Rita Moreno
Known for: Acting
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
Series
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Mildred Quintana
1999
Series
Grey's Anatomy
Gayle McColl
2005
Series
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self
2015
Series
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
2009
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self
2014
Series
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self - Guest
2014
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Frances Goren
2001
Series
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
2019
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Series
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self
2022
Series
The Love Boat
Gladys Gordon
1977
Series
The View
Self - Guest
1997
Series
The Nanny
Mrs. Wickervich Stone
1993
Series
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Self - Guest
2014
Series
Miami Vice
Congresswoman Madelyn Woods
1984
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944
Series
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
1988
Film
Fast X
Abuelita
2023
Series
The Larry Sanders Show
Rita Moreno
1992
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Winner
1956
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Presenter
1956
Series
60 Minutes
Self
1968
Series
Sherri
Self - Guest
2022
Series
Matinee Theater
1955
Series
Oz
Sister Peter Marie Reimondo
1997
Series
The Rockford Files
Rita Capkovic
1974
Series
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
1968
Series
Strong Medicine
Lydia
2000
Series
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
Series
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
Series
Touched by an Angel
Amanda Revere
1994
Series
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Linda
1956
Series
The Cosby Show
Mrs. Granger
1984
Series
Jane the Virgin
Liliana De La Vega
2014
Series
The Golden Girls
Renee Corliss
1985
Series
Intimate Portrait
Self
1993
Series
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self
2014
Series
Ugly Betty
Aunt Mirta
2006
Series
Burke's Law
Margaret Cowls
1963
Series
Tamron Hall
Self - Guest
2019
Series
The Carol Burnett Show
Self - Guest
1967
Series
Grace and Frankie
Lucy Chambers
2015
Series
Climax!
Irene
1954
Series
Climax!
Maria
1954
Series
Climax!
Denise Cardoza
1954
Series
Climax!
Francesca
1954
Series
Medical Center
Lydia Neal
1969
Series
The Guardian
Caroline Novack
2001
Series
Run for Your Life
Anita
1965
Series
The Oscars
Self
1953
The Reichen Show
Self
2005
Series
In Plain Sight
Rita Ramirez
2008
Series
Trapper John, M.D.
1979
Series
Dinah!
Self
1974
Series
American Playhouse
Waitress
1982
Series
Miss USA
Self - Judge
1963
Series
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Ella Salvador (voice)
1990
Series
Green Eggs and Ham
Dookess (voice)
2019
Series
Adventures in Paradise
Inez Sanders
1959
Series
The Ford Television Theatre
Serene Crane
1952
Series
Stars in the House
Self
2020
Film
Rio 2
Aunt Mimi (voice)
2014
Series
To Tell the Truth
Self - Panelist
2016
Series
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Maria Ferrari
1957
Series
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948
Series
The Muppet Show
Self - Special Guest Star
1976
Series
One Day at a Time
Lydia Riera
2017
Series
Hollywood Squares
Self
2025
Film
Singin' in the Rain
Zelda Zanders
1952
Series
The $100,000 Pyramid
Self
2016
Series
The 20th Century Fox Hour
Sonseeahray
1955
Series
The Electric Company
Carmela
1971
Series
The Abbott and Costello Show
Telegram delivery girl
1952
Series
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
Mildred Quintana
2005
Series
Trackdown
Tina
1957
Series
The Millionaire
Alicia Conception Osante Williams
1955
Series
Burke's Law
Jackie Lodge
1994
Series
The Magic School Bus
Dr. Carmina Skeledon (voice)
1994
Series
Carmen Sandiego
Cookie Booker (voice)
2019
Series
Playhouse 90
Rita
1956
Series
Cavalcade of America
1952
Series
Bourbon Street Beat
1959
Series
George Lopez
Luisa Diaz
2002
Series
Wanted
Mrs. Kelly
2005
Film
West Side Story
Valentina
2021
Series
Maya and the Three
Ah Puch (voice)
2021
Series
Cane
Amalia Duque
2007
Series
Nina's World
Abuelita
2015
Film
Family Switch
Angelica
2023
Series
Bless This Mess
Theresa
2019
Series
Getting On
Sister Lily Claire
2013
Series
The Handler
2003
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Chulita
1954
Series
Hearts Afire
Senator Rhonda Hall
1992
Series
9 to 5
Violet Newstead
1982
Film
80 for Brady
Maura
2023
Series
Happily Divorced
Dori Newman
2011
Film
West Side Story
Anita
1961
Ford Theatre
1948
Series
Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego?
