Early Life and Move to New York
Rita Moreno was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico, in 1931. Her family moved to New York City during the Great Depression, where she began acting and dancing as a child to escape poverty and bullying.
EGOT Winner and Historic Oscar
In 1961, Moreno won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for West Side Story. She later became one of the few performers to achieve EGOT status, winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.
Later Career and Advocacy
Moreno continued acting on screen and stage while championing Latino representation and education. She has worked with organizations such as the National Hispanic Heritage Foundation and spoken publicly about discrimination in Hollywood.
For a detailed timeline of her career, see the biography at Britannica.
