Annette Charles

Annette Charles (née Cardona; March 5, 1948 – August 3, 2011) was an American actress, dancer, and educator best known for her role as Charlene "Cha-Cha" DiGregorio in the 1978 feature film Grease. She made several appearances on television as well.

Early life Charles was born Annette Cardona in Los Angeles, California, of Mexican and Italian ancestry.

Career Charles became an actress, and was best known for her role as Charlene "Cha Cha" DiGregorio in the 1978 feature film Grease. She made several appearances on television as well.

Charles later earned a bachelor's degree from Antioch University Los Angeles in psychology and theater, and a master's degree in social work from New York University before becoming a speech communication professor in the Chicano Studies department at California State University, Northridge.

Personal life and death Charles died on August 3, 2011, in Los Angeles from lung cancer, aged 63. She initially was hospitalized for pneumonia.

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