Rita Moreno
Born: 1931-12-11 in Humacao, Puerto Rico
Known For: Acting
Biography
Rita Moreno (born Rosa Dolores Alverío Marcano; December 11, 1931) is a Puerto Rican actress, dancer, and singer. Noted for her work across different areas of the entertainment industry, she has appeared in numerous film, television, and theater projects throughout her extensive career spanning over seven decades. Her work includes supporting roles in the classic musical films Singin' in the Rain (1952), The King and I (1956), and the 1961 and 2021 film adaptations of West Side Story. Her other notable films include Popi (1969), Carnal Knowledge (1971), The Four Seasons (1981), I Like It Like That (1994) and the cult film Slums of Beverly Hills (1998). She is also known for her work on television including the children's television series The Electric Company (1971–1977), and as Sister Peter Marie Reimondo on the HBO series Oz (1997–2003). She voiced the titular role of in Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? from 1994 to 1999. She also gained acclaim for her roles in Jane the Virgin (2015–2019) and the revival of Norman Lear's One Day at a Time (2017–2020). In theater, she is best known for her role as Googie Gomez in the 1975 musical The Ritz. Among her numerous accolades, Moreno is one of a few performers to have been awarded an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony (EGOT). She is also one of 24 people who have achieved what is called the Triple Crown of Acting, with individual competitive Academy, Emmy and Tony awards for acting. In 2004, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor bestowed upon her by George W. Bush. In 2009, President Barack Obama presented her with the National Medal of Arts. In 2013, she received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. In 2015, she was awarded a Kennedy Center Honor for her contribution to American culture through performing arts. She was awarded the Peabody Award in 2019. Her life was profiled in the 2021 documentary Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It.
Filmography
2025
- Hollywood Squares as Self
- Clemente as Self
2024
- The Prank as Mrs. Wheeler
- Jim Henson Idea Man as Self
- My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert as Self
2023
- Fast X as Abuelita
- Family Switch as Angelica
- 80 for Brady as Maura
2022
- The Jennifer Hudson Show as Self
- Sherri as Self - Guest
- Santa Bootcamp as Belle
- Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration as Narrator (voice)
- Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter as Self
- The Stories of West Side Story as Self
- My Father's Dragon as Mrs. McClaren (voice)
- Still Working 9 to 5 as Self
2021
- Maya and the Three as Ah Puch (voice)
- West Side Story as Valentina
- Curious George: Cape Ahoy as Gertrude St. John (voice)
- Something's Coming: West Side Story as Self
- Wicked in Concert: A Musical Celebration of the Iconic Broadway Score as Self
- Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It as Self
2020
- Stars in the House as Self
2019
- The Kelly Clarkson Show as Self
- Tamron Hall as Self - Guest
- Green Eggs and Ham as Dookess (voice)
- Bless This Mess as Theresa
- Still Laugh-In: The Stars Celebrate as Self
- Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage as Self
2018
- Torch as Aunt Francine
- Every Act of Life as Self
2017
- One Day at a Time as Lydia Riera
2016
- To Tell the Truth as Self - Panelist
- The $100,000 Pyramid as Self
- De Puerto Rico para el mundo as Self
- Remember Me as Nanna
- West Side Stories: The Making of a Classic as Self
2015
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self
- Grace and Frankie as Lucy Chambers
- A Gift of Miracles as Beverly Davis
- Nina's World as Abuelita
- The Latin Explosion: A New America as Self
2014
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self - Guest
- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver as Self
- Jane the Virgin as Liliana De La Vega
- Variety Studio: Actors on Actors as Self
- Rio 2 as Aunt Mimi (voice)
- Reel Herstory: The Real Story of Reel Women as Self
- Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks as Ida Barksdale
- Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire as Self - Actress
- Actresses Turned Producer/Directors
2013
- Nicky Deuce as Tutti
- Getting On as Sister Lily Claire
- Welcome to the Family as Lita
2011
- Happily Divorced as Dori Newman
- The Day Of The Dead
2009
2008
- In Plain Sight as Rita Ramirez
- Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History as Self
2007
- Cane as Amalia Duque
2006
- Ugly Betty as Aunt Mirta
- Best Ever Muppet Moments as Self
- The Electric Company's Greatest Hits & Bits as Self
2005
- Grey's Anatomy as Gayle McColl
- The Reichen Show as Self
- Law & Order: Trial by Jury as Mildred Quintana
- Wanted as Mrs. Kelly
- The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo as Narrator (voice)
