Rita Moreno

Biography

Rita Moreno, originally named Rosa Dolores Alverío Marcano, was born on December 11, 1931, in Puerto Rico. She is a multifaceted talent in the realms of acting, singing, and dancing. Over an impressive career that has spanned more than seventy years, Moreno has made significant contributions to film, television, and theater.

Her filmography features memorable performances in iconic musicals such as Singin' in the Rain (1952), The King and I (1956), and the adaptations of West Side Story in 1961 and 2021. Other notable films include Popi (1969), Carnal Knowledge (1971), The Four Seasons (1981), I Like It Like That (1994), and the cult favorite Slums of Beverly Hills (1998). Moreno's television credits are equally impressive, with her roles in the children's series The Electric Company (1971–1977) and as Sister Peter Marie Reimondo in the HBO drama Oz (1997–2003). She voiced Carmen Sandiego in the animated series from 1994 to 1999 and won acclaim for her roles in Jane the Virgin (2015–2019) and the reboot of One Day at a Time (2017–2020). In theater, her portrayal of Googie Gomez in the 1975 musical The Ritz remains a highlight.

Rita Moreno is one of the select few to have earned an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, achieving the prestigious EGOT status. She has also secured the Triple Crown of Acting, with individual competitive awards in film, television, and theater. In recognition of her contributions to the arts, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004, the National Medal of Arts in 2009, and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2013. In 2015, she was honored with a Kennedy Center Honor, and in 2019, she received the Peab