Eduardo Cansino


Eduardo Cansino Reina was a Spanish-born American dancer and actor, and the sexually abusive father of actress Rita Hayworth.

Biography

Eduardo Cansino was born on March 2, 1895, in Castilleja de la Cuesta, Andalusia, Spain. His sister, Elisa, was also a dancer. He emigrated to the United States and joined the Ziegfeld Follies. In 1917 he married Volga Hayworth, his partner in the Follies.
They had three children: Margarita Carmen, Eduardo Jr., and Vernon. After she began making films in Hollywood, Margarita Carmen Cansino took her mother's maiden name as her professional surname, becoming Rita Hayworth. During Rita's childhood and adolescence, Eduardo was sexually abusive to her.

Death

Eduardo Cansino Sr. died in Pompano Beach, Florida, in 1968, aged 73, and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Selected filmography