Carmen Sandiego (voice)
1994
Series
B.L. Stryker
Kimberly Baskin
1989
Film
My Father's Dragon
Mrs. McClaren (voice)
2022
Film
Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Narrator (voice)
2022
Series
China Smith
1952
Film
The King and I
Tuptim
1956
Film
Jim Henson Idea Man
Self
2024
Series
Seaway
Annabelle
1965
Film
Carnal Knowledge
Louise
1971
On the Rocks
1975
Series
The Captain and Tennille
Self - Guest
1976
Series
Cimarron City
1958
Series
Welcome to the Family
Lita
2013
Film
Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico
Doña Dolores / Woman #3 (voice)
2003
Film
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
Self
2021
Film
Marlowe
Dolores Gonzáles
1969
Series
Women of the House
Self
1995
Series
The Cosby Mysteries
1994
Series
Top of the Heap
Alixandra Stone
1991
Film
Slums of Beverly Hills
Belle Abromowitz
1998
Film
Paul Newman: The Restless
Self
2023
Film
The Four Seasons
Claudia Zimmer
1981
Film
Garden of Evil
Cantina Singer
1954
Lanigan's Rabbi
Millie Hillman
1977
Film
The Latin Explosion: A New America
Self
2015
Series
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Lit-Lit
1951
Film
Anatomy of a Seduction
Nina
1979
Film
The Ritz
Googie Gomez
1976
Film
Untamed
Julia
1955
Film
Still Laugh-In: The Stars Celebrate
Self
2019
Series
General Electric Theater
1953
Series
General Electric Theater
Princess Michal
1953
Film
Angus
Madame Rulenska
1995
Film
The Prank
Mrs. Wheeler
2024
Film
The Lieutenant Wore Skirts
Sandra Roberts
1956
A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music
Self
2025
Film
The Muppets Go Hollywood
Self
1979
Film
Torch
Aunt Francine
2018
Film
Summer and Smoke
Rosa Zacharias
1961
Film
Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter
Self
2022
Film
Natalie - A Tribute to a Very Special Lady
1982
Film
Remember Me
Nanna
2016
Series
The Marti Caine Show
1979
Film
The Yellow Tomahawk
Honey Bear
1954
Film
The Toast of New Orleans
Tina
1950
Film
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage
Self
2019
Film
Curious George: Cape Ahoy
Gertrude St. John (voice)
2021
Film
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
Self (archive footage)
1986
Film
A Gift of Miracles
Beverly Davis
2015
Film
Every Act of Life
Self
2018
Film
Portrait of a Showgirl
Rosella DeLeon
1982
Film
Something's Coming: West Side Story
Self
2021
Film
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History
Self
2008
Film
I Like It Like That
Rosaria Linares
1994
Film
Out to Lunch
Self / Divorce Woman / Posy / Spectator / 50s Dancer
1974
Film
The Stories of West Side Story
Self
2022
Film
Piñero
Miguel's Mother
2001
Film
Italian Movie
Isabella
1994
Film
Happy Birthday, Gemini
Lucille Pompi
1980
Film
Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1960's
Self
2009
Film
Jivaro
Maroa
1954
Film
Theirs
Film
This Rebel Breed
Lola Montalvo
1960
Film
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression
Self
2009
Film
So Young, So Bad
Dolores Guererro
1950
Film
The Vagabond King
Huguette
1956
Film
Age Isn't Everything
Rita
1991
Film
Blue Moon
Maggie Cavallo
2000
Film
Nicky Deuce
Tutti
2013
Film
Seven Cities of Gold
Ula
1955
Film
Best Ever Muppet Moments
Self
2006
Film
Samar
Woman Convict
1962
Film
The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American Cinema
2002
Film
Reel Herstory: The Real Story of Reel Women
Self
2014
Film
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions: America's Greatest Love Stories
Self
2002
Film
Evita Peron
Renata Riguel
1981
Film
The Night of the Following Day
Blonde
1969
Film
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
Self - Actress
2014
Film
The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads
Rita Kapkovic Landale
1999
Film
Popi
Lupe
1969
The Day Of The Dead
2011
Film
The Spree
Irma Kelly
1998
Film
Casa de los Babys
Señora Muñoz
2003
Film
Yul Brynner: The Man Who Was King
Self
1995
Film
Fort Vengeance
Bridget Fitzgibbon
1953
Film
The Ring
Lucy Gomez
1952
Film
The Deerslayer
Hetty Hutter
1957
Film
De Puerto Rico para el mundo
Self
2016
Film
The Muppet Revue
Self
1985
Film
Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks
Ida Barksdale
2014
Film
King of the Corner
Inez
2004
Film
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies
Self
2004
Film
Still Working 9 to 5
Self
2022
Film
Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl
Self
1994
Film
The Boss' Son
Esther Rose
1978
Film
The Wharf Rat
Mom
1996
Film
The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo
Narrator (voice)
2005
When It Was a Game 3
Passage Narrator (voice)
2000
Film
Santa Bootcamp
Belle
2022
Film
Resurrection
Mimi
1999
Film
The Electric Company's Greatest Hits & Bits
Self
2006
Film
Latin Lovers
Christina
1953
Film
Working
Waitress
1982
Film
Pagan Love Song
Terru
1950
Film
Carmen Miranda: Bananas Is My Business
Self
1995
Film
West Side Memories
Self
2003
Film
Carlo's Wake
Angela Torello
1999
Film
Voice of La Raza
Self
1971
Film
I Know a Woman Like That
Self
2009
Film
Cattle Town
Queli
1952
Film
Wicked in Concert: A Musical Celebration of the Iconic Broadway Score
Self
2021
Film
Open House
Lydia Fitch
2003
Film
Cry of Battle
Sisa
1963
Film
The Fabulous Senorita
Manuela Rodríguez
1952
Film
Mga Alamat Ng Sandaigdig
1960
Film
My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert
Self
2024
Film
El Alaméin
Jara
1953
Film
Celebrity Habla
Self
2009
Film
West Side Stories: The Making of a Classic
Self
2016
Film
Actresses Turned Producer/Directors
2014
1989 Walt Disney World 4th of July Spectacular
Self
1989
Film
Clemente
Self
2025
When Medicine Got It Wrong
Narrator
2009
Film
Happy to Be Nappy and Other Stories of Me
Self (voice)
2004
Film
Rita Moreno: Now You Can!
Self
1989