Rita Moreno is a Puerto Rico-born American actress, dancer, and singer. Throughout her career spanning over 70 years, she has appeared in numerous film, television, and theater projects. Moreno's notable acting work includes supporting roles in the golden age of Hollywood musical films Singin' in the Rain (1952), The King and I (1956) and West Side Story (1961). She continued acting in films such as Popi (1969), Carnal Knowledge (1971), The Four Seasons (1981), I Like It Like That (1994) and the cult film Slums of Beverly Hills (1998). In 2021, she played Valentina in Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of West Side Story.
She is also known for her work on the children's television series The Electric Company (1971–1977) as well as a supporting role as Sister Peter Marie Reimondo on the HBO series Oz (1997–2003). She voiced the titular role of Carmen Sandiego in Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? from 1994 to 1999. From 2017 to 2020, she portrayed the role of the matriarch Lydia Margarita del Carmen Inclán Maribona Leyte-Vidal de Riera in the 2017 remake of One Day at a Time. For theater, she is best known for her role as Googie Gomez in The Ritz for which she received a Tony Award. She also starred in a female revival of The Odd Couple (1985–86) alongside Sally Struthers and Tony Shalhoub.
Filmography
Film
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | So Young, So Bad | Dolores Guererro | Credited as Rosita Moreno | |
| The Toast of New Orleans | Tina | |||
| Pagan Love Song | Terru | |||
| 1952 | The Ring | Lucy Gomez | ||
| Singin' in the Rain | Zelda Zanders | |||
| The Fabulous Senorita | Manuela Rodríguez | |||
| Cattle Town | Queli | |||
| 1953 | Fort Vengeance | Bridget Fitzgibbon | ||
| Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacation | Soubrette | Uncredited | ||
| Latin Lovers | Christina | |||
| El Alamein | Jara | |||
| 1954 | Jivaro | Maroa | ||
| The Yellow Tomahawk | Honey Bear | |||
| Garden of Evil | Cantina Singer | |||
| 1955 | Untamed | Julia | ||
| Seven Cities of Gold | Ula | |||
| 1956 | The Lieutenant Wore Skirts | Sandra Roberts | ||
| The King and I | Tuptim | |||
| The Vagabond King | Huguette | |||
| 1957 | The Deerslayer | Hetty Hutter | ||
| 1960 | This Rebel Breed | Lola Montalvo | ||
| 1961 | West Side Story | Anita | ||
| Summer and Smoke | Rosa Zacharias | |||
| 1963 | Cry of Battle | Sisa | ||
| 1968 | The Night of the Following Day | Vi | ||
| 1969 | Popi | Lupe | ||
| Marlowe | Dolores Gonzáles | |||
| 1971 | Carnal Knowledge | Louise | ||
| 1976 | The Ritz | Googie Gomez | ||
| 1977 | Voodoo Passion | |||
| 1978 | The Boss' Son | Esther Rose | ||
| 1980 | Happy Birthday, Gemini | Lucille | ||
| 1981 | The Four Seasons | Claudia Zimmer | ||
| 1991 | Age Isn't Everything | Rita | ||
| 1993 | Italian Movie | Isabella | ||
| 1994 | I Like It Like That | Rosaria Linares | ||
| 1995 | Carmen Miranda: Bananas is My Business | Herself | Documentary | |
| Angus | Madame Rulenska | |||
| 1998 | Slums of Beverly Hills | Belle Abromowitz | ||
| 1999 | Carlo's Wake | Angela Torello | ||
| The Puerto Ricans: Our American Story | Herself | Documentary | ||
| 2000 | Blue Moon | Maggie | ||
| 2001 | Piñero | Miguel's Mother | ||
| 2003 | Casa de los Babys | Señora Muñoz | ||
| Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico | Dona Dolores / Woman No. 3 | Voice | ||
| Beyond Borders: John Sayles in Mexico | Herself | Documentary | ||
| 2004 | King of the Corner | Inez | ||
| 2006 | Play It By Ear | Ruth | ||
| 2014 | Rio 2 | Mimi | Voice | |
| Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks | Ida Barks | |||
