Rita Moreno is the only female performer to have won all four of the most prestigious show business awards: the Oscar, the Emmy, the Grammy and the Tony. Rita Moreno has, in fact won the Emmy twice -- in 1977 for a variety appearance on "The Muppets," and in 1978 for a dramatic appearance on "The Rockford Files." The Oscar was for her performance as "Anita" in the 1962 motion picture, "West Side Story;" and the Tony was for her 1975 triumph on Broadway as "Googie Gomez" in The Ritz;" the Grammy was for her 1972 performance on "Electric Company Album." Along the way, Rita Moreno also picked up dozens of other show business awards, most notably "The Golden Apple," Cue Magazine Award and the 1968 "Joseph Jefferson Award" as best actress in Chicago's theatrical season that year. In 1985, Rita Moreno repeated her Chicago triumph and was awarded the prestigious Sarah Siddons Award for her portrayal of "Olive Madison" in the female version of "The Odd Couple."

Having thus "done it all" in so many facets of show business, Rita Moreno, early in 1978, turned her attention for the first time to live performances, creating an act whict has attracted outstanding critical acclaim.

Rita Moreno was born Rosa Delores Alverio in Humacao, a small town near the famous rain forest in Puerto Rico. When she was five years old, Rita Moreno and her mother moved to New York and the following year she started her dancing lessons. At age 13, Rita Moreno had made her Broadway debut in "Skydrift" which starred Eli Wallach. Then in the true traditions of Hollywood, a talent scout arranged a meeting for 17-year-old Rita Moreno with Louis B. Mayer and was signed to a contract with MGM.

Since then, Rita Moreno's career has advanced steadily. Moreno made some 25 films early in her career but was cast in too many as a "Mexican spitfire" or an "Indian maiden." Among the films Rita Moreno made during this period was "Untamed," "Seven Cities of Gold," "The Lieutenant Wore Skirts," "Garden of Evil," and was featured as "Tuptim" in "The King and I." It was only after Rita Moreno won an Oscar for her outstanding performance as "Anita" in "West Side Story'," which gained international acclaim, that she was finally recognized as a major talent.

In 1962, Rita Moreno moved to London where she was featured in Hal Prince's productions of "She Loves Me" and then returned to New York to star in Lorraine Hansberry's "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window." On Broadway, Rita Moreno has also appeared as the female lead with Robert Shaw in the Broadway Production of "Gantry." Rita Moreno was also cast opposite Jimmy Coco in "The Last of the Red Hot Lovers," and in an award-winning role in "The National Health." Rita Moreno then starred in "The Ritz" for which she received the Tony Award. In 1981, Rita Moreno returned to Broadway once again opposite Jimmy Coco in "Wally's Cafe." Rita Moreno was most recently seen on Broadway as the lead in the female version of "The Odd Couple."

Rita Moreno has appeared in regional theatre in such diverse roles as; "Lola" in "Damn Yankees," "Anne Sullivan" in "Miracle Worker," "Doris" in 'The Owl and the Pussycat," and as "Charlotte" in the Pinero farce "The Magistrate." In 1968, Rita Moreno was given the much coveted Joseph Jefferson Award as the best guest actress for her brilliant portrayal of "Serafina" in "The Rose Tattoo." In 1986 she was again honored with The Sarah Siddons Award for her role in "The Odd Couple."

It may well be that Rita Moreno, dramatic actress, singer, dancer, comedienne, who has portrayed an Irish teacher, an Italian widow, a reformed prostitute, a lady evangelist, a devil's disciple and an English lady has broken the mold of being regarded as a "Latin Spitfire."

In 1967, Rita Moreno resumed her screen career playing opposite Marion Brando in "The Night of the Following Day," then with James Garner in "Marlowe," as Alan Arkin's girlfriend in "Popi" and in Mike Nichol's productions of "Carnal Knowledge." Rita Moreno then starred in the film version of "The Ritz", where she recreated the outlandish character, "Googie Gomez," a lady of little talent and great courage. Rita Moreno also starred with Alan Alda and Carol Burnett in a film entitled "The Four Seasons."

Rita Moreno has also been the guest star in a wide variety of television productions both here and abroad. She is currently a featured artist on the highly regarded educational series, "The Electric Company." Rita Moreno has also starred in her own TV series "9 to 5."

Rita Moreno is a member of the Board of Directors of Third World Cinema a company which is interested in creating opportunities in the film industry for minority groups and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Alvin Alley Dance Company, The Joffrey Ballet and the Los Angeles Theatre Center, as well as many other worthwhile organizations. Rita Moreno is at present a member of the very prestigious Presidential Fellowship Committee.

Rita Moreno is married to Leonard Gordon, a physician, and they live in Southern California. Their daughter, Fernanda Luisa, is a college student and an aspiring actress.