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
Jim Henson Idea Man
Self
2024
The Prank
Mrs. Wheeler
2024
Clemente
Self
2024
My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert
Self
2024
Family Switch
Angelica
2023
Paul Newman: The Restless
Self (archive footage)
2023
Fast X
Abuelita
2023
80 for Brady
Maura
2023
Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration
Narrator (voice)
2022
Santa Bootcamp
Belle
2022
My Father's Dragon
Mrs. McClaren (voice)
2022
Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter
Self
2022
Still Working 9 to 5
Self
2022
The Stories of West Side Story
Self
2022
West Side Story
Valentina
2021
Something's Coming: West Side Story
Self
2021
Curious George: Cape Ahoy
Gertrude St. John (voice)
2021
Wicked in Concert: A Musical Celebration of the Iconic Broadway Score
Self
2021
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
Self
2021
Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage
Self
2019
Still Laugh-In: The Stars Celebrate
Self
2019
Torch
Aunt Francine
2018
Every Act of Life
Self
2018
West Side Stories: The Making of a Classic
Self
2016
De Puerto Rico para el mundo
Self
2016
Remember Me
Nanna
2016
The Latin Explosion: A New America
Self
2015
A Gift of Miracles
Beverly Davis
2015
Actresses Turned Producer/Directors
2014
Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks
Ida Barksdale
2014
Marlon Brando: An Actor Named Desire
Self - Actress
2014
Reel Herstory: The Real Story of Reel Women
Self
2014
Rio 2
Aunt Mimi (voice)
2014
And the Oscar Goes To...
Self (archive footage)
2014
Nicky Deuce
Tutti
2013
The Day Of The Dead
2011
I Know a Woman Like That
Self
2009
Celebrity Habla
Self
2009
Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1960's
Self
2009
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression
Self
2009
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History
Self
2008
The Electric Company's Greatest Hits & Bits
Self
2006
Best Ever Muppet Moments
Self
2006
The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo
Narrator (voice)
2005
King of the Corner
Inez
2004
Happy to Be Nappy and Other Stories of Me
Self (voice)
2004
Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico
Doña Dolores / Woman #3 (voice)
2003
Casa de los Babys
Señora Muñoz
2003
West Side Memories
Self
2003
Open House
Lydia Fitch
2003
Piñero
Miguel's Mother
2001
Blue Moon
Maggie Cavallo
2000
The Rockford Files: If It Bleeds... It Leads
Rita Kapkovic Landale
1999
Resurrection
Mimi
1999
Carlo's Wake
Angela Torello
1999
Slums of Beverly Hills
Belle Abromowitz
1998
The Spree
Irma Kelly
1998
The Wharf Rat
Mom
1996
Angus
Madame Rulenska
1995
Carmen Miranda: Bananas Is My Business
Self
1995
Yul Brynner: The Man Who Was King
Self
1995
I Like It Like That
Rosaria Linares
1994
Italian Movie
Isabella
1994
Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl
Self
1994
Age Isn't Everything
Rita
1991
Rita Moreno: Now You Can!
Self
1989
1989 Walt Disney World 4th of July Spectacular
Self
1989
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
Self (archive footage)
1986
The Muppet Revue
Self
1985
Working
Waitress
1982
Portrait of a Showgirl
Rosella DeLeon
1982
The Four Seasons
Claudia Zimmer
1981
Evita Peron
Renata Riguel
1981
Happy Birthday, Gemini
Lucille Pompi
1980
The Muppets Go Hollywood
Self
1979
Anatomy of a Seduction
Nina
1979
The Boss' Son
Esther Rose
1978
The Ritz
Googie Gomez
1976
Out to Lunch
Self / Divorce Woman / Posy / Spectator / 50s Dancer
1974
Carnal Knowledge
Louise
1971
Voice of La Raza
Self
1971
Marlowe
Dolores Gonzáles
1969
Popi
Lupe
1969
The Night of the Following Day
Blonde
1969
Cry of Battle
Sisa
1963
Samar
Woman Convict
1962
West Side Story
Anita
1961
Summer and Smoke
Rosa Zacharias
1961
Mga Alamat Ng Sandaigdig
1960
This Rebel Breed
Lola Montalvo
1960
The Deerslayer
Hetty Hutter
1957
The Vagabond King
Huguette
1956
The King and I
Tuptim
1956
The Lieutenant Wore Skirts
Sandra Roberts
1956
Seven Cities of Gold
Ula
1955
Untamed
Julia
1955
Garden of Evil
Cantina Singer
1954
The Yellow Tomahawk
Honey Bear
1954
Jivaro
Maroa
1954
El Alaméin
Jara
1953
Latin Lovers
Christina
1953
Fort Vengeance
Bridget Fitzgibbon
1953
The Ring
Lucy Gomez
1952
Cattle Town
Queli
1952
Singin' in the Rain
Zelda Zanders
1952
The Fabulous Senorita
Manuela Rodríguez
1952
Pagan Love Song
Terru
1950
The Toast of New Orleans
Tina
1950
So Young, So Bad
Dolores Guererro
1950
Theirs
Hollywood Squares
Self · (1 episode)
2025
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self · (2 episodes)
2022
Sherri
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2022
Maya and the Three
Ah Puch (voice) · (9 episodes)
2021
Stars in the House
Self · (1 episode)
2020
Green Eggs and Ham
Dookess (voice) · (7 episodes)
2019
Tamron Hall
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
(1 episode)
2019
Bless This Mess
Theresa · (3 episodes)
2019
One Day at a Time
Lydia Riera · (46 episodes)
2017
The $100,000 Pyramid
Self · (1 episode)
2016
To Tell the Truth
Self - Panelist · (3 episodes)
2016
