Mona Rico

Born Enriqueta de Valenzuela, she came to Hollywood from Mexico City at the age of 19 in April 1928 and secured a five-year acting contract.{{cite news |title=Another Mexican Actress Wins Way Into Movie Role |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tulsa-tribune-mona-rico/124614838/ |access-date=May 14, 2023 |work=The Tulsa Tribune |agency=United Press |date=September 9, 1928 |page=27|via = Newspapers.com}} Her first role of significance came opposite John Barrymore as the third lead in a United Artists motion picture, Eternal Love. It was reported that she was sitting in the casting room of the studio when a girl's hands were needed in a film test being made by Ernst Lubitsch. She was sent to Lubitsch and, after her hands were recorded, he made an entire test of her. The following day she obtained her contract. She was cast as a Spanish dancing girl in Shanghai Lady. {{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}

Rico became an American citizen at age 23.{{Citation needed |date=May 2023}} She married wealthy sportsman James N. Crofton, part-owner of the Agua Caliente Club resort in Baja, California, on October 19, 1932.{{cite news |title=Mona Rico Will Press Plea for Alimony Today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-mona-rico/124615480/ |access-date=May 14, 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 3, 1933 |page=17|via = Newspapers.com }}

On July 13, 1932, Rico was with Crofton on a plane which crashed near Mexico City. The pilot/airline owner was killed and Rico was injured.{{cite news |title=Air crash reveals Crofton marriage |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1932/07/15/archives/air-crash-reveals-crofton-marriage-widow-of-pilot-killed-in-mexico.html |access-date=May 14, 2023 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |date=July 15, 1932 |page=10|url-access=subscription}} Rico filed suit for separate maintenance in March 1933 and asked for a sum of $2,000 monthly from Crofton.

In the action, Rico stated she was a motion picture actress who earned $375 per week before the wedding. However, she was no longer able to make her living as an actress because of facial injuries sustained in the airplane crash. The proceedings were later withdrawn, and a reconciliation was followed by a second honeymoon to Hawaii.

In October 1933 it was rumored that Crofton had established residence in Reno, Nevada to obtain a divorce. He denied this, saying that he was in Reno for a business trip and planned to visit Rico in San Diego, California, afterward.{{Citation needed |date=May 2023}}

On October 18, 1933, Rico obtained a divorce decree in San Diego. She charged cruelty and was awarded $500 a month alimony.{{cite news |title=Divorce to Mona Rico. Actress |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1933/10/19/archives/divorce-to-mona-rico-actress.html |access-date=May 14, 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=October 19, 1933 |page=22|url-access=subscription}}

Rico died in Los Angeles, California on her 87th birthday, July 15, 1994.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

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• Daily Northwestern, "Hollywood Film Shop", September 8, 1928, p. 12.
• Los Angeles Times, "Mona Rico Has Just Finished Third Talkie", October 27, 1929, p. 24.
• Los Angeles Times, "Gilpin Dies In Crash", July 14, 1932, p. 1.
• Los Angeles Times, "Turfman Accused In Wife's Action", March 25, 1933, p. A1.
• Oakland Tribune, "Actress' Mate Denies Divorce", October 11, 1933, p. 9.
• ''Los Angeles Times, "Mona Rico Wins Divorce Decree", October 19, 1933, p. 6.
• Los Angeles Times, "She Plans Bid For Citizenship", May 27, 1934, p. 17.

• {{IMDb name|0725636|Mona Rico}}

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Category:American silent film actresses

Category:American film actresses

Category:Mexican emigrants to the United States

Category:American actresses of Mexican descent

Category:1907 births

Category:1994 deaths

Category:20th-century American actresses