Rita Moreno siblings: Dennis Moreno, Francisco Alverio

On December 11, 1931, in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Rosa Dolores Alvero Marcano was given the name Rita Moreno. Her father, Francisco José Alvero, was a farmer, while her mother, Rosa Mara, worked as a seamstress. Francisco is Moreno’s younger brother. Moreno’s mother brought them to New York City when they were little. She began taking dancing lessons from a Spanish dancer soon after arrival. When Moreno was 11 years old, she contributed her voice to Spanish-dubbed versions of American films. She made her Broadway debut at the age of 13 in “Skydrift,” which caught the eye of Hollywood talent scouts. Moreno was residing in Valley Stream, Long Island, at the time.

On shows like “Fireside Theatre,” “China Smith,” “General Electric Theater,” “Cavalcade of America,” “Climax!” “Father Knows Best,” and “Trackdown,” Moreno made appearances in the 1950s. She appeared in “Richard Diamond, Private Detective,” “Zorro,” “Adventures in Paradise,” “Burke’s Law,” and “Run for Your Life” in the ensuing ten years. One of Moreno’s most enduring appearances was as a prominent cast member on the PBS children’s show “The Electric Company,” which ran from 1971 to 1977.

She not only said the show’s infamous opening phrase, “Hey, you guys!” but also took on the roles of Pandora, Otto, and Millie, among others. A memorable performance by Moreno on “The Muppet Show” during the 1970s earned him an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program. She achieved the EGOT, or Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, becoming just the third person to do so. The very next year, she won another Emmy for her appearance on “The Rockford Files” as a guest star.