Nina's World
Abuelita · (104 episodes)
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Grace and Frankie
Lucy Chambers · (1 episode)
2015
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Jane the Virgin
Liliana De La Vega · (4 episodes)
2014
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Self · (1 episode)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Getting On
Sister Lily Claire · (1 episode)
2013
Welcome to the Family
Lita · (1 episode)
2013
Happily Divorced
Dori Newman · (34 episodes)
2011
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2009
In Plain Sight
Rita Ramirez · (1 episode)
2008
Cane
Amalia Duque · (13 episodes)
2007
Ugly Betty
Aunt Mirta · (1 episode)
2006
The Reichen Show
Self · (1 episode)
2005
Wanted
Mrs. Kelly · (1 episode)
2005
Grey's Anatomy
Gayle McColl · (1 episode)
2005
Law & Order: Trial by Jury
Mildred Quintana · (1 episode)
2005
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies
Self
2004
The Handler
(1 episode)
2003
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions: America's Greatest Love Stories
Self
2002
The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American Cinema
2002
George Lopez
Luisa Diaz · (1 episode)
2002
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Frances Goren · (3 episodes)
2001
The Guardian
Caroline Novack · (3 episodes)
2001
Strong Medicine
Lydia · (1 episode)
2000
When It Was a Game 3
Passage Narrator (voice)
2000
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Mildred Quintana · (1 episode)
1999
The View
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1997
Oz
Sister Peter Marie Reimondo · (56 episodes)
1997
Women of the House
Self · (1 episode)
1995
The Cosby Mysteries
(18 episodes)
1994
Touched by an Angel
Amanda Revere · (1 episode)
1994
The Magic School Bus
(voice) · (1 episode)
1994
Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?
Carmen Sandiego (voice) · (40 episodes)
1994
Burke's Law
Jackie Lodge · (1 episode)
1994
Intimate Portrait
Self · (1 episode)
1993
The Nanny
Mrs. Wickervich Stone · (1 episode)
1993
Hearts Afire
Senator Rhonda Hall · (1 episode)
1992
The Larry Sanders Show
(1 episode)
1992
Top of the Heap
Alixandra Stone · (6 episodes)
1991
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Ella Salvador (voice) · (1 episode)
1990
B.L. Stryker
Kimberly Baskin · (3 episodes)
1989
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1988
The Golden Girls
Renee Corliss · (1 episode)
1985
The Cosby Show
Mrs. Granger · (1 episode)
1984
Miami Vice
(1 episode)
1984
9 to 5
Violet Newstead · (33 episodes)
1982
Trapper John, M.D.
(1 episode)
1979
The Marti Caine Show
(1 episode)
1979
The Love Boat
Gladys Gordon · (2 episodes)
1977
Lanigan's Rabbi
Millie Hillman · (1 episode)
1977
The Captain and Tennille
Self · (1 episode)
1976
The Muppet Show
Self - Special Guest Star · (1 episode)
1976
On the Rocks
(1 episode)
1975
Dinah!
Self · (1 episode)
1974
The Rockford Files
Rita Capkovic · (3 episodes)
1974
The Electric Company
Carmela · (780 episodes)
1971
Medical Center
Lydia Neal · (1 episode)
1969
60 Minutes
Self · (1 episode)
1968
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1968
The Carol Burnett Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1967
Seaway
Annabelle · (1 episode)
1965
Run for Your Life
Anita · (1 episode)
1965
Burke's Law
Margaret Cowls · (1 episode)
1963
Miss USA
Self - Judge · (1 episode)
1963
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (6 episodes)
1962
The Merv Griffin Show
Self · (1 episode)
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (4 episodes)
1961
Bourbon Street Beat
(1 episode)
1959
Adventures in Paradise
Inez Sanders · (1 episode)
1959
Cimarron City
(1 episode)
1958
Trackdown
Tina · (1 episode)
1957
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Maria Ferrari · (1 episode)
1957
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Linda · (1 episode)
1956
Playhouse 90
Rita · (1 episode)
1956
Tony Awards
Self - Winner · (1 episode)
1956
Tony Awards
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
1956
Matinee Theater
(1 episode)
1955
The 20th Century Fox Hour
Sonseeahray · (1 episode)
1955
The Millionaire
Alicia Conception Osante Williams · (1 episode)
1955
The Wonderful World of Disney
Chulita · (2 episodes)
1954
Climax!
Irene · (1 episode)
1954
Climax!
Maria · (1 episode)
1954
Climax!
Denise Cardoza · (1 episode)
1954
Climax!
Francesca · (1 episode)
1954
The Oscars
Self · (6 episodes)
1953
General Electric Theater
(1 episode)
1953
General Electric Theater
Princess Michal · (1 episode)
1953
The Abbott and Costello Show
Telegram delivery girl · (1 episode)
1952
The Ford Television Theatre
Serene Crane · (1 episode)
1952
Cavalcade of America
(1 episode)
1952
China Smith
(1 episode)
1952
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Lit-Lit · (1 episode)
1951
Ford Theatre
(1 episode)
1948
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · (1 episode)
1948
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee · (1 episode)
1944