Elena Verdugo, the actress best known for her role as nurse Consuelo Lopez on the TV series “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” has died at the age of 92.
Verdugo was a native of Los Angeles who started acting as a child. She appeared in many movies in the 1940s. She starred opposite Gene Autry in the movie “The Big Sombrero.” She had a supporting role in the Abbott and Costello comedy “Little Giant.” In 1957, Verdugo starred in the musical comedy film “Panama Sal.”
Verdugo starred in the CBS radio comedy “Meet Millie” as the wisecracking Brooklyn secretary Millie Bronson. She then starred on the television version of “Meet Millie” from 1952 until 1956. The show was one of the first to be broadcast live from Hollywood.
She had a recurring role in 1964 on “The New Phil Silvers Show” as the sister of Silver’s character. She also starred in the CBS sitcom “Many Happy Returns” during the 1964-1965 season.
Her most popular character was Nurse Consuelo Lopez on “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” which ran from 1969 until 1976. She received supporting actress Emmy nominations in 1971 and 1972 for playing the thoughtful nurse. Many consider the role to be one of the first to portray a working-professional Latina woman.