Rita Moreno on screen and stage

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.

Moreno in 2000

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

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Film

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Key
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

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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 Recurring

Source: Internet Movie Database & Turner Classic Movies[2][3]

Theatre

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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

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  1. ^ Eclarinal, Aeron Mer (2023-04-22). "Fast & Furious 10 Cast & Characters: 24 Main Actors and Who They Play". The Direct. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  2. ^ a b "Rita Moreno". IMDb. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Rita Moreno". TCM. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  4. ^ "Online Film and Television Awards". Online Film & Television Association. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "Production History: 1959-1947". La Jolla Playhouse. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  7. ^ Lewis, Don. "Plan to See These Guys and Dolls". Memories of Melody Top. D.G.P., Milwaukee. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  8. ^ Joslyn, Jay. "n from Susa Actress Rushed Into Starring Role". Memories of Melody Top. D.G.P., Milwaukee. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  9. ^ "TOP PERFORMER". Chicago Tribune. 15 September 1991. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Guide to the Ron Wisniski Papers, Series I, vol. 7". Historic Pittsburgh. University of Pittsburgh Library System. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  11. ^ Hurwitt, Robert (13 April 2006). "Moreno reveals many paths to aching heart of 'Menagerie'". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  12. ^ Michels, Spencer (30 September 2011). "Rita Moreno Acts Out Own Career in 'Life Without Makeup'". PBS Newshour. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Rita Moreno". IBDB. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
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