| 2016 | Remember Me | Gloria Sachs | ||
| 2021 | Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It | Herself | Documentary | |
| Curious George: Cape Ahoy | Gertrude St. John | Voice | ||
| West Side Story | Valentina | Also executive producer | ||
| 2022 | The Prank | Mrs. Wheeler | ||
| My Father's Dragon | Mrs. McClaren | Voice | ||
| 2023 | 80 for Brady | Maura | ||
| Fast X | Abuelita Toretto | [1] | ||
| Family Switch | Angelica |
Source: Internet Movie Database & Turner Classic Movies [2] [3]
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Fireside Theatre | Various | 2 episodes | |
| China Smith | Mariaman | Episode: "The Bamboo Coffin" | ||
| Schlitz Playhouse | Lit-Lit | Episode: "The Marriage of Lit-Lit" | ||
| 1953–59 | General Electric Theater | Various | 2 episodes | |
| 1954 | Where's Raymond? | Episode: "Pilot" | ||
| The Ford Television Theatre | Serene Crane | Episode: "Wonderful Day for a Wedding" | ||
| Cavalcade of America | Episode: "Cat with the Crimson Eyes" | |||
| 1956 | The 20th Century Fox Hour | Sonseeahray | Episode: "Broken Arrow" | |
| 1956–58 | Climax! | Various | 4 episodes | |
| 1957 | Matinee Theatre | Episode: "The Daughter of Mata Hari" | ||
| 1958 | The Red Skelton Hour | Senorita Delores | Episode: "Clem the Bullfighter" | |
| Father Knows Best | Chanthini | Episode: "Fair Exchange" (November 24, 1958) | ||
| 1959 | Tales of Wells Fargo | Lola Montez | Episode: "Lola Montez" | |
| Trackdown | Tina | Episode: "The Samaritan" | ||
| Zane Grey Theatre | Linda | Episode: "The Last Raid" | ||
| The Millionaire | Alicia Osante | Episode: "Millionaire Alicia Osante" | ||
| Cimarron City | Elena Maria Obregon de Vega | Episode: "The Town Is a Prisoner" | ||
| 1960 | Playhouse 90 | Rita | Episode: "Alas, Babylon" | |
| Bourbon Street Beat | Manuela Ruiz | Episode: "Suitable for Framing" (May 16, 1960) | ||
| Richard Diamond, Private Detective | Maria Ferrari | Episode: "Coat of Arms" | ||
| Zorro | Chulita | 2 episodes | ||
| 1961 | Michael Shayne | Myra | Episode: "No Shroud for Shayne" | |
| Adventures in Paradise | Inez Sanders | Episode: "Vendetta" | ||
| 1963 | Burke's Law | Margaret Cowls | Episode: "Who Killed Julian Buck?" (October 18, 1963) | |
| 1965 | Seaway | Annabelle | Episode: "The Only Good Indian" | |
| The Trials of O'Brien | Caressa | Episode: "Dead End on Flugel Street" | ||
| 1967 | Run for Your Life | Anita | Episode: "Who's Che Guevara?" | |
| 1971–77 | The Electric Company | Carmela Otto The Director Pandora the Little Girl Millie the Helper |
Cast member | |
| 1973 | Hec Ramsey | Lina Ramirez | Episode: "A Hard Road to Vengeance" | |
| 1974 | Dominic's Dream | Anita Bente | TV short | |
| Medical Center | Lydia | Episode: "May God Have Mercy" | ||
| Out to Lunch | Herself / Various | TV special | ||
| 1975 | Mister Rogers' Neighborhood | Herself | Episode #1399 | |
| 1976 | On the Rocks | Rosa Dolores | Episode: "I'll Never Forget What's Her Name" | |
| The Muppet Show | Herself | Episode #1.05 | ||
| The Carol Burnett Show | Herself (skit player) | Episode #9.16 | ||
| 1977 | Lanigan's Rabbi | Millie Hillman | Episode: "Corpse of the Year" | |
| Westside Medical | Leonor Carbajal | Episode: "The Witch of Four West" | ||
| 1978 | America 2-Night | Herself | Episode: "White House Paper Shredder" | |
| 1978–79 | The Rockford Files | Rita Capkovic | 3 episodes | |
| 1979 | Anatomy of a Seduction | Nina | Television film | |
| The Muppets Go Hollywood | Herself / Host | TV special | ||
| 1981 | Evita Perón | Renata Riguel | Television film | |
