Rita Moreno Biography (1931-)

Original name, Rosa Dolores Alverio (some sources spell the surname Alvario);born December 11, 1931, in Humacao, PR; daughter of Paco (a farmer) and RosaMaria (a seamstress) Alverio; stepdaughter of Edward Moreno; married LeonardI. Gordon (a cardiologist and lighting designer), June 18, 1965; children: Fernanda Luisa (an actress and singer). Addresses: Agent: Agency for Performing Arts, 9000 Sunset Blvd., Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90069; (voice work) Cunningham/Escott/Dipene and Associates, 10635 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite140, Los Angeles, CA 90025.

Nationality: Puerto Rican
Gender: Female
Occupation: Actress, singer, dancer
Birth Details: December 11, 1931; Humacao, Puerto Rico

Famous Works

CREDITS
Television Appearances
Series
Carmela and other roles, The Electric Company, PBS, 1971-1976
Violet Newstead, 9 to 5, ABC, 1982-1983
Roberta Cardenas (some sources cite Alixandra Stone), Top of the Heap, Fox, 1991-1992
Angie Corea, The Cosby Mysteries, NBC, 1994
Voice of Carmen Sandiego, Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? (animated), PBS, 1994
Sister Peter Marie Reimondo, Oz, HBO, beginning 1997
The Remarkable Journey, 2000
Juana, American Family, PBS, 2002
Also panelist for the game show Match Game PM.
Movies
Nina, Anatomy of a Seduction, CBS, 1979
Rosella DeLeon, Portrait of a Showgirl, CBS, 1982
Kimberly Baskin, "The Dancer's Touch," B. L. Stryker (also known as The ABC Saturday Mystery), ABC, 1989
Kimberly Baskin, Blues for Buder (also known as B. L. Stryker and The ABC Saturday Mystery), ABC, 1989
Kimberly Baskin, Grand Threat Auto (also known as B. L. Stryker and The ABC Saturday Mystery), ABC, 1989
Kimberly Baskin, Auntie Sue (also known as B. L. Stryker and The ABC Saturday Mystery), ABC, 1989
Kimberly Baskin, Plates (also known as B. L. Stryker and The ABC Saturday Mystery), ABC, 1990
Kimberly Baskin, High Rise (also known as B. L. Stryker andThe ABC Saturday Mystery), ABC, 1990
Mom, The Wharf Rat, 1995
Irma, The Spree, The Movie Channel, 1998
Rita Kapkovic Landale, The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds ... It Leads, CBS, 1999
Mimi, Resurrection, ABC, 1999
Lydia, Open House, CBS, 2003
Specials
A World of Stars, 1963
Out to Lunch, ABC, c. 1974
The Muppets Go Hollywood, 1979
Waitress, Working, PBS, 1982
The Chemical People, PBS, 1983
Blondes vs. Brunettes, ABC, 1984
Julie Forbes, The Closed Set, PBS, 1988
The Ice Capades with Kirk Cameron (also known as Kirk Cameron at the Ice Capades), ABC, 1988
Walt Disney World 4th of July Spectacular, 1988
Host, Championship Ballroom Dancing, PBS, 1991
All-Star Fiesta at Ford's, ABC, 1992
A Capitol Fourth 1993, PBS, 1993
Host, A Woman's Health, PBS, 1994
"Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Bowl" (also known as "Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl"), Great Performances, PBS, 1994
Yul Brynner: The Man Who Was King, Arts and Entertainment, 1995
Latin Nights: An All-Star Celebration, ABC, 1995
Rodgers & Hammerstein: The Sound of Movies, Arts and Entertainment, 1996
The Magic School Bus Family Holiday Special, PBS, 1996
Alan Alda: More Than Mr. Nice Guy, Arts and Entertainment, 1997
Host, Women: First and Foremost, 1997
Narrator, Intimate Portrait: Carol Burnett, Lifetime, 1998
The American Film Institute Salute to Robert Wise, NBC, 1998
The Puerto Ricans: Our American Story, PBS, 1999
National Memorial Day Concert, PBS, 1999
Narrator, When It Was a Game III, HBO, 2000
Speak Truth to Power, PBS, 2000
Tito Puente: The King of Latin Music, PBS, 2001
Intimate Portrait: Rita Moreno, Lifetime, 2001
(In archive footage) Bourne to Dance, Channel 4, 2001
Also appeared in The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American Cinema, Cinemax.
Pilots
Anita Bente, Dominic's Dream, CBS, 1974
Maria Constanza, The Rita Moreno Show, CBS, 1978
Rita Barnes, Rita (also known as The Rita Moreno Show), CBS, 1986
Judge Flores, The Best Defense, ABC, 1995
Maria Portokalos (some sources cite Athena), My Big Fat Greek Life, CBS, 2003
Episodic
"Saint and Senorita," Fireside Theatre, NBC, 1952
Sonseeahray, "Broken Arrow," The 20th Century-Fox Hour, CBS, 1956
"Strange Sanctuary," Climax!, CBS, 1957
Francesca, "Spider Web," Climax!, CBS, 1958
Linda, "The Last Raid," Zane Grey Theatre, CBS, 1959
"The Samaritan," Trackdown, 1959
"The Town Is a Prisoner," Cimarron City, 1959
"Coat of Arms," Richard Diamond, Private Detective, NBC, 1960
Chulita, "El Bandido," Zorro, 1960
Chulita, "Adios, El Cuchillo," Zorro, 1960
"Vendetta," Adventures in Paradise, ABC, 1961
The Andy Williams Show, NBC, 1962
"The Spanish Sketch," The Jack Benny Program, 1963
Margaret Cowels, "Who Killed Julian Buck?," Burke's Law, 1963
Panelist, Password, 1964
"Dead End on Flugel Street," The Trials of O'Brien, 1965
"Who's Che Guevara?," Run for Your Life, 1967

