Daughter of actor and legendary singer Mario Lanza, and mother, Elizabeth “Betty” Hicks Lanza. Born in Los Angeles, California, she lived with her parents in California and in Rome, Italy, until 1959, when her father suddenly died of a heart attack. Her mother returned with the family to live in Los Angeles, and five months after the death of Mario Lanza, Betty Lanza killed herself in grief, leaving behind four children. Colleen was twelve years old when she was orphaned. Colleen and the other three children were raised by their paternal grandparents, Tony and Maria Cocozza at their home in California. Encouraged by Lanza Producer, Joe Pasternak, she had a short-lived singing career while working with Lee Hazelwood, a protégé of Nancy Sinatra. Her voice, while considered harmonious and pleasant, was undistinguished and her career failed to take off, despite the Lanza name. On July 23, 1971, she married Alberto Caldera, Jr. the nephew of the President of the Republic of Venezuela, however, this marriage soon failed, and she divorced Alberto. To support herself, she became a screenwriter. She married again, to Patrick Davis, a much better choice in that she remained happily married to him for 20 years, until her death in 1997. During this time, she worked to keep her father’s legacy in music alive. On July 19, 1997, she was struck by a car while crossing the street near her home, and died on August 4, at the age of 48.
Daughter of actor and legendary singer Mario Lanza, and mother, Elizabeth “Betty” Hicks Lanza. Born in Los Angeles, California, she lived with her parents in California and in Rome, Italy, until 1959, when her father suddenly died of a heart attack. Her mother returned with the family to live in Los Angeles, and five months after the death of Mario Lanza, Betty Lanza killed herself in grief, leaving behind four children. Colleen was twelve years old when she was orphaned. Colleen and the other three children were raised by their paternal grandparents, Tony and Maria Cocozza at their home in California. Encouraged by Lanza Producer, Joe Pasternak, she had a short-lived singing career while working with Lee Hazelwood, a protégé of Nancy Sinatra. Her voice, while considered harmonious and pleasant, was undistinguished and her career failed to take off, despite the Lanza name. On July 23, 1971, she married Alberto Caldera, Jr. the nephew of the President of the Republic of Venezuela, however, this marriage soon failed, and she divorced Alberto. To support herself, she became a screenwriter. She married again, to Patrick Davis, a much better choice in that she remained happily married to him for 20 years, until her death in 1997. During this time, she worked to keep her father’s legacy in music alive. On July 19, 1997, she was struck by a car while crossing the street near her home, and died on August 4, at the age of 48.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
