Home / Arts and Entertainment / Charo's Real Age: A 'Love Boat' Star Weighs In
Charo's Real Age: A 'Love Boat' Star Weighs In
30 Nov
Summary
- Jill Whelan believes a passport handler knows Charo's true age.
- Charo allegedly misrepresented her age when marrying Xavier Cugat.
- A legal argument in 1986 reduced Charo's age by a decade officially.
The age of Spanish entertainer Charo has long been a subject of speculation, but former "The Love Boat" co-star Jill Whelan offered a potential clue. Whelan revealed on a podcast that a crew member responsible for passports on the show's set might hold the key to Charo's real birthdate. Whelan suggested that Charo's marriage to Xavier Cugat in 1966, at a time when she might have been considered underage, added layers of obfuscation to her age.
Further complicating the timeline, Charo moved to the United States with Cugat, and reports at the time varied regarding her age, with some suggesting she was as young as 15. Years later, in 1986, Charo reportedly presented a legal argument in a U.S. district court in Las Vegas to effectively shave a decade off her official age, based on discrepancies in her passport and naturalization papers.
Whelan, who estimates Charo is likely in her late seventies, recently reunited with the iconic performer and other "Love Boat" cast members on a cruise. This reunion follows recent efforts by fellow "Love Boat" alumni to revive interest in the series through a podcast, revisiting its ten-season run and guest stars.
