Belita Moreno
| Belita Moreno | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Aurabela Moreno November 1, 1949 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Spouse(s) | Joel Rudnick |
| Children | 2 |
Aurabela "Belita" Moreno (born November 1, 1949)[1] is an American actress best known for her roles as Benita "Benny" Lopez on the ABC sitcom George Lopez and Edwina Twinkacetti/Lydia Markham on Perfect Strangers.
Early life
Aurabela Moreno was born in Dallas, Texas, to a Mexican mother, Aurora (née Fernandez Rodriguez), a high school Spanish teacher, and a Mexican-American father Abel Moreno a World War II veteran. Moreno graduated from Justin F. Kimball High School, and went on to major in Theatre at Southern Methodist University.[2] She continued her acting studies at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Santa Maria, California, where she appeared in the musical Once Upon a Mattress.[3][4] Moreno is married to Joel Rudnick, a talent agent; the couple has two children.
Career
Soon after Moreno arrived in Hollywood, California, to pursue her acting career, she met director Robert Altman, and landed roles in three of his films: 3 Women, A Wedding, and A Perfect Couple. She appeared in many other films, including Mommie Dearest, Swing Shift, Oh, God! You Devil, Nobody's Fool, Men Don't Leave, Clear and Present Danger and Grosse Pointe Blank. Moreno was a regular on the long-running ABC sitcom Perfect Strangers from 1986 to 1992. Her work on television includes appearances in television movies, such as Crazy From the Heart and Death Benefit, the miniseries Tales of the City, and in numerous sitcoms and dramatic series, including The Golden Girls, Family Ties, Valerie and Melrose Place. Moreno played Benita "Benny" Lopez on George Lopez from 2002-07.
During the 1980s, Moreno was a favorite of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Beth Henley. Moreno performed in at least four premieres of Henley's plays. Henley created several roles specifically for Moreno: "Popeye" in The Miss Firecracker Contest, some dialogue of which was based on a true story told to the playwright by Moreno,[5] and as "Lacey Rollins" in the two-act play The Lucky Spot. Moreno performed in Firecracker at the Victory Theater in Burbank, California, in 1980, and in Lucky Spot off-Broadway at the Manhattan Theatre Club in 1987.
Moreno also appeared in Henley's 1982 Broadway premiere at the Eugene O'Neill Theater of The Wake of Jamey Foster as "Katty Foster", directed by Ulu Grosbard, and in the 1989 world premiere of Abundance, as "Macon" at the South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, California.[6]
Since the early 1990s, Moreno has served as an acting coach and advisor on numerous films,[7] such as Jerry Maguire, Rush Hour 2, Almost Famous, Parent Trap, The Family Man, Crossroads and 17 Again.[8] She also appeared on Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place and Fairly Legal on USA Network.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 3 Women | Alcira | |
| 1978 | Wedding, AA Wedding | Daphne Corelli | |
| 1979 | Perfect Couple, AA Perfect Couple | Eleousa | |
| 1981 | Mommie Dearest | Belinda Rosenberg | |
| 1982 | Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again | Nurse Gonzales | |
| 1984 | Swing Shift | Mabel Stoddard | |
| 1984 | Oh, God! You Devil | Mrs. Vega | |
| 1986 | Nobody's Fool | Jane | |
| 1990 | Men Don't Leave | Mrs. Buckley | |
| 1994 | Clear and Present Danger | Jean Fowler | |
| 1997 | Grosse Pointe Blank | Mrs. Kinetta | |
| 2010 | Diary of a Wimpy Kid | Mrs. Norton | |
| 2011 | Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules | Mrs. Norton |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman | Helen Dinsmore | "2.78", "2.80" |
| 1979 | Visions | Julia | "Ladies in Waiting" |
| 1981 | Gun in the House, AA Gun in the House | Marcie Clark | TV film |
| 1982 | Lou Grant | Cathy Short | "Fireworks" |
| 1983 | Family Ties | Bernice | "Elyse D'Arc" |
| 1983 | Powers of Matthew Star, TheThe Powers of Matthew Star | Louise | "Starr Knight" |
| 1985 | Robert Kennedy and His Times | Angie Novello | TV miniseries |
| 1985 | I Dream of Jeannie... Fifteen Years Later | Ms. Farrell | TV film |
| 1985 | Crime of Innocence | Marge Kennedy | TV film |
| 1985 | What's Happening Now! | Mrs. Jones | "The Challenge" |
| 1986 | Family Ties | Mrs. Pedroza | "The Disciple" |
| 1986 | Melba | Babs | "The Girls Are Back in Town" |
| 1986-92 | Perfect Strangers | Lydia Markham / Mrs. Edwina Twinkacetti | Recurring role |
| 1987 | Full House | Ronnie Gardner | "Our Very First Promo" |
| 1988 | Hogan Family, TheThe Hogan Family | Mrs. Thorne | "Close Encounters" |
| 1988 | Family Ties | Norma | "The Boys Next Door" |
| 1990 | Going Places | Mme. Pushnik | "Curse of the Video" |
| 1991 | Crazy from the Heart | Beebee Stiles | TV film |
| 1993 | Murphy Brown | Sidney | "Games Mother Play" |
| 1993 | Major Dad | Ms. Whitlin | "Night School" |
| 1993 | Tales of the City | Alice Tolliver | TV miniseries |
| 1993 | Getting By | Marie Enright | "Turnabout Dance" |
| 1996 | Melrose Place | Gloria Bryan | "The Bobby Trap", "Devil in a Wet Dress", "Ruthless People" |
| 1996 | Death Benefit | Sarah West | TV film |
| 1996 | Bachelor's Baby, TheThe Bachelor's Baby | Judge Linda Farmer | TV film |
| 1996 | Common Law | Ruta | "In the Matter of: Luis in Love" |
| 2002-07 | George Lopez | Benita "Benny" Lopez | Main role |
| 2008 | Wizards of Waverly Place | Magdalena | "Wuinceanera" |
| 2009 | Eastmans, TheThe Eastmans | June Lynn | Unsold TV pilot |
| 2011 | Fairly Legal | Betty | "Priceless", "The Two Richards" |
| 2011 | Truth Be Told | Sophia Bishop | TV film |
| 2014 | Red Band Society | Dr. Holtzman | "Pilot" |
| 2015 | Family Guy | Hispanic Woman (voice) | "Peter's Sister" |
References
- ↑ Texas Births, 1926-1995. Family Tree Legends Records Collection (Online Database). Pearl Street Software, 2004-2005
- ↑ SMU Theatre Department Alumni at Southern Methodist University official website
- ↑ PCPA Theaterfest History
- ↑ Belita Moreno Biography Archived July 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. from Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County official website
- ↑ Disability Studies Quarterly, "Enlightened by Our Afflictions" by M. Beth Meszaros, Vol 23, No 3/4 (2003)
- ↑ The Plays Of Beth Henley: A Critical Study by Gene A. Plunka. McFarland & Company: 2005
- ↑ Belita Moreno credits at Variety.com
- ↑ Moreno acting credits at Hollywood.com
External links
- Belita Moreno at the Internet Movie Database
- Belita Moreno profile at Starpulse.com
- Date of birth of Belita Moreno confirmed as November 1, 1949 at Texas Births, 1926-1995. Family Tree Legends Records Collection (Online Database). Pearl Street Software, 2004-2005