Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno weathered the ups-and-downs of an acting career that spanned seven decades to become an icon of the Hispanic community. A native of Humacao, Puerto Rico, she began working on Broadway in her early teens. She first became involved in movies by dubbing English-language films into Spanish. Her screen career began in her late teens with a role as a reform school student in "So Young So Bad" (1950). She had her first brush with stardom when she scored a supporting role as a starlet in the musical "Singin' in the Rain" (1952). She continued working steadily in standard studio fare and television productions throughout the 1950s. Her most high profile role was playing Tuptim in the Oscar-winning adaption of Rodgers & Hammerstein's "The King and I" (1956). Her celebrity status was cemented with her appearance in another landmark musical. The actress played Anita in the big screen version of the hit Broadway show "West Side Story" (1952). The film went on to earn 10 Academy Awards, with Moreno winning for Best Supporting Actress, becoming the first Latina actress to win an Oscar. Unhappy with the stereotypical roles being offered after "West Side Story," she retreated to working primarily on stage, with occasional TV appearances, for most of the '60s. She returned with a role opposite then-boyfriend Marlon Brando in "The Night of the Following Day" (1969). She then appeared in high-profile roles in Arthur Hiller's "Popi" (1969), with James Garner in "Marlowe" (1969), and in Mike Nichols' "Carnal Knowledge" (1971). Her career took an unexpected turn when decided to join the original cast of the children's educational program "The Electric Company" (PBS, 1971-77). During the show's run she continued working on stage and screen, including starring in both the Broadway and film versions of the Tony-award winning musical "The Ritz" (1976). After, a recurring role on Garner's "The Rockford Files" (NBC, 1974-80), she joined Alan Alda and Carol Burnett in the big screen drama "The Four Seasons" (1981). She starred in the sitcom "Nine to Five" (ABC, 1982-83), playing the role originated by Lily Tomlin in the film. She remained a regular on television throughout her career. Moreno appeared with Burt Reynolds in "B.L. Stryker" (ABC, 1989-90) and opposite Bill Cosby in "The Cosby Mysteries" (NBC, 1994-95). She earned critical raves for her dramatic turn on the prison drama "Oz" (HBO, 1997-2003). The actress also made additional forays into children's' television, voicing the title character on "Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?" (Fox Kids, 1994-99) and the grandmother on "Nina's World" (Universal Kids, 2015-).Sixty years after her film debut, Moreno was a series regular on Fran Drescher's sitcom "Happily Divorced" (TV Land, 2011-13). She wowed critics and audiences alike again with her role on Norman Lear's reboot of his '70s sitcom "One Day at a Time" (Netflix, 2017-). Moreno holds the distinction of being the third person to complete the EGOT, winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards.
Photos
Rita Moreno
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
100% |
|
Jim Henson Idea Man | Self | - | 2024 |
45% |
|
Family Switch | Angelica (Character) | - | 2023 |
56% |
|
Fast X | Abuelita (Character) | $573.9M | 2023 |
58% |
|
80 for Brady | Maura (Character) | $39.3M | 2023 |
38% |
|
The Prank | Mrs. Wheeler (Character) | - | 2022 |
No Score Yet |
|
Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration | Narrator | - | 2022 |
93% | No Score Yet | Still Working 9 to 5 | Self | - | 2022 |
No Score Yet |
|
Santa Bootcamp | Belle (Character) | - | 2022 |
91% |
|
West Side Story |
Valentina (Character), Executive Producer |
$38.5M | 2021 |
No Score Yet |
|
Curious George: Cape Ahoy | Gertrude St. John (Voice) | - | 2021 |
96% |
|
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It | Self | $263.2K | 2021 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Wicked in Concert | Music Performer | - | 2021 |
No Score Yet |
|
Remember Me | Nanna (Character) | - | 2016 |
No Score Yet |
|
A Gift of Miracles | Beverly (Character) | - | 2015 |
60% |
|
Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks | Ida Barksdale (Character) | $12.5K | 2014 |
50% |
|
Rio 2 | Mimi (Voice) | - | 2014 |
No Score Yet |
|
Nicky Deuce | Tutti (Character) | - | 2013 |
71% |
|
King of the Corner | Inez (Character) | - | 2004 |
58% |
|
Casa de los Babys | Señora Muñoz (Character) | $475.9K | 2003 |
No Score Yet |
|
Open House | Lydia Fitch (Character) | - | 2003 |
43% |
|
Piñero | Miguel's Mother (Character) | $302.3K | 2001 |
20% |
|
Blue Moon | Maggie Cavallo (Character) | $76.1K | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads | Rita Kapkovic Landale (Character) | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Resurrection | Mimi (Character) | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Spree | Irma Kelly (Character) | - | 1998 |