| Trapper John, M.D. | Liz Boyce | Episode: "Days of Wine and Leo" | ||
| 1982–83 | 9 to 5 | Violet Newstead | Main role | |
| 1982 | Working | Waitress | Television film | |
| Portrait of a Showgirl | Rosella DeLeon | Television film | ||
| 1983 | The Love Boat | Gladys Gordon | 2 episodes | |
| 1987 | The Cosby Show | Mrs. Granger | Episode: "You Only Hurt the One You Love" | |
| The Golden Girls | Renee Corliss | Episode: "Empty Nests" | ||
| 1989 | Miami Vice | Congresswoman Madelyn Woods | Episode: "Miami Squeeze" | |
| 1989–90 | B.L. Stryker | Kimberly Baskin | 2 episodes | |
| 1991 | Top of the Heap | Alixandra Stone | 6 episodes | |
| 1992 | Raw Toonage | Voice, episode: "Sheerluck Bonkers/All Potato Network/The Puck Stops Here" | ||
| 1993 | Hearts Afire | Senator Rhonda Hall | Episode: "While the Thomasons Slept in the Lincoln Bedroom" | |
| Bonkers | Tanya Trunk | Voice, 2 episodes | ||
| 1994 | The Nanny | Miss Wickervich/Mrs. Stone | Episode: "The Gym Teacher" | |
| The Larry Sanders Show | Herself | Episode: "People's Choice" | ||
| Captain Planet and the Planeteers | Ella Salvator | Voice, episode: "Disoriented Express" | ||
| 1994–98 | Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? | Carmen Sandiego | Voice | |
| 1994–95 | The Cosby Mysteries | Angie Corea | Main role | |
| 1995 | Burke's Law | Jackie Lodge | Episode: "Who Killed the Gadget Man?" | |
| The Wharf Rat | Mom | Television film | ||
| Women of the House | Herself | Episode: "Women in Film" | ||
| The Magic School Bus | Dr. Camrina Skeledon | Voice, episode: "The Busasaurus" | ||
| 1997 | Murphy Brown | Dr. Nancy Goldman | Episode: "Ectomy, Schmectomy" | |
| Touched by an Angel | Amanda Revere | Episode: "The Comeback" | ||
| 1997–2003 | Oz | Sister Peter Marie Reimondo | Main role | |
| 1998 | The Spree | Irma Kelly | Television film | |
| 1999 | The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads | Rita Capkovic Landale | Television film | |
| Resurrection | Mimi | Television film | ||
| 2000 | Buddy Faro | Episode: "Done Away in a Manger" | ||
| 2001 | Resurrection Blvd. | Rosa | Episode: "La Visita" | |
| 2002 | American Family | Juana | 2 episodes | |
| 2003 | Strong Medicine | Lydia | Episode: "Degeneration" | |
| The Guardian | Caroline Novak | 3 episodes | ||
| The Handler | Danielle Isabella | Episode: "Off the Edge" | ||
| 2004 | Copshop | Mary Alice | Television film | |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Mildred Quintana | Episode: "Night" | |
| Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Mildred Quintana | Episode: "Day" | ||
| Wanted | Mrs. Kelly | Episode: "Click, Click, Boom" | ||
| 2006–07 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Frances Goren | 3 episodes | |
| 2007 | George Lopez | Luisa Diaz | Episode: "George Testi-Lies for Benny" | |
| Ugly Betty | Aunt Mirta | Episode: "A Tree Grows in Guadalajara" | ||
| Cane | Amalia Duque | Main role | ||
| 2010 | In Plain Sight | Rita Ramirez | Episode: "Coma Chameleon" | |
| 2011 | Special Agent Oso | Abuela | Voice, episode: "For Tamales with Love/Pinata Royale" | |
| 2011–13 | Happily Divorced | Dori Newman | 34 episodes | |
| 2013 | Welcome to the Family | Lita | 2 episodes | |
| Nicky Deuce | Tutti | Television film | ||
| 2014 | Old Soul | Rita | Television film | |
| 2015 | Getting On | Sister Lily Claire | Episode: "Reduced to Eating Boiled Magazines and Book Paste" | |
| 2015–19 | Jane the Virgin | Liliana De La Vega | 5 episodes [4] | |
| 2015–18 | Nina's World | Abuelita | Voice, main role | |
| 2015 | A Gift of Miracles | Beverly | Television film | |
| 2016 | Grey's Anatomy | Gayle McColl | Episode: "Odd Man Out" | |
