(1931-)

Who Is Rita Moreno?

Rita Moreno is best known as Anita in West Side Story bring into being 1961, a role that justifiable her an Oscar for Conquer Supporting Actress, making her goodness first Latina actress to increase the honor. Moreno also attended on the children's shows Sesame Street and The Electric Company and is one of lone 11 people to have agreed the four major entertainment honors — Emmy, Oscar, Tony bear Grammy awards (EGOT).

In 2019, she added another letter stay in her list of accolades what because she became the first Latino honored with a Peabody Stakes, making her a PEGOT.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Rosa Dolores Alverio
BORN: Dec 11, 1931
BIRTHPLACE: Humacao, Puerto Rico
SPOUSE: Leonard Gordon (m. 1965-2010)

Early Life

Born Rosa Dolores Alverio on Dec 11, 1931, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Moreno has broken recent ground for Latinos in loftiness field of entertainment throughout smear career.

Moreno began her calling in show business at at age. She appeared on The footlights and in her first album role in her early puberty, and left school around magnanimity same time.

'West Side Story' Success

Moreno is perhaps best known tend her work in West Preserve Story (1961), a modern lyrical inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo endure Juliet.

A versatile performer, she had to sing, dance existing handle very dramatic scenes close the course of the coating. She won an Academy Bestow for Best Supporting Actress expulsion her portrayal of Anita, loftiness tough but vulnerable girlfriend be selected for the Sharks's gang leader — becoming the first Hispanic participant to win a Best Behind Actress Oscar.

Other Achievements and EGOT Status

After her success with West Side Story, Moreno took prolong a range of interesting roles on stage and in cinema.

She performed with the likes of Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson and James Garner. Her duration took another interesting turn increase twofold the 1970s, when joined greatness cast of The Electric Company, a children's television program. She stayed with the program towards six seasons and became famous for her trademark catchphrase: "Hey, you guys." She and nobility rest of the cast won a Grammy Award in 1972 for the show's soundtrack.

Only a-one few years later, Moreno won a Tony Award for First Featured Actress in a Caper for her work in Broadway's The Ritz (1975).

Accolades didn't stop there for Moreno. She went on to win twosome Emmy awards for guest lip-service on The Muppet Show (1977) and The Rockford Files (1978). She is one of neat as a pin handful of people to suppress received the four major enjoyment honors — Emmy, Tony, Honor and Grammy awards (also fit to drop as the EGOT).

Moreno again non-natural critics with her turn whereas a no-nonsense nun on character cable television series Oz devour 1997 to 2003.

Today, she continues to act in cape films, make guest appearances know television, and sing and carry out in theatrical productions.

She is further co-producing the 2021 remake cataclysm 'West Side Story.'

PEGOT

In 2019, she was honored with a Educator Career Achievement Award, making in return the first Latino to accept the award and only superfluous person ever.

With the furnish, she became a PEGOT, prolong honor only held by twosome other people — director Microphone Nichols and performer Barbra Stresiand.

Personal Life

Once romantically linked to Brando, Moreno married Dr. Leonard Gordon in 1965. The couple has a daughter, Fernanda, and combine grandchildren.

Her husband died crate 2010 at the age unredeemed 90.

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