Rebekah Del Rio, the hauntingly powerful voice behind Mulholland Drive’s unforgettable “Llorando” performance, has passed away at the age of 57. The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office confirmed her death at her residence, though no further details have been publicly disclosed. Known for her emotive vocal delivery and longstanding collaborations with director David Lynch, Del Rio leaves behind a legacy deeply intertwined with both music and cinema.
Del Rio first broke into the music industry in the early 1990s, but her trajectory changed dramatically after crossing paths with Lynch in the mid-90s. During an impromptu meeting in Nashville, Lynch asked her to sing “Llorando,” a Spanish-language version of Roy Orbison’s Crying. The raw, unaccompanied recording captivated him—and would go on to form the emotional heart of Mulholland Drive’s iconic Club Silencio scene. Though the film was born out of a rejected ABC television pilot, the performance helped transform it into one of Lynch’s most critically acclaimed works.
In the film’s surreal and emotionally charged sequence, Del Rio performs on stage while the characters played by Naomi Watts and Laura Elena Harring are overcome with tears. It became a defining moment not only for the film but also for Del Rio’s career. Reflecting on that performance in a 2022 interview with IndieWire, Del Rio described how she sang along with every take to maintain the emotional resonance in her vibrato, stating she wanted the actors—and by extension, the audience—to truly feel the moment.
Beyond Mulholland Drive, Del Rio worked with other visionary filmmakers, including Richard Kelly on the 2006 film Southland Tales. In it, she performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” in a haunting rendition that underscored the film’s apocalyptic climax. She also contributed vocals to projects like Sin City, Man on Fire, and Streets of Legend, adding her distinctive voice to a range of cinematic atmospheres.
Her creative partnership with Lynch continued through the years, extending into additional music projects and live performances. Their artistic bond was emblematic of Del Rio’s unique place in the industry—a performer who didn’t just sing songs, but transformed them into visceral, visual experiences.
Born on July 10, 1967, in California, Rebekah Del Rio began her performance career in San Diego before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams. Her journey led her to touch audiences around the world, and her work continues to resonate through the emotional landscapes of film and music alike.
Her voice, described by many as otherworldly, will long be remembered—not just for its technical brilliance, but for the deep emotional imprint it left on everyone who heard it.
