Rita Moreno

June 2024 · 2 minute read
5th Annual Variety's Power of Women Luncheon Presented by Lifetime - Arrivals

Moreno in 2013, photo by PrPhotos

Birth Name: Rosa Dolores Alverío Marcano

Place of Birth: Humacao, Puerto Rico

Date of Birth: December 11, 1931

Ethnicity: Puerto Rican

Rita Moreno is an American actress, dancer, and singer. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for West Side Story (1961). Her roles also include the films So Young, So Bad; The Toast of New Orleans, Pagan Love Song, The Ring (1952), Singin’ in the Rain, Cattle Town, Fort Vengeance, Untamed, Jivaro, The Lieutenant Wore Skirts, The King and I, The Vagabond King, The Deerslayer, This Rebel Breed, Summer and Smoke, Cry of Battle, The Night of the Following Day, Popi, Marlowe (1969), Carnal Knowledge, The Ritz, Happy Birthday, Gemini; The Four Seasons, Age Isn’t Everything, I Like It Like That, Angus, Slums of Beverly Hills, Blue Moon, Piñero, Casa de los babys, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, the West Side Story remake (2021), 80 for Brady, and Fast X, and television’s The Electric Company, Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? (in the title voice role), Oz, Happily Divorced, Nina’s World, and One Day at a Time (2017). She has also been credited as Rosita Moreno.

She was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico, the daughter of Rosa María Marcano, a seamstress, and Francisco José “Paco” Alverío. She was initially raised in nearby Juncos. Rita and her mother moved to New York City in the 1930s, and then lived in Valley Stream, Long Island. Moreno was the surname of her first stepfather, Edward. Rita was married to cardiologist Leonard Gordon, until his death, with whom she has a daughter.

Rita’s paternal grandfather was Nemesio Alverio Rivera (the son of Severo Alverio/Alverro and Fermina Rivera).

Rita’s paternal grandmother was Dolores Carrión Carrión de Alverio (the daughter of Jose Dolores Carrión y Rodriguez and Petra Carrión y Guzmán de Carrión). Jose was the son of Jose Maria Carrión Cabrera and Magdalena Rodriguez. Petra was the daughter of Cornelio Carrión Diaz and Dolores Guzman.

Rita’s maternal grandfather was Justino Marcano Rivera (the son of Isaac Marcano and Eulalia/Eulogia Rivera). Justino was born in Juncos, Puerto Rico.

Rita’s maternal grandmother was Trinidad López Morales (the daughter of Ramon Lopez Peña and Justa Morales Peña). Ramón was the son of Juan Ramón López de Victoria Serrano and Maria Trinidad Peña Diaz. Justa was the daughter of Dionisio Morales Maldonado and Maria Salomé Peña Diaz.

Sources: https://people.com
https://forward.com

Immigration record of Rita’s mother – https://www.familysearch.org

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