Rita Moreno
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.
Known For
Credits
- 2025 · Hollywood Squares as Self
- 2024 · Jim Henson Idea Man as Self
- 2024 · The Prank as Mrs. Wheeler
- 2024 · My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert as Self
- 2023 · Family Switch as Angelica
- 2023 · Fast X as Abuelita
- 2023 · 80 for Brady as Maura
- 2022 · Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration as Narrator (voice)
- 2022 · My Father's Dragon as Mrs. McClaren (voice)
- 2022 · Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter as Self
- 2022 · The Jennifer Hudson Show as Self
- 2022 · Sherri as Self - Guest
- 2022 · Still Working 9 to 5 as Self
- 2022 · The Stories of West Side Story as Self
- 2021 · West Side Story as Valentina
- 2021 · Maya and the Three as Ah Puch (voice)
- 2021 · Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It as Self
- 2020 · Stars in the House as Self
- 2019 · Green Eggs and Ham as Dookess (voice)
- 2019 · Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage as Self
- 2019 · The Kelly Clarkson Show as Self
- 2019 · Tamron Hall as Self - Guest
- 2019 · Still Laugh-In: The Stars Celebrate as Self
- 2019 · Bless This Mess as Theresa
- 2018 · Torch as Aunt Francine
- 2018 · Every Act of Life as Self
- 2017 · One Day at a Time as Lydia Riera
- 2016 · The $100,000 Pyramid as Self
- 2016 · To Tell the Truth as Self - Panelist
- 2015 · The Latin Explosion: A New America as Self
- 2015 · Nina's World as Abuelita
- 2015 · The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self
- 2015 · Grace and Frankie as Lucy Chambers
- 2014 · Variety Studio: Actors on Actors as Self
- 2014 · Jane the Virgin as Liliana De La Vega
- 2014 · Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire as Self - Actress
- 2014 · Reel Herstory: The Real Story of Reel Women as Self
- 2014 · Last Week Tonight with John Oliver as Self - Guest
- 2014 · Rio 2 as Aunt Mimi (voice)
- 2014 · Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self - Guest
- 2014 · The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self
- 2013 · Getting On as Sister Lily Claire
- 2013 · Welcome to the Family as Lita
- 2013 · Nicky Deuce as Tutti
- 2011 · Happily Divorced as Dori Newman
- 2009 · Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
- 2008 · Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History as Self
- 2008 · In Plain Sight as Rita Ramirez
- 2007 · Cane as Amalia Duque
- 2006 · Ugly Betty as Aunt Mirta
- 2005 · The Reichen Show as Self
- 2005 · Wanted as Mrs. Kelly
- 2005 · Grey's Anatomy as Gayle McColl
- 2005 · Law & Order: Trial by Jury as Mildred Quintana
- 2004 · AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies as Self
- 2003 · Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico as Doña Dolores / Woman #3 (voice)
- 2003 · The Handler as
- 2003 · Casa de los Babys as Señora Muñoz
- 2002 · AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions: America's Greatest Love Stories as Self
- 2002 · The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American Cinema as
- 2002 · George Lopez as Luisa Diaz
- 2001 · Piñero as Miguel's Mother
- 2001 · Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Frances Goren
- 2001 · The Guardian as Caroline Novack
- 2000 · Strong Medicine as Lydia
- 2000 · Blue Moon as Maggie Cavallo
- 1999 · Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Mildred Quintana
- 1999 · The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads as Rita Kapkovic Landale
- 1999 · Resurrection as Mimi
- 1998 · Slums of Beverly Hills as Belle Abromowitz
- 1998 · The Spree as Irma Kelly
- 1997 · The View as Self - Guest
- 1997 · Oz as Sister Peter Marie Reimondo
- 1995 · Angus as Madame Rulenska
- 1995 · Women of the House as Self
- 1994 · Touched by an Angel as Amanda Revere
- 1994 · The Cosby Mysteries as
- 1994 · The Magic School Bus as Dr. Carmina Skeledon (voice)
- 1994 · Italian Movie as Isabella
- 1994 · Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? as Carmen Sandiego (voice)
- 1994 · Burke's Law as Jackie Lodge
- 1993 · Intimate Portrait as Self
- 1993 · The Nanny as Mrs. Wickervich Stone
- 1992 · Hearts Afire as Senator Rhonda Hall
- 1992 · The Larry Sanders Show as Rita Moreno
- 1991 · Top of the Heap as Alixandra Stone
- 1990 · Captain Planet and the Planeteers as Ella Salvador (voice)
- 1989 · B.L. Stryker as Kimberly Baskin
- 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
- 1985 · The Muppet Revue as Self
- 1984 · The Cosby Show as Mrs. Granger
- 1984 · Miami Vice as Congresswoman Madelyn Woods
- 1982 · Working as Waitress
- 1982 · Portrait of a Showgirl as Rosella DeLeon
- 1982 · 9 to 5 as Violet Newstead
- 1981 · The Four Seasons as Claudia Zimmer
- 1981 · Evita Peron as Renata Riguel
- 1979 · Trapper John, M.D. as
- 1979 · The Muppets Go Hollywood as Self
- 1979 · The Marti Caine Show as
- 1977 · The Love Boat as Gladys Gordon
- 1977 · Lanigan's Rabbi as Millie Hillman