"A Hard Road to Vengeance," Hec Ramsey, 1973
"May God Have Mercy," Medical Center, 1974
Rosa Dolores, "I'll Never Forget What's Her Name," On the Rocks, ABC, 1976
Herself and Tiffany Gonzales, The Muppet Show, syndicated, 1976
Leonor Carbajal, "The Witch of Four West," Westside Medical, 1978
Rita Capkovic, "The Paper Palace," The Rockford Files, NBC, 1978
Rita Capkovic, "Rosendahl and Gilda Stern Are Dead," The Rockford Files, NBC, 1978
Rita Capkovic, "The No-Fault Affair," The Rockford Files, NBC, 1979
"The Days of Wine and Leo" (also known as "Harold Russell Story"), Trapper John, M.D., 1981
Host, "Program 3," The Shape of Things, NBC, 1982
"China Cruise," The Love Boat, 1983
Mrs. Granger, "You Only Hurt the One You Love," The Cosby Show, NBC, 1987
Renee Corliss, "Empty Nests," The Golden Girls, 1987
Julie Forbes, "The Closed Set," Tales from the Hollywood Hills (also known as Great Performances), PBS, 1988
Congresswoman Madelyn Woods, "Miami Squeeze," Miami Vice, NBC, 1989
The Class of the 20th Century, Arts and Entertainment, 1992
Voice of Tanya Trunk, Bonkers (animated), syndicated, 1993
Senator Rhonda Hall, "While the Thomasons Slept in the Lincoln Room," Hearts Afire, 1993
Miss Wickervich/Mrs. Stone, "The Gym Teacher," The Nanny, CBS, 1994
Herself, "People's Choice," The Larry Sanders Show, HBO, 1994
Jackie Lodge, "Who Killed the Gadget Man?," Burke's Law, CBS, 1995
Herself, "Women in Film," Women of the House, CBS, 1995
Dr. Nancy Goldman, "Ectomy, Schmectomy," Murphy Brown, CBS, 1997
Amanda Revere, "The Comeback," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1997
"The Truth Is in the Trash," Buddy Faro, 1998
Rosa, "La Visita (The Visit)," Resurrection Blvd., Showtime, c. 2000
Appeared as Nana, First Time Out; as Caroline Novack, The Guardian; and as voice of Dr. Carmina Skeledon, "The Busasaurus," The MagicSchool Bus (animated), PBS; also appeared in Playhouse 90, CBS, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, CBS, Strong Medicine, and When IWas a Girl.
Awards Presentations
The 34th Annual Academy Awards, 1962
The 25th Annual Grammy Awards, 1983
The 65th Annual Academy Awards Presentation, ABC, 1993
The 1997 Hispanic Heritage Awards, NBC, 1997
ALMA Awards, ABC, 1998
Presenter, The 12th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards, NBC, 1998
The 70th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1998
Presenter, The 42nd Annual New York Emmy Awards, 1999
Presenter, The 30th NAACP Image Awards, Fox, 1999
The 1999 ALMA Awards, ABC, 1999
The 5th Annual ALMA Awards, ABC, 2000
Other
Renata Riguel, Evita Peron (miniseries), NBC, 1981
Orphans, Waifs, and Wards, CBS, c. 1981
Television Work
Provided additional voices for the animated series Raw Toonage.
Film Appearances
(As Rosita Moreno) Dolores, So Young, So Bad, 1950
Terru, Pagan Love Song, 1950
Tina, The Toast of New Orleans, 1950
Lucy, The Ring, 1952
The Fabulous Senorita (also known as Girl from Panama and An Old Spanish Custom), 1952
Queli, Cattle Town, 1952
Zelda Zanders, Singin' in the Rain, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1952
Soubrette, Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacation (also known as Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Paris and Ma and Pa Kettle Hit the Road), 1953
Christina, Latin Lovers, 1953
Bridget Fitzgibbon, Fort Vengeance, 1953
Jura, El Alamein (also known as Desert Patrol), 1953
Honey Bear, The Yellow Tomahawk, 1954
Maroa, Jivaro (also known as Lost Treasure of the Amazon),1954
Singer, Garden of Evil, 1954
Ula, Seven Cities of Gold, 1955
Julia, Untamed, 1955
Tuptim, The King and I, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1956
Sandra Roberts, The Lieutenant Wore Skirts, 1956
Huguette, The Vagabond King, 1956
Hetty Hutter, The Deerslayer, 1957
