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Trini Lopez, singer and star of the 'Dirty Dozen', dies at 83 from COVID-19

Lopez in The Dirty Dozen (Credit: MGM)
Lopez in The Dirty Dozen (Credit: MGM)

Trini Lopez, the singer and actor from iconic war movie The Dirty Dozen, has died at the age of 83.

He had been battling complications of coronavirus, according to Variety.

Lopez, born Trinidad Lopez III, was born in Dallas, and began recording music as a teenager, and was spotted by Buddy Holly, working with his Norman Petty.

He soon signed to Frank Sinatra's record label, Reprise, Sinatra becoming another mentor to the emerging musical talent.

His version of If I Had A Hammer, recorded in 1963, became a hit around the world, going to number three in the Billboard chart, selling more than a million copies and earning him a gold disc.

Other hits included Lemon Tree, I'm Comin' Home, Cindy and Sally Was a Good Old Girl.

WIDE WORLD OF ENTERTAINMENT - "Latino Festival" - Airdate: February 1, 1974. (Photo by Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images) TRINI LOPEZ
Lopez at the Latino Festival, 1974 (Credit: Walt Disney Television via Getty Images)

His acting career began around the same time, first in an appearance in the movie Marriage On The Rocks with Sinatra and Dean Martin.

Then in 1967, he scored his role Robert Aldrich's classic war movie The Dirty Dozen.

Lopez played Pedro Jimenez, prisoner number 10 sentenced to 20 years hard labour, who joins Lee Marvin's group of military convicts on the dangerous mission behind enemy lines during World War II, alongside the likes of Charles Bronson, Telly Savalas and Donald Sutherland.

However, he was said to have clashed with Aldrich, and his character was dispatched off-screen as a result, dying in a parachute jump.

Trini Lopez during A Douglas Family Celebration Presented by Palm Springs International Film Society and Film Festival at Annenberg Theatre at Palm Springs Desert Museum in Palm Springs, California, United States. (Photo by Jesse Grant/WireImage for BWR Public Relations)
Trini Lopez (Credit: Jesse Grant/WireImage for BWR Public Relations)

He later appeared in the US cop show Adam-12, and the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.

Lopez died at the Desert Regional Medical Center near his home in Palm Springs, California.

According to the BBC, he had just finished recording a song to help raise money for food banks providing help to those affected by the pandemic.

A documentary film of his life had also recently been completed.

Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl is among those who have been paying tribute.