- 1976 · The Captain and Tennille as Self - Guest
- 1976 · The Muppet Show as Self - Special Guest Star
- 1976 · The Ritz as Googie Gomez
- 1975 · On the Rocks as
- 1974 · Out to Lunch as Self / Divorce Woman / Posy / Spectator / 50s Dancer
- 1974 · Dinah! as Self
- 1974 · The Rockford Files as Rita Capkovic
- 1971 · The Electric Company as Carmela
- 1971 · Carnal Knowledge as Louise
- 1969 · Medical Center as Lydia Neal
- 1969 · Marlowe as Dolores Gonzáles
- 1968 · 60 Minutes as Self
- 1968 · The Dick Cavett Show as Self - Guest
- 1967 · The Carol Burnett Show as Self - Guest
- 1965 · Seaway as Annabelle
- 1965 · Run for Your Life as Anita
- 1963 · Burke's Law as Margaret Cowls
- 1963 · Miss USA as Self - Judge
- 1962 · The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- 1962 · The Merv Griffin Show as Self
- 1962 · Samar as Woman Convict
- 1961 · West Side Story as Anita
- 1961 · The Mike Douglas Show as Self
- 1959 · Adventures in Paradise as Inez Sanders
- 1959 · Bourbon Street Beat as
- 1958 · Cimarron City as
- 1957 · Trackdown as Tina
- 1957 · The Deerslayer as Hetty Hutter
- 1957 · Richard Diamond, Private Detective as Maria Ferrari
- 1956 · Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre as Linda
- 1956 · Playhouse 90 as Rita
- 1956 · The King and I as Tuptim
- 1955 · Matinee Theater as
- 1955 · The 20th Century Fox Hour as Sonseeahray
- 1955 · The Millionaire as Alicia Conception Osante Williams
- 1954 · The Wonderful World of Disney as Chulita
- 1954 · Climax! as Irene
- 1954 · Climax! as Maria
- 1954 · Climax! as Denise Cardoza
- 1954 · Climax! as Francesca
- 1953 · The Oscars as Self
- 1953 · General Electric Theater as
- 1953 · General Electric Theater as Princess Michal
- 1952 · The Abbott and Costello Show as Telegram delivery girl
- 1952 · The Ford Television Theatre as Serene Crane
- 1952 · Cavalcade of America as
- 1952 · Singin' in the Rain as Zelda Zanders
- 1952 · China Smith as
- 1951 · Schlitz Playhouse of Stars as Lit-Lit
- 1948 · Ford Theatre as
- 1948 · The Ed Sullivan Show as Self
- 1944 · Golden Globe Awards as Self - Nominee
- Future · Theirs as
- 2025 · A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music as Self
- 2025 · Clemente as Self
- 2022 · Santa Bootcamp as Belle
- 2021 · Something's Coming: West Side Story as Self
- 2021 · Curious George: Cape Ahoy as Gertrude St. John (voice)
- 2021 · Wicked in Concert: A Musical Celebration of the Iconic Broadway Score as Self
- 2016 · West Side Stories: The Making of a Classic as Self
- 2016 · De Puerto Rico para el mundo as Self
- 2016 · Remember Me as Nanna
- 2015 · A Gift of Miracles as Beverly Davis
- 2014 · Actresses Turned Producer/Directors as
- 2014 · Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks as Ida Barksdale
- 2011 · The Day Of The Dead as
- 2009 · I Know a Woman Like That as Self
- 2009 · Celebrity Habla as Self
- 2009 · Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1960's as Self
- 2009 · When Medicine Got It Wrong as Narrator
- 2009 · Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression as Self
- 2006 · The Electric Company's Greatest Hits & Bits as Self
- 2006 · Best Ever Muppet Moments as Self
- 2005 · The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo as Narrator (voice)
- 2004 · King of the Corner as Inez
- 2004 · Happy to Be Nappy and Other Stories of Me as Self (voice)
- 2003 · West Side Memories as Self
- 2003 · Open House as Lydia Fitch
- 2000 · When It Was a Game 3 as Passage Narrator (voice)
- 1999 · Carlo's Wake as Angela Torello
- 1996 · The Wharf Rat as Mom
- 1995 · Carmen Miranda: Bananas Is My Business as Self
- 1995 · Yul Brynner: The Man Who Was King as Self
- 1994 · I Like It Like That as Rosaria Linares
- 1994 · Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl as Self
- 1991 · Age Isn't Everything as Rita
- 1989 · Rita Moreno: Now You Can! as Self
- 1989 · 1989 Walt Disney World 4th of July Spectacular as Self
- 1982 · Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady as
- 1980 · Happy Birthday, Gemini as Lucille Pompi
- 1979 · Anatomy of a Seduction as Nina
- 1978 · The Boss' Son as Esther Rose
- 1971 · Voice of La Raza as Self
- 1969 · Popi as Lupe
- 1969 · The Night of the Following Day as Blonde
- 1963 · Cry of Battle as Sisa
- 1961 · Summer and Smoke as Rosa Zacharias
- 1960 · Mga Alamat Ng Sandaigdig as
- 1960 · This Rebel Breed as Lola Montalvo
- 1956 · The Vagabond King as Huguette
- 1956 · The Lieutenant Wore Skirts as Sandra Roberts
- 1955 · Seven Cities of Gold as Ula
- 1955 · Untamed as Julia
- 1954 · Garden of Evil as Cantina Singer
- 1954 · The Yellow Tomahawk as Honey Bear
- 1954 · Jivaro as Maroa
- 1953 · El Alaméin as Jara
- 1953 · Latin Lovers as Christina
- 1953 · Fort Vengeance as Bridget Fitzgibbon
- 1952 · The Ring as Lucy Gomez
- 1952 · Cattle Town as Queli
- 1952 · The Fabulous Senorita as Manuela Rodríguez
- 1950 · Pagan Love Song as Terru
- 1950 · The Toast of New Orleans as Tina
- 1950 · So Young, So Bad as Dolores Guererro