The television actress once hailed as the “Latin Marilyn Monroe” has died at 58, leaving investigators to examine the sudden, unexplained circumstances.
Cindyana Santangelo, the actress best known for her recurring role on “Married… with Children,” has died after a medical emergency at her Malibu home, according to TMZ.
Cindyana Santangelo attends a Mother’s Day Luncheon honoring Ricardo Antonio Chavira and Lisa Rinna in Los Angeles on May 4, 2011 | Source: Getty Images
People later reported that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed in an advisory that deputies responded to the call at approximately 7:15 p.m. on March 24. Homicide investigators are assisting in the case, which the department described as a routine step when the cause of death is not immediately known.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ that Santangelo had recently received cosmetic injections at her residence. While investigators have found no signs of foul play, the case remains open as authorities await autopsy results.
The actress earned the nickname “Latin Marilyn Monroe” from Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell. She played a dancer at The Jiggly Room, a fictional club featured in “Married… with Children,” which aired from 1987-1997.
Santangelo, born in 1967, was of Puerto Rican, Italian, and Hungarian descent and occasionally worked under the name Cindyana Lair. In addition to her television appearances, she contributed vocals to Jane’s Addiction’s 1990 song “Stop” from the album “Ritual de lo Habitual.”
Her acting career included a mix of credited and uncredited roles in both television and film. She played Angelica the Dancer in the 2009 TV series “The Bo-Bo & Skippy Show,” and appeared as Maria Marimon in a 2004 episode of “CSI: Miami.”
Earlier roles included Angelica in a 1998 episode of “ER,” Carmen in “Tequila Express” (2002), and Passion in the 1997 video release “Sticky Fingers.”
She also appeared in several minor and uncredited film roles, including Lydia in “The Adventures of Ford Fairlane” (1990), a girl in a brothel in “Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue” (1991), and Yoga Girl in “Hollywood Homicide” (2003). In 1996, she played a character in “American Tigers,” credited under her alternate name.
Outside of acting, Santangelo made a lasting impression in pop culture in 1989 when she appeared in Young MC’s hit music video “Bust a Move,” wearing stop-sign booty shorts in a now-iconic dance scene.
She was also a devoted mother to two sons, Dante-Maximilian and Lucci. In a February 2025 social media post celebrating Dante’s birthday, she included both boys and wrote, “These to Goonies mean everything so amazing young Men sweethearts smart & Gorgeous [sic].”
Following news of her death, Santangelo’s close friend Cynthia Banuelos posted a deeply personal tribute on Instagram, accompanied by a carousel of photos capturing their time together over the years — from quiet moments at home to nights out and playful selfies.
“My heart aches as I write this. I’m still in shock and disbelief. How can you be gone???” Banuelos wrote. “You were my best friend, my wifey, my kindred
spirit. The most gorgeous mermaid in human form. Forever drawn to the sea.”
Banuelos revealed Malibu was Santangelo’s “paradise,” where her spirit was most at peace, and spoke lovingly of her friend’s free soul, “You had a heart as vast as the ocean, a spirit as free as the wind, and a love that ran deeper than the blue depths you adored. Frank and the Boys (Dante & Lucci), were your reason for living.”
She closed with a farewell message, “Swim free, my beautiful mermaid. Until we meet again. I love you my Wifey for Lifey. My Beautiful Soul Seaster.”
Just days before her passing, Banuelos had also shared a birthday post for Santangelo, “My friendship with you is a gift, but today is extra special because it’s all about YOU! Your kindness, love, and laughter make life so much better. I’m beyond grateful to have you by my side, and I can’t wait to celebrate many more years together! Cheers to another amazing year, my Wifey for Lifey! ”
The post included a bright, festive photo of the two sitting on the back of a decorated golf cart during what appeared to be a Fourth of July celebration. Dressed in red, white, and blue, Banuelos held a cluster of star-shaped decorations while Santangelo — in a blue halter top and white shorts — smiled with a watermelon-flavored ice pop in hand.