Rebekah Del Rio, the singer recognized for her powerful performance in Mulholland Drive, has passed away at 57 years old. She died on June 23, 2025, at her home in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office. They haven't shared what caused her death yet.
Del Rio became a known name when she gave her chilling live performance of the Spanish-language ballad Llorando, which is a version of Roy Orbison's Crying, in David Lynch's 2001 mystery drama Mulholland Drive. Her performance is known to be one of the film's most hauntingly emotional moments during the film's dream like Club Silencio scene. The character collapses on stage after Del Rio finishes the song, while the song continues to play since, as Lynch's films suggest, the audience never learns if it was a dream or reality. What many people watching the film may not have known was that Del Rio performed the song live for the film, making the scene that much stronger.
An Emotion and Art Based Career
Rebekah Del Rio was born on July 31, 1967, in San Diego, California. Following a start in music in 1994 with her first album, Nobody's Angel, her first breakthrough moment happened with the song "Llorando," which was placed in David Lynch's Mulholland Drive. In fact, the performance became a hallmark moment for her in the industry, leading to international recognition.
Del Rio continued to perform musically and in films for years following those two projects. In 2017, she performed Sole "No Stars" with Moby in David Lynch's Twin Peaks: The Return. Del Rio is an interesting artist known for her unique voice and emotional performance, but also as an artist that earned a fanbase with filmmakers to create some sort of feeling or atmosphere with their projects.
Beyond that, Del Rio also lent her musical talents to several other movies, like Sin City, Man on Fire, Streets of Legend, and Southland Tales. While she has not achieved wide mainstream fame, she has earned a loyal fan base for her intense performances and raw emotional capability in her work.
Del Rio performed live just two weeks before she passed away at a charity screening of Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles. The final performance showed that she was committed to her art form right up until the end.
A Life Full of Losses and Persistence
While Del Rio's music brought joy to many, her personal life was full of challenges. The death of her only son was especially difficult. Phillip C. DeMars died in a fight with cancer in 2009 and was only 23 years old. Del Rio spoke about how her loss informed every time she sang and how she connected to emotions when making music.
In the most recent years, Del Rio experienced difficulties with her health and finances. When a medical procedure gone wrong resulted in loss of income and stabilization, Del Rio lived in her van after losing her home. Through all this life had thrown at her, Del Rio continued to perform and be active in the music regardless of circumstance.
Since the news of the entertainer's death became public, family members and fans have begun to remember the singer in their own way. Her nephew, Dan Coronado shared that she was a kind and talented woman that never stopped sharing her voice with everyone. He said that he had just seen her on Father's Day and was thankful his children were able to hear her sing.
Rebekah Del Rio may not be a household name, however, her voice will live on in people's minds who have heard her sing. Rebekah Del Rio's rendition of "Llorando" in Mulholland Drive will forever be remembered as one of the most haunting scenes in a all-time great film, and a true example of how music can touch the heart.
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