81% |
|
Slums of Beverly Hills | Belle Abromowitz (Character) | $5.5M | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Wharf Rat | Mom (Character) | - | 1995 |
67% |
|
Angus | Madame Rulenska (Character) | $4.8M | 1995 |
80% |
|
Carmen Miranda: Bananas Is My Business | Self | - | 1995 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Italian Movie | Isabella (Character) | - | 1994 |
89% |
|
I Like It Like That | Rosaria Linares (Character) | $1.7M | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Age Isn't Everything | Rita (Character) | - | 1991 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | B.L. Stryker: Plates | Kimberly Baskin (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | B.L. Stryker: High Rise | Kimberly Baskin (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | B.L. Stryker: Grand Theft Hotel | Kimberly Baskin (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | B.L. Stryker | Kimberly (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | B.L. Stryker: The Dancer's Touch | Kimberly (Character) | - | 1989 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | B.L. Stryker: Carolann | Kimberly (Character) | - | 1989 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Portrait of a Showgirl | Rosella DeLeon (Character) | - | 1982 |
76% |
|
The Four Seasons | Claudia Zimmer (Character) | - | 1981 |
No Score Yet |
|
Happy Birthday, Gemini | Lucille Pompi (Character) | - | 1980 |
No Score Yet |
|
Anatomy of a Seduction | Nina (Character) | - | 1979 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Boss' Son | Esther Rose (Character) | - | 1978 |
62% |
|
The Ritz | Googie Gomez (Character) | - | 1976 |
88% |
|
Carnal Knowledge | Louise (Character) | $33.7K | 1971 |
71% |
|
Marlowe | Dolores Gonzáles (Character) | - | 1969 |
No Score Yet |
|
Popi | Lupe (Character) | - | 1969 |
63% |
|
Night of the Following Day | Moreno (Character) | - | 1969 |
No Score Yet |
|
Cry of Battle | Sisa (Character) | - | 1963 |
No Score Yet |
|
Summer and Smoke | Rosa Zacharias (Character) | - | 1961 |
92% |
|
West Side Story | Anita (Character) | - | 1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | This Rebel Breed | Lola Montalvo (Character) | - | 1960 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Deerslayer | Hetty Hutter (Character) | - | 1957 |
93% |
|
The King and I | Tuptim (Character) | - | 1956 |
80% |
|
The Lieutenant Wore Skirts | Sandra Roberts (Character) | - | 1956 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Vagabond King | Huguette (Character) | - | 1956 |
No Score Yet |
|
Untamed | Julia (Character) | - | 1955 |
No Score Yet |
|
Seven Cities of Gold | Ula (Character) | - | 1955 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Apache Uprising | Sonseeahray (Character) | - | 1955 |
86% |
|
Garden of Evil | Cantina Singer (Character) | - | 1954 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | El Alamein | Jara (Character) | - | 1954 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Yellow Tomahawk | Honey Bear (Character) | - | 1954 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Fort Vengeance | Bridget Fitzgibbon (Character) | - | 1953 |
No Score Yet |
|
Latin Lovers | Christina (Character) | - | 1953 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Ring | Lucy Gomez (Character) | - | 1952 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Cattle Town | Queli (Character) | - | 1952 |
100% |
|
Singin' in the Rain | Zelda Zanders (Character) | $23.9K | 1952 |
No Score Yet |
|
So Young, So Bad | Dolores Guererro (Character) | - | 1950 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Toast of New Orleans | Tina (Character) | - | 1950 |
No Score Yet |
|
Pagan Love Song | Terru (Character) | - | 1950 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | 55% | Late Night With Seth Meyers | Guest | 2024 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Talk | Guest | 2011-2013 2018 2020 2022 2024 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Lopez vs Lopez | Dolores (Guest Star) | 2023-2024 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Princess Power | Unknown (Character) | 2024 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Jennifer Hudson Show | Guest | 2023-2024 |
No Score Yet | 11% | The View | Guest | 2021 2023-2024 |
No Score Yet | 54% | The Kelly Clarkson Show | Guest | 2023 |
No Score Yet | 42% | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Guest | 2019 2023 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Variety Studio: Actors on Actors | Guest | 2022 |
No Score Yet | 44% | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Guest | 2021 |
100% | 90% | Maya and the Three | Ah Puch (Voice) | 2021 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | American Masters | Self | 2021 |
No Score Yet | 48% | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert | Guest | 2021 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | To Tell the Truth | Guest | 2019-2020 |
