Famous former child actress, who acted with Elvis Presley and Jerry Lewis, dies aged 62

Child-actress star from the 60's dies suddenly

Donna Butterworth was a child-star in the 60's. She was the precocious 10-year-old singer/actress who stole the show from Elvis Presley in Paradise, Hawaiian Style in 1966 and sang three songs in the movie, including a duet with “the King.”

Butterworth was just 62, and she passed away in Hilo, Hawaii at a medical center of an undisclosed illness, as reported by FaithFamilyAmerica.com on the 14th of March 2018.

Butterworth was a gifted singer and talented ukelele player. She participated in several television shows such as “The Andy Williams Show,” “The Dean Martin Show” and “The Danny Kay Show."

When Elvis Presley passed away at the age of 42, Butterworth, then 21, was devastated.

"He always tried to have a lot of fun on the set. So, the four months that we all were together in Hawaii and of course at Paramount studios in Hollywood, he was just a great guy to be around."

Donna Butterworth, FaithFamilyAmerica.com,14th of March 2018.

Butterworth was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. and the family moved to Hawaii when she was just 3 years old. She learned to play the ukelele and played and sang Hawaiian music from an early age, performing all over the islands.

It was in Hawaii that she was discovered by the producers of Paradise, Hawaiian Style and cast opposite Presley. Later she was to work with the comedian Jerry Lewis in The Family Jewels, and with that role, she won a prestigious Golden Globe Award.

Butterworth also worked on Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color, with fellow child star, Ron Howard. After that Butterworth concentrated on singing and released two singles, Sailor Boy and California Sunshine Boy. As an adult, Butterworth recorded a CD in Hawaii in the early 2000's. She is survived by her mother and brother.

Her family and friends will be holding a private memorial and celebration of her life at a later date, which has not been announced to the media.