A Closer Look at the Unforgettable Linda Cristal

Do you remember Flaca in "The Alamo" opposite the legendary John Wayne?
If you do, then you remember the unforgettable Linda Cristal.
This classy and highly talented Lady was one of those at that time few Actresses paired up with Anglo Actors who were not afraid to keep their natural accent.

Linda Cristal was born Marta Victoria Moya Burgess on February 24^th 1934 in Buenos Aires Argentina. Her exotic classic looks a direct result of her Italian Mother and French Father, who were tragically killed in a Car Crash 1947. The Police ruled it as a Suicide Pact. According to Linda this was the result of her Mother becoming comatose due to the lack of insulin and her fathers humiliation due to his inability to provide for his family in exile. In 1939 the family was forced to flee to Uruguay after her Father, a publisher, was caught up in a nasty political dispute with the political party in charge.

Be it due to her turbulent beginnings or other reasons that she has never discussed with anyone, her history of marriages started out rather rocky in 1950, when she was married for 5 days before her marriage was annulled. But 1950 did not only bring an annulled marriage, but a more then fortunate meeting with Mexican Producer-Director Miguel Aleman. This meeting resulted in 9 Films over the following 4 years. Between 1950 and 1956 she slowly becomes one of the leading ladies, when another car accident brings her down a little bit. This most unfortunate car accident forces her to put her career back for a brief period of time.

Thanks to Universal-International she made her way to Hollywood. Her snapping good looks and off the cuff style had already carried her a long way. Of course nothing is ever just sunshine and cracker in Hollywood as Linda Cristal finds out in September 1958 as she gets sued along with Universal-International by Karl Kruger.

1958 proves to be another whirlwind Year for her. March 1958 find her dating George Dewitt in Havana and the following Month she is linked romantically with fellow Universal-International signed John Saxon. He soon lost out however, when she meet oil industrialist at the opening of Conrad Hiltons Cabana Hotel in Cuba. Actress Ann Miller made the introductions on the plane on their way to the Hotel and the rest is history as they say.
For Linda Cristal it was love at first sight and it appears as if she found the love of her life. Being ever a smart woman she knows how to avoid public pressure and they get married in a secret ceremony by a justice of the peace on April 24^th 1958 in Pomona, Ca.

Publicly they announce their Engagement in May of that year, but claim not to have a date set. According to what they told the press it would not be until July. She knows how to make a catch, her engagement ring spouts a proud 10 ½ yellow diamond.
She finishes her Movie "The hell bent kid"; before they are off to a honeymoon Acapulco. Of course the rumors of her marriage point to many different dates, other then the one she claims as correct.

If this wonderful actress didn't have bad luck, she would not have any luck at all. Her marriage lasted only 11 month before this too ended again. The Reason she gives: The break up of her career and the absence of her husband who was spending a lot of time in Venezuela.

I wouldn't say that she was very heartbroken over that fact however. Before the divorce was finalized she already had her eyes on the next paramour. It is important to mention that she would not date until her divorce was final and the settlement was fully signed and cleared. As mention before, she was a lady that knew what she wanted and how to get it. Her Divorce becomes finalized in 1959 in Santa Monica, the same year she films "The Alamo". The official reason was mental cruelty on the side of her husband.

In 1960 she films again in Mexico, opposite Fernando Lamas in the Movie "Simon Bolivar".
The next leading man in her personal life turns out to be Yale Wexler, whom she marries in Chicago December 21^st 1960. The month before the wedding she was filming "Two Rode Together".

This marriage last from 1960 until 1966. They have two wonderful sons together who are her pride and joy. December 1966 the Divorce from Yale Wexler becomes finalized in Los Angeles.
If this woman is nothing else she is amazing. Nothing seems to face her. In 1968 she is awarded the honor of being crowned the Azalea Queen at the Azalea Festival in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Over the next following years she is seen with several different steady Escorts. No wonder the gents where attracted to her with her looks, talent and confident demeanor.
She is involved in the "Chaparral High". Her director is impressed as where 30 others before him (the number of full length movies she has starred in) with her skill in improvisation. To know that she never even took a single acting lesson boggles the mind. The production ceases in 1971. She stays busy however. She is off to Mexico where she stares for the following 6 month in a soap opera and after that we know her to be in Argentina for several years.

If you are wondering what happened to Linda Cristal's romantic life after that, you may not find it all that surprising to find that she got married once again. What may surprise is who she married. Another wealthy Texan captures her heart and her affection. Charles Collins becomes her next husband.
As of the Late 80's she was known to be bouncing around from residence to residence. She owns a home in Beverly Hills, a place in Palm Springs and a flat in Buenos Aires, bringing her life full circle.