - Performer
Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes 21977TV MovieHerself
Happy Birthday, Las Vegas1977TV SpecialHerself
The Merv Griffin Show1977TV SeriesHerself
Dinah!1975-1977TV SeriesHerself
Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes1977TV MovieHerself
The 4th Annual American Music Awards1977TV SpecialHerself
Bob Hope's Christmas Comedy Special1976TV MovieHerself
Van Dyke and Company1976TV SeriesHerself
The Wolfman Jack Show1976TV SeriesHerself
The 28th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards1976TV SpecialHerself - Performer
Lola!1975-1976TV SeriesHerself
Sammy and Company1975TV SeriesHerself
The Gladys Knight & the Pips Show1975TV SeriesHerself
The 29th Annual Tony Awards1975TV SpecialHerself
Soul Train1973-1974TV Series documentaryGuest
The Hollywood Squares1973-1974TV SeriesHerself - Panelist
NBC Follies1973TV SeriesHerself
The Bob Hope Christmas Special1973TV SpecialHerself
The David Frost Show1970-1972TV SeriesHerself
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour1972TV SeriesHerself
The 43rd Annual Academy Awards1971TV SpecialHerself - Performer & Co-Presenter: Best Special Visual Effects
The Pearl Bailey Show1971TV SeriesHerself
Flip1970TV SeriesHerself
The Irv Kupcinet Show1970TV SeriesHerself
Della1970TV SeriesHerself
The 27th Annual Golden Globes Awards1970TV SpecialHerself
The Hollywood Palace1966-1969TV SeriesHerself - Singer / Dancer
Sammy Davis Jr.1969TV MovieHerself
Stasera mi butto1967Herself
The Ed Sullivan Show1967TV SeriesHerself
The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show1966TV SeriesHerself - Guest
Hullabaloo1965TV SeriesHerself
Mary's Land2013DocumentaryHerself
Theater of the Word, Inc.2009TV SeriesHerself
Reading Rainbow1992TV SeriesHerself
The Original Leads of the Temptations1992Video documentaryHerself
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration1990TV SpecialHerself
Lou Rawls Parade of Stars1980-1989TV SeriesHerself
Ebony/Jet Showcase1988TV SeriesHerself
Motown Merry Christmas1987TV MovieHerself
Late Night with David Letterman1987TV SeriesHerself
Eubie Blake: A Century of Music1983TV MovieHerself
Bob Hope's All-Star Super Bowl Party1983TV SpecialHerself
Entertainment Tonight1982TV SeriesHerself
Night of 100 Stars1982TV SpecialHerself
Lola, Lola y Lollo1982TV MovieHerself
The Third Annual Black Achievement Awards1980TV SpecialHerself - Host
The John Davidson Show1980TV SeriesHerself
Omnibus1980TV SeriesHerself
The Big Show1980TV SeriesHerself
Siegfried and Roy1980TV SpecialHerself
Circus of the Stars #41979TV Special documentaryHerself - Ringmaster
The Muppet Show1979TV SeriesHerself - Special Guest Star
The Mike Douglas Show1975-1979TV SeriesHerself - Vocalist / Herself - Co-Host / Herself - Singer / ...

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
50 años de2009TV SeriesHerself
La tele de tu vida2007TV SeriesHerself
Hullabaloo Vol. 81996VideoHerself
Bob Hope's Overseas Christmas Tours: Around the World with the Troops - 1941-19721980TV Movie documentaryHerself
Beat! Beat! Beat!1966TV SeriesHerself - Musician

Awards

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1971Golden GlobeGolden Globes, USAMost Promising Newcomer - FemaleThe Liberation of L.B. Jones (1970)

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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