2004
- King of the Corner as Inez
- AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies as Self
- Happy to Be Nappy and Other Stories of Me as Self (voice)
2003
- Open House as Lydia Fitch
- Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico as Doña Dolores / Woman #3 (voice)
- The Handler
- Casa de los Babys as Señora Muñoz
- West Side Memories as Self
2002
2001
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Frances Goren
- The Guardian as Caroline Novack
- Piñero as Miguel's Mother
2000
- Strong Medicine as Lydia
- Blue Moon as Maggie Cavallo
- When It Was a Game 3 as Passage Narrator (voice)
1999
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Mildred Quintana
- Resurrection as Mimi
- Carlo's Wake as Angela Torello
- The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads as Rita Kapkovic Landale
1998
- Slums of Beverly Hills as Belle Abromowitz
- The Spree as Irma Kelly
1996
- The Wharf Rat as Mom
1995
- Angus as Madame Rulenska
- Women of the House as Self
- Carmen Miranda: Bananas Is My Business as Self
- Yul Brynner: The Man Who Was King as Self
1994
- Touched by an Angel as Amanda Revere
- The Magic School Bus as Dr. Carmina Skeledon (voice)
- Burke's Law as Jackie Lodge
- Italian Movie as Isabella
- Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? as Carmen Sandiego (voice)
- I Like It Like That as Rosaria Linares
- The Cosby Mysteries
- Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl as Self
1993
- The Nanny as Mrs. Wickervich Stone
- Intimate Portrait as Self
1992
- The Larry Sanders Show
- Hearts Afire as Senator Rhonda Hall
1991
- Top of the Heap as Alixandra Stone
- Age Isn't Everything as Rita
1990
- Captain Planet and the Planeteers as Ella Salvador (voice)
1989
- B.L. Stryker as Kimberly Baskin
- 1989 Walt Disney World 4th of July Spectacular as Self
- Rita Moreno: Now You Can! as Self
1988
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self - Guest
1986
- The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years as Self (archive footage)
1985
- The Golden Girls as Renee Corliss
- The Muppet Revue as Self
1984
- Miami Vice as Congresswoman Madelyn Woods
- The Cosby Show as Mrs. Granger
1982
- Working as Waitress
- 9 to 5 as Violet Newstead
- Portrait of a Showgirl as Rosella DeLeon
1981
- Evita Peron as Renata Riguel
- The Four Seasons as Claudia Zimmer
1980
- Happy Birthday, Gemini as Lucille Pompi
1979
1978
- The Boss' Son as Esther Rose
1977
- The Love Boat as Gladys Gordon
- Lanigan's Rabbi as Millie Hillman
1976
- The Muppet Show as Self - Special Guest Star
- The Ritz as Googie Gomez
- The Captain and Tennille as Self
1975
1974
- The Rockford Files as Rita Capkovic
- Dinah! as Self
- Out to Lunch as Self / Divorce Woman / Posy / Spectator / 50s Dancer
1971
- The Electric Company as Carmela
- Carnal Knowledge as Louise
- Voice of La Raza as Self
1969
- Medical Center as Lydia Neal
- Marlowe as Dolores Gonzáles
- Popi as Lupe
- The Night of the Following Day as Blonde
1968
- 60 Minutes as Self
- The Dick Cavett Show as Self - Guest
1967
- The Carol Burnett Show as Self - Guest
1965
- Run for Your Life as Anita
- Seaway as Annabelle
1963
- Burke's Law as Margaret Cowls
- Miss USA as Self - Judge
- Cry of Battle as Sisa
1962
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show as Self
- Samar as Woman Convict
1961
- The Mike Douglas Show as Self
- West Side Story as Anita
- Summer and Smoke as Rosa Zacharias
1960
- This Rebel Breed as Lola Montalvo
- Mga Alamat Ng Sandaigdig
1959
- Adventures in Paradise as Inez Sanders
- Bourbon Street Beat
1958
1957
- Richard Diamond, Private Detective as Maria Ferrari
- Trackdown as Tina
- The Deerslayer as Hetty Hutter
1956
- Tony Awards as Self - Winner
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre as Linda
- Playhouse 90 as Rita
- The King and I as Tuptim
- The Lieutenant Wore Skirts as Sandra Roberts
- The Vagabond King as Huguette
1955
- Matinee Theater
- The Millionaire as Alicia Conception Osante Williams
- The 20th Century Fox Hour as Sonseeahray
- Untamed as Julia
- Seven Cities of Gold as Ula
1954
- Climax! as Irene
- Jivaro as Maroa
- Garden of Evil as Cantina Singer
- The Yellow Tomahawk as Honey Bear
- The Wonderful World of Disney as Chulita
1953
- The Oscars as Self
- El Alaméin as Jara
- Fort Vengeance as Bridget Fitzgibbon
- General Electric Theater
- Latin Lovers as Christina
1952
- Singin' in the Rain as Zelda Zanders
- Cavalcade of America
- Cattle Town as Queli
- The Ford Television Theatre as Serene Crane
- The Abbott and Costello Show as Telegram delivery girl
- The Fabulous Senorita as Manuela Rodríguez
- China Smith
- The Ring as Lucy Gomez
1951
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars as Lit-Lit
1950
- The Toast of New Orleans as Tina
- So Young, So Bad as Dolores Guererro
- Pagan Love Song as Terru
1948
- The Ed Sullivan Show as Self
- Ford Theatre
1944
- Golden Globe Awards as Self - Nominee