Singer-songwriter Rebekah Del Rio, best known for her haunting performance of “Llorando” in David Lynch’s 2001 film “Mulholland Drive,” died June 23 at her home in Los Angeles. She was 57 years old.
The Los Angeles Coroner’s Office confirmed Del Rio’s death to multiple outlets, though no cause of death has been disclosed. Her nephew, Dan Coronado, announced her passing on Facebook on June 25, revealing the family had seen her on Father’s Day, just days before her death.
Del Rio achieved cinematic immortality through her Spanish-language cover of Roy Orbison’s “Crying” in Lynch’s acclaimed film. The performance occurred during the Club Silencio scene, where Del Rio’s character delivers an emotional a cappella rendition before fainting on stage, revealing she had been lip-syncing.
The collaboration between Del Rio and Lynch began in the mid-1990s when their mutual CAA agent Brian Loucks introduced them. At the time, Del Rio was working under a country record deal in Nashville, Tennessee, which she had secured through her recording of “Llorando.” During their first meeting at Lynch’s home studio, the director asked her to perform the song and secretly recorded the impromptu performance, which became the basis for the Club Silencio scene.
Del Rio told IndieWire in 2022 that she considered their encounter “money in my karmic bank.” She revealed that during filming, she sang along with every take rather than simply lip-syncing. Del Rio explained she wanted the film’s stars, Naomi Watts and Laura Harring, to experience the performance live while they watched from the theater balcony.
Born July 10, 1967, in Chula Vista, California, Del Rio began performing in San Diego before moving to Los Angeles in 1989 to pursue her music career. She originally recorded “Llorando” in 1995 as a tribute following the murder of Tejano pop star Selena, an event that devastated Del Rio and the Hispanic community.
Del Rio’s collaboration with Lynch extended beyond “Mulholland Drive.” She appeared in the 2017 Showtime series “Twin Peaks: The Return,” performing “No Stars” alongside Moby during one of the show’s roadhouse sequences. The song was based on a poem written by Lynch himself.
Her musical contributions appeared on soundtracks for several notable films, including “Sin City,” “Man on Fire,” “Streets of Legend,” and Richard Kelly’s 2006 science fiction film “Southland Tales,” where she performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the apocalyptic final act.
Del Rio’s discography includes “Nobody’s Angel” (1994), “All My Life/Toda Mi Vida” (2003), and “Love Hurts Love Heals” (2011). Her singles included “No Stars,” “Hallelujah,” and “Adios,” with her most recent release occurring in 2021.
Just two weeks before her death, Del Rio performed at a charity screening of “Mulholland Drive” at the Philosophical Research Society in Los Angeles. She also participated in touring performances of The Red Room Orchestra Plays the Music of Twin Peaks in recent years.
Del Rio faced personal tragedy in 2009 when her son, Phillip C. DeMars, died at age 23 following a cancer diagnosis. She later began performing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” as a tribute to him. In a 2022 interview with The Guardian, Del Rio reflected on how her personal experiences shaped her artistry, noting that her voice lent itself to sadness because she carried grief inside.
Her death comes five months after Lynch’s passing in January 2025. The director died at age 78, leaving behind a legacy of surreal filmmaking that included Del Rio’s contributions to his artistic vision.
In his Facebook tribute, Coronado described his aunt’s talent as God-given and expressed gratitude that his children had experienced her singing firsthand. He referenced her most famous work, noting that “Llorando” was named after Orbison’s “Crying,” adding that he was crying as he wrote about her passing.
Del Rio’s performance in “Mulholland Drive” remains one of cinema’s most memorable musical moments, with the Club Silencio scene serving as an emotional crescendo in Lynch’s complex narrative. Her ability to convey profound emotion through her voice made her an integral part of the filmmaker’s artistic universe.
The singer was of Mexican, Italian, and Sephardic heritage, and her multicultural background influenced her musical style. Her Spanish-language interpretation of Orbison’s classic demonstrated her ability to transform existing material into something uniquely her own.
Del Rio’s legacy extends beyond her film appearances to include her contributions to the broader landscape of cinematic music. Her work with Lynch helped establish her as a distinctive voice in the intersection of film and music, creating moments that resonated with audiences long after the credits rolled.