Lola, This Rebel Breed (also known as The Black Rebels andThree Shades of Love), 1960
Anita, West Side Story, United Artists, 1961
Rosa Zacharias, Summer and Smoke, Paramount, 1962
Samar, 1962
Sisa, Cry of Battle (also known as To Be a Man), 1963
Hell of Borneo (also known as From Hell to Borneo), 1966
Vi, The Night of the Following Day, 1968
Lupe, Popi, 1969
Dolores Gonzales, Marlowe, 1969
Louise, Carnal Knowledge, Avco Embassy, 1971
Googie Gomez, The Ritz, Warner Bros., 1976
Der ruf der blonden Goettin (also known as Porno Shock), 1977
Esther, The Boss's Son, 1978
Lucille Pompi, Happy Birthday, Gemini, United Artists, 1980
Claudia Zimmer, The Four Seasons, Universal, 1981
Rita, Age Isn't Everything (also known as Life in the Food Chain), Live Home Video, 1991
Isabella, Italian Movie (also known as High Stakes), 1993
Rosaria Linares, I Like It Like That (also known as Blackout), Columbia, 1994
Herself, Carmen Miranda: Bananas Is My Business (also known as Bananas Is My Business), 1994
Madame Rulenska, Angus (also known as Angus--Voll Cool), 1995
Belle Abramowitz, Slums of Beverly Hills, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1998
Angela Torello, Carlo's Wake, Four Starz Productions, 1999
Maggie, Blue Moon, Castle Hill/Curb Entertainment, 2000
Miguel's mother, Pinero, Miramax, 2001
Senora Munoz, Casa de Los Babys, IFC Films, 2003
West Side Memories, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists Home Entertainment, 2003
Stage Appearances
(New York debut) Angelina, Skydrift, Belasco Theatre, 1945
(London debut) Ilona Ritter, She Loves You, Lyric Theatre, 1964
Iris Parodus Brustein, The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window, Longacre Theatre, New York City, 1964-1965
The Rose Tattoo, Chicago, IL, c. 1968
Sharon Falconer, Gantry, George Abbott Theatre, New York City, 1969-1970
Elaine Navazio, The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Eugene O'Neill Theatre, New York City, c. 1970-1971
Shoplifter, Detective Story, Shubert Theatre, Philadelphia, PA, 1973
Staff Nurse Norton, The National Health, Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven, CT, 1973-1974, then Circle in the Square, New York City, 1974
Googie Gomez, The Ritz, Longacre Theatre, 1975
Serafina, The Rose Tattoo, Long Wharf Theatre, 1977
Louise, Wally's Cafe, Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York City, 1981
Olive Madeson, The Odd Couple, Broadhurst Theatre, New York City,1985-1986
The Glass Menagerie, Cherry County Playhouse, MI, 1991
Renne Shredman, After-Play, Theatre Four, New York City, 1995
Vivian Merkle, The Size of the World, Circle Repertory Theatre, New York City, 1996
Norma Desmond, Sunset Boulevard, London, 1996
The Vagina Monologues, Westside Theatre Downstairs, New York City,then San Francisco, CA, both 2001
Appeared in regional performances of Gypsy, Steel Magnolias, The Taming of the Shrew, and A View from the Bridge.
RECORDINGS
Albums
The Electric Company, Sesame Street, 1972
Media Portrayals of Latinos, National Public Radio, 1982
Videos
Host, Women First and Foremost, Monterey Home Video, 1996
Also appeared in an exercise video, 1990.
Audio Books
Narrator, Empress of the Splendid Season by Oscar Hijuelos, Harper-Audio, 1999

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books

Contemporary Hispanic Biography, Volume 1, Gale, 2002
St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, St. James Press, 2000
Suntree, Susan, Rita Moreno, Chelsea House, 1993

Periodicals

Back Stage, April 5, 1996, p. 5
Booklist, May 1, 1996, p. 1516
Celebrity Sleuth, Volume 3, issue 4, 1990, pp. 58-59
Entertainment Weekly, August 22, 1997, p. 117
Los Angeles, August, 1998, pp. 136-38
Publishers Weekly, February 1, 1999, p. 35
TV Guide, February 16, 2002, pp. 57-60
Variety, July 14, 1997, p. 34

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