Idania Villegas Amaro

Cuban actress, singer, stage producer and television hostess, Idania was born in Havana on May 26, 1942 and grew up in a show business environment since she was the only daughter of the iconic Cuban superstar Blanquita Amaro, while her father was Orlando Villegas, a noted businessman and entrepreneur. Encouraged by her parents, she started performing at an early age joining her mother in many international tours. During a long residency in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Idania had the opportunity to co-star with her mother in the film "Casada y señorita" (1954) By then she had developed into a striking beauty with a curvy physique that made her look much older in spite of being barely a teenager. Soon Idania discovered her real passion was the stage where she could achieve a close rapport with audiences. From then on she not only acted but wrote and produced several plays, most of them starring her famous mother. They became a dynamic duo that charmed the public for more than three decades. In 1959 with the arrival in Cuba of a fierce communist dictatorship, the Villegas-Amaro family was devastated when the government led by Fidel Castro confiscated their assets and business investments, the fruit of many years of hard work and savings. Since they could not express their discontent for fear of their lives, the family fled Cuba and went into exile in Panama where they were warmly received. They went on to have their own television program, The Blanquita Amaro Show, which was an uncontested success for many years. Blanquita with Idania always at her side, used the television cameras for many charitable activities on behalf of the poor and underprivileged which gained them the respect of the Panamanian people. After the passing of Mr. Villegas, Blanquita and Idania decided to move to Miami, Florida, the center of the Cuban exile community, where they found a public eager for their presence and talents. More than ever, Idania became everything to her mother; secretary, companion, confidant, agent, producer and co-star. They performed together in countless stage plays as well as co-hosting several television programs. In 1966, Idania married producer Manolo deI Cañal and together they launched an spectacular music revue titled "Cuba canta y baila" (Cuba sings and dances), an ambitious production that teamed Blanquita Amaro with guest stars from around the world. The show was such an enormous success in 1973 that it became a yearly tradition for 28 years at Miami-Dade County Auditorium. The show went on even after Idania divorced her husband, and business partner Mr. del Cañal. She found love again with a childhood friend, actor Federico Piñero Jr., the son of another iconic Cuban artist Federico Piñero, and were married in 1991, a joyful union for family and friends but most especially for the mother of the bride. Idania continued her show business activities for another decade but in 2001, right after the latest edition of the show "Cuba canta y baila", she felt ill and was diagnosed with cancer. Bravely, she decided to fight the disease and only stopped working when it was necessary to receive the recommended treatments. Unfortunately, it was a battle she was destined not to win and, on October 14, 2002, she quietly passed away in her Miami home surrounded by her beloved family. She left behind three sons, Tony, Manny, and Orlando, six grandchildren, her husband Federico, her bereaved mother Blanquita and a community of friends and admirers that still mourn her.