Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno (born
December 11,
1931 in
Humacao,
Puerto Rico) is an
Academy Award-winning and the first and only
Hispanic actress in history (as well as one of only nine people) to have won an
Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award.
|
Rita Moreno on the cover of Life Magazine |
 |
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004 |
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 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, Morino 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.
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, 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.
During the mid
1990s, Moreno provided the voice of
Carmen Sandiego on the hit
animated FOX show
Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? In the late 1990s, she gained exposure to a new
generation of viewers, as she played 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.
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, no doubt, set a precedent for
Hispanic actors to be recognized by
talent, rather than
ethnicity.
Among Moreno's many awards and recognitions are the following:
*
Oscar 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.
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)
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)
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)
*
List of famous Puerto Ricans*
List of people who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award*
