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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 twelve people) to have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award.
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.
Among Moreno's many awards and recognitions are the following:
* 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)
| Latest news about Rita Moreno |
Rita Moreno to star as herself in 2011 solo show at Berkeley Rep ...Berkeley Repertory Theatre's 2010-11 season will feature an as-yet untitled one-woman show about Rita Moreno -- starring Rita Moreno. It opens May 18, 2011, when the actress-singer will be 79. The show will mark the playwriting debut of ... Continue reading
Rita Moreno at Berkeley Rep « Repeating IslandsRita Moreno at Berkeley Rep. Berkeley Repertory Theatre's 2010-11 season will feature an as-yet untitled one-woman show about Rita Moreno — starring Rita Moreno. It opens May 18, 2011, when the actress-singer will be 79. ... Continue reading
Rita Moreno Awarded National Medal for the Arts: Theater News on ...Theater News: Rita Moreno Awarded National Medal for the Arts: by Brian Scott Lipton on TheaterMania.com. Continue reading
Lucie Arnaz, Rita Moreno, Paula West, et al. Set for Rrazz Room ...Theater News: Lucie Arnaz, Rita Moreno, Paula West, et al. Set for Rrazz Room Haiti Benefit: by Dan Bacalzo on TheaterMania.com. Continue reading
Top honor for Rita Moreno – BerkeleysideBerkeley's own Rita Moreno yesterday received the nation's top cultural honor, the National Medal of Arts. President Obama presented the award to the star of stage and screen after spending the day in healthcare lock-down mode. ... Continue reading
HOLLYWOOD HAIKU: Rita MorenoSTILL A KNOCKOUT: Rita Moreno is the first and only Latina and one of ten performers who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. In 2004, Moreno was bestowed The Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United ... Continue reading
Berkeley Rep announces 2010-2011 season featuring Compulsion ...Today, Berkeley Rep announced their 2010-11 season. The slate of eight new shows includes one written by Artistic Director Tony Taccone, two audacious. Continue reading
Rita Moreno, Josh Turner coming to LaytonThe Davis Arts Council is extremely excited to welcome Broadway and film legend, RITA MORENO (above). A Special Engagement (not part of the season ticket but priority seats offered to season ticket holders) this summer, Ms. Moreno will ... Continue reading
Inspiration – Rita MorenoA great pride for my home country, Rita was born in Puerto Rico. Her father was a farmer and her mother a seamstress. She and her mother moved to New York when she was a small child and she took her step-father's last name, Moreno. ... Continue reading
StinkyLulu: Rita Moreno in WEST SIDE STORY (1961) - Supporting ...StinkyLulu's always shocked when pausing to contemplate Rita Moreno's nomination and win for her turn as Anita in West Side Story. First, StinkyLu's still amazed that Rita's nomination/win marked the end of the "golden era" of Latin ... Continue reading
Hollywood Actors Jessica alba Rita Moreno pictures and Rita Moreno biography
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