Research Guides: Rita Moreno: Biography

Rita Moreno (Born in December 11, 1931)

Born Rosita Dolores Alverio in Humacao, Puerto Rico, in 1931, Moreno was raised in a New York City tenement by her divorced mother, a seamstress. Despite not having much money, the child was able to take dance lessons with Paco Cansino, uncle of Rita Hayworth, who soon had her performing in the children's theater at Macy's department store and at weddings and bar mitzvahs. Initially using the name Rosita Moreno, she first worked on Broadway at age thirteen in a musical called Skydrift. Continue . . .

Source: Kanellos, Nicolás. "Moreno, Rita (1931– )." St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, edited by Thomas Riggs, 2nd ed., vol. 3, St. James Press, 2013, pp. 621-622. From Gale Virtual Reference database.

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Resources

Rita Moreno To 'My Gente': Be Proud Of Who You Are, And Don't Give Up The list of accolades is long for Rita Moreno. The 86-year-old is the only Latina — and one of just 12 artists overall — to have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony for her work. This weekend, she received a different kind of award — for her advocacy. The Ellis Island Honors Society is giving her a medal of honor for her work with immigrant communities.
Making West Side Story’s “America” The article presents a brief interview with actress Rita Moreno in which she discusses her lead role in the 1961 motion picture "West Side Story," for which she won an Academy Award, the cast's rehearsal and performance of the song "America," and her costume in the film.
Iconic Rita Moreno Feels a Responsibility to Her Roots The article focuses on Puerto Rican actress Rita Moreno whose achievements are being honored with the Variety Latino Legacy Award.
Rita Moreno: The Girl Who Decided to Go For It PBS, THIRTEEN’s AMERICAN MASTERS, Norman Lear’s Act III Productions, Maramara and Lin-Manuel Miranda Partner on New Documentary About EGOT Winner Rita Moreno Features new interviews with Moreno, Lear, Miranda, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Morgan Freeman, Whoopi Goldberg, Eva Longoria, Justina Machado, Terrence McNally, Chita Rivera and others
Rita Moreno First Latina to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Moreno is one of 12 people to have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony, known as an EGOT. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004.
Rita Moreno has the time of her life on stage and screen Actress and singer Rita Moreno fought typecasting and industry pressure to go on to be the first Latino to win an Oscar, Tony, Emmy and a Grammy. Moreno gives her Brief But Spectacular take on a lifetime in show business.
Rita Moreno reflects on life as an entertainer, stereotype roles in Hollywood Rita Moreno is one of only a few entertainers to win an Emmy, Grammy, Tony and an Oscar — and the only Latino American to hold that honor. In a new self-titled memoir, Moreno describes finding her place in show business. She sits down with Ray Suarez to discuss the continuing struggle for minorities to land significant roles.
Rita Moreno Interview Rita Moreno is best known for her role of Anita in the film, West Side Story, which earned her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress – the first Latina to win the honor. We interviewed Rita at an Adelante event in Miami and she spoke about the importance of Latina role models, changing Latina stereotypes, and never giving up.

From Films On Demand database:

Rita Moreno Rita Moreno won a Tony Award in 1975. She was the first woman to win a Tony, an Oscar, a Grammy, and an Emmy