Rita Moreno

Rita Moreno (born December 11, 1931 in Humacao, Puerto Rico) is an Academy Award-winning actress and the first and only Puerto Rican actress in history (as well as one of only nine people) to have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award.

Biography

Moreno (born Rosita Dolores Alverío) moved with her mother to New York City at the age of five. When she was eleven years old, she lent her voice to Spanish-language versions of American films. She had her first Broadway role (Angelina in Skydrift) by the time she was thirteen, which caught the attention of Hollywood talent scouts. For the next ten years, Moreno played roles in movies which she considered degrading.

Finally, in 1961, Moreno landed the role of "Anita" in Robert Wise's film adaptation of Leonard Bernstein's and Stephen Sondheim's groundbreaking Broadway musical, West Side Story. Moreno gained fame and an Academy Award as the Best Supporting Actress for that role.

Moreno went on to be the second actor, and the first Hispanic, to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar (as mentioned), and a Tony. In 1985 she won the Sarah Siddons Award for her work in Chicago theatre.

Moreno dated Marlon Brando, her co-star in The Night of the Following Day (1968) and is rumored to have attempted suicide after their relationship ended.

Notably, Moreno appeared in Singin' in the Rain (1952), The King and I (1956), and Carnal Knowledge in (1971). In the 1970s and 1980s, she appeared on the PBS children's series The Electric Company notably as Millie the Helper, (in fact it was Rita who screamed the show's opening line, "HEY, YOU GUYS!"), the often naughty little girl, Pandora, and as "Otto", the very short-tempered Director, (in a 2000 interview, Rita mentioned that her favorite characters were Otto and Pandora) and the popular family variety series The Muppet Show. She has made guest appearances on television series such as The Rockford Files, The Love Boat, The Cosby Show, The Golden Girls, and Miami Vice. She was also a regular on the short-lived sitcom version of Nine to Five (based on the hit film) during the early 1980s.

Moreno's Broadway credits include The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Gantry, The Ritz, and the female version of The Odd Couple.

During the mid 1990s, Moreno provided the voice of Carmen Sandiego on the hit animated FOX show Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? In the late 1990s, she gained exposure to a new generation of viewers, as she played Sister Peter Marie Reimondo, a nun trained as a psychologist in the popular HBO series, Oz. Moreno has participated in more than fifty productions, combining her television, movie and theatrical works. She made a guest appearance on The Nanny as Coach Stone, Maggie's tyrannical gym teacher, whom Fran Fine also remembered from her school as Ms. Wickavich.

Perhaps Moreno's main contribution to the Hispanic community has been her ability to transcend what some have viewed as the widespread discriminatory practices of Hollywood.

She has openly acknowledged her partial Marrano (or crypto-Jewish) ancestry. [1]

Among Moreno's many awards and recognitions are the following:

Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004

• Academy Award Best Supporting Actress, "West Side Story" (1961).
• "The Joseph Jefferson Award" Best Chicago Theatre Actress (1968).
• Grammy Award The Electric Company Album (1972).
• Tony Award Best Featured Actress, "The Ritz" (1975).
• 2 Emmy Awards "The Muppet Show" (1977), and "The Rockford Files" (1978).
• "The Golden Apple" Cue Magazine Award.
• "The Sarah Siddons Awards" for her portrayal of Olive Madison in the female version of the Odd Couple.
• "Special Recognition Award" from the International Latin Music Hall of Fame (2001).
• "Presidential Medal of Freedom" from President George W. Bush in June 2004.
• Rita Moreno has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7083 Hollywood Blvd.

On June 18, 1965 Moreno married Lenny Gordon, who remains her husband and manager. They have one daughter, Fernanda (Gordon) Fisher.

Filmography

• So Young So Bad (1950)
• The Toast of New Orleans (1950)
• Pagan Love Song (1950)
• The Ring (1952)
• Singin' in the Rain (1952)
• The Fabulous Señorita (1952)
• Cattle Town (1952)
• Fort Vengeance (1953)
• Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacation (1953)
• Latin Lovers (1953)
• El Alaméin (1953)
• Jivaro (1954)
• The Yellow Tomahawk (1954)
• Garden of Evil (1954)
• Untamed (1955)
• Seven Cities of Gold (1955)
• The Lieutenant Wore Skirts (1956)
• The King and I (1956)
• The Vagabond King (1956)
• The Deerslayer (1957)
• This Rebel Breed (1960)
• West Side Story (1961)
• Summer and Smoke (1961)
• Cry of Battle (1963)
• The Night of the Following Day (1968)
• Popi (1969)
• Marlowe (1969)
• Carnal Knowledge (1971)
• The Ritz (1976)
• Voodoo Passion (1977)
• The Boss' Son (1978)
• Happy Birthday, Gemini (1980)
• The Four Seasons (1981)
• Age Isn't Everything (1991)
• Italian Movie (1993)
• I Like It Like That (1994)
• Carmen Miranda: Bananas Is My Business (1995) (documentary)
• Angus (1995)
• Slums of Beverly Hills (1998)
• Carlo's Wake (1999)
• The Puerto Ricans: Our American Story (1999) (documentary)
• Blue Moon (2000)
• Piñero (2001)
• Casa de los Babys (2003)
• Beyond Borders: John Sayles in Mexico (2003) (documentary)
• King of the Corner (2004)
• Play It By Ear (2006)

Television Work

• The Electric Company (1971-1977)
• Dominic's Dream (1974)
• Out to Lunch (1974)
• Anatomy of a Seduction (1979)
• Eva Perón (1981)
• 9 to 5 (1982-1983)
• Working (1982)
• Portrait of a Showgirl (1982)
• B.L. Stryker: The Dancer's Touch (1989)
• B.L. Stryker (1989-1990)
• Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? (1994-1998) (voice)
• The Cosby Mysteries (1994-1995)
• The Wharf Rat (1995)
• Oz (1997-2003)
• The Spree (1998)
• Resurrection (1999)
• Copshop (2004)
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2005)
• Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005)
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2006)
• The George Lopez Show (2007)

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans
• List of people who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award

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