99% | 89% | One Day at a Time | Lydia (Character) | 2017-2020 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen | Guest | 2020 |
82% | 77% | Bless This Mess | Theresa (Guest Star) | 2019 |
No Score Yet | 51% | Busy Tonight | Guest | 2019 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Nina's World | Abuelita (Voice) | 2015-2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Elena of Avalor | Queen Camila (Guest Voice) | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The $100,000 Pyramid | Guest | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Wendy Williams Show | Guest | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Rachael Ray | Guest | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Harry | Guest | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Chew | Guest | 2017 |
90% | 87% | Grace and Frankie | Lucy Chambers (Guest Star) | 2016 |
84% | 72% | Grey's Anatomy | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2016 |
100% | 86% | Jane The Virgin | Liliana De La Vega (Guest Star) | 2015-2016 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Tavis Smiley | Guest | 2014-2015 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Lidia Celebrates America | Guest | 2015 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Inside E Street | Guest | 2013 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Happily Divorced | Dori (Character) | 2011-2013 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | In Plain Sight | Rita Ramirez (Guest Star) | 2010 |
55% | No Score Yet | Cane | Amalia Duque (Character) | 2007 |
No Score Yet | 76% | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Frances Goren (Guest Star) | 2006-2007 |
97% | 83% | Ugly Betty | Aunt Mirta (Guest Star) | 2007 |
No Score Yet | 81% | George Lopez | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2007 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2005 |
73% | No Score Yet | The Handler | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2003 |
No Score Yet | 83% | The Guardian | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2003 |
93% | 95% | Oz |
Sister Peter Marie Reimondo (Character), Unknown (Guest Star) |
1997-2003 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? | Carmen Sandiego (Voice) | 1994-1996 1998-1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Touched by an Angel | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Murphy Brown | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1997 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | First Time Out | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1995 |
38% | No Score Yet | Women of the House | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1995 |
43% | No Score Yet | Burke's Law | Jackie Lodge (Guest Star) | 1995 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Cosby Mysteries | Unknown (Character) | 1995 |
No Score Yet | 78% | The New Adventures of Captain Planet | Ella Salvator (Guest Voice) | 1994 |
No Score Yet | 72% | The Nanny | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1994 |
0% | No Score Yet | Top of the Heap | Unknown (Character) | 1991 |
71% | 89% | Miami Vice | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1989 |
No Score Yet | 94% | The Golden Girls | Renee Corliss (Guest Star) | 1987 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Nine to Five | Violet Newstead (Character) | 1982-1983 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Trapper John, M.D. | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1981 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Evita Peron | Unknown (Character) | 1981 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Rockford Files | Rita Capkovic (Guest Star) | 1978-1979 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Carol Burnett Show | Guest | 1976 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | What's My Line? | Guest | 1969 1973-1974 |
100% | No Score Yet | The Electric Company | Carmela (Character) | 1971-1972 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Trials of O'Brien | Caressa (Guest Star) | 1965 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Jack Benny Program: The Lost Episodes | Guest | 1963 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Zorro | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1960 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Trackdown | Tina (Guest Star) | 1959 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Tales of Wells Fargo | Lola Montez (Guest Star) | 1959 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | G.E. Theater | Princess Michal (Character) | 1959 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Climax! | Unknown (Character) | 1956-1958 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The 20th Century-Fox Hour | Unknown (Character) | 1956 |
42% | 50% | Welcome to the Family | Lita (Guest Star) |