{{Short description|Mexican-American actress (1924–2003)}} {{Family name hatnote|Iturbide|Betancourt|lang=Spanish}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Rebeca Iturbide | image = Rebeca Iturbide1.jpg | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Rebeca de Iturbide Betancourt | birth_date = {{birth date|1924|05|21}} | birth_place = El Paso, Texas, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2003|04|15|1924|05|21}} | death_place = Mexico City, Mexico | other_names = | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1951–1976 | known_for = | notable_works = | website = }}
'''Rebeca de Iturbide Betancourt''' (1924–2003) was a Mexican-American actress of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, who was known for her versatility, being able to play comedy or drama. She was a pioneer in television, playing roles in the mid-1950s. In addition to acting, she also wrote and painted.
==Biography== Rebeca de Iturbide Betancourt was born on May 21, 1924, in El Paso, Texas, to Mexican-Jewish parents.<ref name=Death /> In the 1950s, she began working in films. Her first roles were in 1950 in ''Doña Diabla'' and ''La mujer que yo amé''.<ref name=DOB>{{cite news|title=Incineran a Rebeca Iturbide|url=http://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/27922.incineran-a-rebeca-iturbide.html|accessdate=May 17, 2015|publisher=El Siglo de Torreón|date=April 17, 2003|location=Torreón, Mexico|language=Spanish}}</ref> In 1951, she got the opportunity to play opposite Germán Valdés in the film ''El Revoltoso'', which is considered one of his best films.<ref name="Bethell (1995)">{{cite book|last1=Bethell|first1=Leslie|title=The Cambridge History of Latin America|date=1995|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=0-521-49594-6|page=475|edition=1.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3NiCQFfSGIkC&pg=PA475|accessdate=May 17, 2015}}</ref> That role led to another joint project with Valdéz, ''¡Ay amor... cómo me has puesto!''.<ref name="Agrasánchez (2001)">{{cite book|last1=Agrasánchez Jr.|first1=Rogelio|title=Beauties of Mexican Cinema = Bellezas del cine mexicano|date=2001|publisher=Agrasanchez Film Archive|location=Harlingen, Tex.|isbn=978-9-685-07711-8|page=114 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OsEuAAAAYAAJ|accessdate=May 17, 2015}}</ref>
She had a reputation for versatility and appeared in adventures, comedies, melodramas and mystery films. Iturbide's most memorable movies included ''La noche avanza'' (1951), ''Mujeres sin mañana'' (1951), ''El corazón y la espada'' (1953), ''Yo no creo en los hombres'' (1954), and ''Furia en el paraíso'' (1955).<ref name="Agrasánchez (2001)" />
Iturbide was an early performer in television, having her first part in 1955, playing Clare Graham in an episode of ''Sheena, Queen of the Jungle''.<ref name=Sheena>{{cite web|title=[Speciale Live Action] Sheena: Queen of Jungle (1954)|url=http://www.fumetti-anime-and-gadget.com/speciale-live-action-sheena-queen-of-jungle-1954/|website=Fumetti Anime and Gadget|date=January 17, 2015 |accessdate=May 17, 2015|language=Italian}}</ref> In 1965, she practiced her hand at writing and wrote the script for the film, ''Raíces en el infierno'', which was directed by Myron J. Gold.<ref name=Death />
In 1976 she was in an accident and broke her spine. She retired to the ANDA Casa del Actor (Actor's Home) and lived there for the last twelve years of her life.<ref name=Death /> While there, she painted and in addition to doing exhibits at places like the Modern Art Café at Plaza Loreto, she sold them and used the proceeds to help support the Actor's Home.<ref name=DOB />
Rebeca had four children; three of them with the tennis player Federico Sendel, whom she married in 1943.<ref name=marriage>{{cite book|title=Hispano americano, Volume 37|date=1960|publisher=Tiempo|page=142|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X6k5AQAAIAAJ|accessdate=May 17, 2015}}</ref> Their children were: the journalist Virginia Sendel, president of the Michou and Mau Foundation Private Assistance Institution (IAP), which helps Mexican children who have been burned;<ref name="Virginia Sendel">{{cite web|last1=Sepúlveda|first1=Graciela|title=Después de las llamas…|url=http://www.vitaminasparaelexito.com/2014/02/despues-de-las-llamas.html|website=Vitaminas para El Exito|accessdate=May 17, 2015|location=Mexico|language=Spanish|date=February 8, 2014}}</ref> and twins George and Frederick Sendel; her other son is Eduardo Torres Izabal.