| Grace and Frankie | Lucy | Episode: "The Vitamix" | ||
| 2017–20 | One Day at a Time | Lydia Riera | Main role | |
| 2018 | Elena of Avalor | Queen Camila | Voice, 2 episodes | |
| 2019 | Carmen Sandiego | Cookie Booker | Voice, 3 episodes | |
| 2019–20 | Bless This Mess | Theresa | Recurring role, 3 episodes | |
| 2021 | Maya and the Three | Ah Puch | Voice, 5 episodes | |
| 2022 | Green Eggs and Ham | Dookess | Voice, 7 episodes | |
| Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music & Laughter | Herself | TV special [5] | ||
| Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration | Narrator | TV special | ||
| 2023 | Lopez vs Lopez | Dolores | Episode: "Lopez vs. Ghosts" |
Source: Internet Movie Database & Turner Classic Movies [2] [3]
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Skydrift | Angelina | |
| 1958 | A View from the Bridge [6] | ||
| 1964 | She Loves Me | Ilona Ritter | |
| 1964–65 | The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window | Iris Parodus Brustein | |
| 1970 | Gantry | Sharon Falconer | |
| 1970–71 | Last of the Red Hot Lovers | Elaine Nazio | Replacement |
| 1974 | Guys and Dolls | Miss Adelaide [7] | |
| 1974 | The National Health | Staff Nurse Norton | |
| 1975–76 | The Ritz | Googie Gomez | |
| 1976 | Bells Are Ringing | Ella [8] | |
| 1981 | Wally's Cafe | Louise | |
| 1985–86 | The Odd Couple | Olive Madison | |
| 1991 | The Glass Menagerie | Amanda Wingfield [9] | |
| 1992 | Gypsy | Rose Hovick [10] | |
| 1996 | Sunset Boulevard | Norma Desmond | West End replacement |
| 2006 | The Glass Menagerie | Amanda Wingfield [11] | |
| 2011 | Rita Moreno: Life Without Makeup | Self [12] |
Source: Internet Broadway Database [13]
References
- ^ Eclarinal, Aeron Mer (2023-04-22). "Fast & Furious 10 Cast & Characters: 24 Main Actors and Who They Play". The Direct. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ^ a b "Rita Moreno". IMDb. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ a b "Rita Moreno". TCM. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ "Online Film and Television Awards". Online Film & Television Association. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
- ^ Matthew, Gilbert (September 19, 2022). "This week's TV: Norman Lear at 100, a comedy about reboots, and a reboot of 'Quantum Leap'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
- ^ "Production History: 1959-1947". La Jolla Playhouse. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Lewis, Don. "Plan to See These Guys and Dolls". Memories of Melody Top. D.G.P., Milwaukee. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Joslyn, Jay. "n from Susa Actress Rushed Into Starring Role". Memories of Melody Top. D.G.P., Milwaukee. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "TOP PERFORMER". Chicago Tribune. 15 September 1991. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "Guide to the Ron Wisniski Papers, Series I, vol. 7". Historic Pittsburgh. University of Pittsburgh Library System. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Hurwitt, Robert (13 April 2006). "Moreno reveals many paths to aching heart of 'Menagerie'". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ Michels, Spencer (30 September 2011). "Rita Moreno Acts Out Own Career in 'Life Without Makeup'". PBS Newshour. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "Rita Moreno". IBDB. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
External links
- Rita Moreno at IMDb
- Rita Moreno at the TCM Movie Database
- Rita Moreno at the Internet Broadway Database
- Rita Moreno at Playbill Vault