Biography for
Acquanetta More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

17 July 1921, Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA

Date of Death

16 August 2004, Ahwatukee, Arizona, USA (Alzheimer's disease)

Birth Name

Burnu Acquanetta

Nickname

The Venezuelan Volcano

Height

5' 7" (1.70 m)

Mini Biography

Aquanetta was a B-rated movie actress (born as Mildred Davenport) in Ozone, Wyoming in 1921. She was nicknamed the "Venezualan Volcano" by Universal Studios.

She starred in Tarzan and the Leopard Woman (1946). Acquanetta also had small parts in Arabian Nights (1942), Jungle Woman (1944), Dead Man's Eyes (1944), Lost Continent (1951) and The Legend of Grizzly Adams (1990).

In the 1950s, she moved to Phoenix and married the owner of a local Phoenix car dealership. She achieved local celebrity status with numerous ads for their dealership. She also had her own TV program, "Acqua's Corner", that accompanied the Friday Night Movies.

Acquinetta also authored a book in 1974 called "The Audible Silence". This well-written poetry book is about life, love, and Indian jewelry (she was of Arapaho decent). She was often seen in her trademark long black braids and beautiful silver & turquoise jewelry.

Acquinetta used her celebrity and charming personality to support/raise money for a number of cultural groups and charities including: Mesa Lutheran Hospital, the Heard Museum, the Phoenix Indian School, Stagebrush Theatre, and the Phoenix Symphony.

She passed away of Alzheimer's complications in Ahwatukee, Arizona on August 16, 2004 at the age of 83. She leaves behind four sons who adored her: Jack Ross Jr. 45, Lance Ross 50, Tom Ross 47 and Rex Ross 43. She is also survived by her brother, Horace Davenport, 85, a retired Pennsylvania judge.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Nancy Nighswonger

Spouse

Jack Ross	(? - ?) (divorced) 4 children
Henry Clive	(? - ?)

Trade Mark

Long black braids, beautiful silver and turquoise jewelry

Trivia

Abandoned her film career after her marriage to car dealer Jack Ross in the late 50s. They settled in Mesa, Arizona where she appeared quite frequently in her husband's local dealership commercials on TV. They divorced in the 80s.

Appeared in an impressive three-page spread in the 24 August 1942 issue of Life magazine.

Interviewed in Tom Weaver's book, "Science Fiction Stars and Horror Heroes" (McFarland & Co., 1991).

Although Universal Pictures tried to present her as an exotic Hispanic, naming her "The Venezuelan Volcano", she was actually born near Cheyenne, Wyoming. Her mother was an Arapaho Indian and her father was white.