She died on April 15, 2003, in Mexico City, Mexico.<ref name=Death>{{cite web|title=Rebeca Iturbide|url=http://sic.conaculta.gob.mx/ficha.php?table=cineasta&table_id=253|website=Sistema de Información Cultural|accessdate=May 17, 2015|location=Mexico City, Mexico|language=Spanish}}</ref> At her request, her ashes were scattered in the lake of Patzcuaro in Michoacan.<ref name=DOB />
==Filmography==
===Film=== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} *''The Devil Is a Woman'' (also known as ''Doña Diabla'') (1950)<ref name=DOB /> *''La mujer que yo amé'' (1950)<ref name=DOB /> *''Pecado'' (1951) *''El revoltoso'' (1951) *''La noche avanza'' (1951)<ref name=DOB /> * ''Women Without Tomorrow'' (1951)<ref name=DOB /> * ''Oh Darling! Look What You've Done!'' (1951)<ref name=DOB /> * ''The Three Happy Compadres'' (1952) *''Póker de ases'' (1952) *''The Sword of Granada'' (1953) *''El mensaje de la muerte'' (1953) *''Las infieles'' (1953) *''El misterio del carro express'' (1953) * ''The Photographer'' (1953) *''El corazón y la espada'' (1953) *''Reportaje'' (1953) *''Momentos de la vida de Martí'' (1954) *''La mujer que se vendio'' (1954) *''Los Fernández de Peralvillo'' (1954) *''Sindicato de telemirones'' (1954) *''Yo no creo en los hombres'' (1954) *''Furia en el paraíso'' (1955) *''Cuatro contra el imperio'' (1957) *''The Sun Also Rises'' (1957) *''La justicia del gavilán vengador'' (1957) *''Locura musical'' (1958) *''The Last Rebel'' (1958) *''Música y dinero'' (1958) *''Locos por la televisión'' (1958) *''El fin de un imperio'' (1958) *''Jet Over the Atlantic'' (1959) *''Milagros de San Martín de Porres'' (1959) *''Of Love and Desire'' (1963) *''Raíces en el infierno'' (1963)<ref name="Raíces en el infierno">{{cite web|title=Raíces en el infierno|url=http://www.imcine.gob.mx/cine-mexicano/pelicula3440|website=Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía|accessdate=May 17, 2015|location=Mexico City, Mexico|language=Spanish}}</ref> *''Historia de un canalla''(1963)<ref name="Historia de un canalla">{{cite web|title=Historia de un canalla|url=http://www.imcine.gob.mx/cine-mexicano/pelicula3420|website=Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía|accessdate=May 17, 2015|location=Mexico City, Mexico|language=Spanish}}</ref> *''He matado a un hombre'' (1963)<ref name="He matado a un hombre">{{cite web|title=He matado a un hombre|url=http://www.imcine.gob.mx/cine-mexicano/pelicula3414|website=Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía|accessdate=May 17, 2015|location=Mexico City, Mexico|language=Spanish}}</ref> *''Amor de adolescente'' (1963)<ref name="Amor de adolescente">{{cite web|title=Amor de adolescente (Desnudos artísticos)|url=http://www.imcine.gob.mx/cine-mexicano/pelicula3377|website=Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía|accessdate=May 17, 2015|location=Mexico City, Mexico|language=Spanish}}</ref> *''Yo, el valiente'' (1964) *''The Empire of Dracula'' (1967) *''Damiana y los hombres'' (1967) *''La guerra de las monjas'' (1970) *''Las cadenas del mal'' (1970) *''La rebelion de las hijas'' (1970) *''Los perturbados'' (1970)<ref name="Los perturbados">{{cite web|title=Los perturbados|url=http://www.imcine.gob.mx/cine-mexicano/pelicula2182|website=Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía|accessdate=May 17, 2015|location=Mexico City, Mexico|language=Spanish}}</ref> *''Ya se quién eres (te he estado observando)'' (1970)<ref name="Ya se quien eres">{{cite web|title=Ya se quien eres (Te he estado observando)|url=http://www.imcine.gob.mx/cine-mexicano/pelicula2225|website=Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía|accessdate=May 17, 2015|location=Mexico City, Mexico|language=Spanish}}</ref> *''El nano: Niñera con bigotes'' (1971) *''Victoria'' (1972)<ref name=Victoria>{{cite web|title=Victoria|url=http://www.imcine.gob.mx/cine-mexicano/pelicula2377|website=Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía|accessdate=May 17, 2015|location=Mexico City, Mexico|language=Spanish}}</ref> *''Los ángeles de la tarde'' (1972) *''Cabalgando a la luna'' (1972)<ref name="Cabalgando a la luna">{{cite web|title=Cabalgando a la luna|url=http://www.imcine.gob.mx/cine-mexicano/pelicula2409|website=Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía|accessdate=May 17, 2015|location=Mexico City, Mexico|language=Spanish}}</ref> *''Juan Armenta, el repatriado'' (1974)<ref name="Juan Armenta, el repatriado">{{cite web|title=Juan Armenta, el repatriado|url=http://www.imcine.gob.mx/cine-mexicano/pelicula2639|website=Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía|accessdate=May 17, 2015|location=Mexico City, Mexico|language=Spanish}}</ref> *''Peor que las fieras'' (1974)<ref name="Peor que las fieras">{{cite web|title=Peor que las fieras|url=http://www.imcine.gob.mx/cine-mexicano/pelicula2656|website=Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía|accessdate=May 17, 2015|location=Mexico City, Mexico|language=Spanish}}</ref> *''El buscabullas'' (1974)<ref name="El buscabullas">{{cite web|title=El buscabullas|url=http://www.imcine.gob.mx/cine-mexicano/pelicula2614|website=Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía|accessdate=May 17, 2015|location=Mexico City, Mexico|language=Spanish}}</ref> *''Un camino al cielo'' (1974)<ref name="Un camino al cielo">{{cite web|title=Un camino al cielo|url=http://www.imcine.gob.mx/cine-mexicano/pelicula2616|website=Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía|accessdate=May 17, 2015|location=Mexico City, Mexico|language=Spanish}}</ref> {{div col end}}
===Television=== *''Sheena, Queen of the Jungle'' (1955)<ref name=Sheena /> *''Assignment: Mexico'' (1956) *''Captain David Grief'' (1957-1960) *''El abismo'' (1965) *''Tres vidas distintas'' (1968) *''Mariana'' (1968) *''Mañana será otro día''" (1976)
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Iturbide, Rebeca}} Category:1924 births Category:2003 deaths Category:20th-century Mexican actresses Category:Mexican film actresses Category:Actresses from El Paso, Texas Category:American emigrants to Mexico Category:20th-century American actresses Category:Golden Age of Mexican cinema