Lupe Ontiveros
Lupe Ontiveros, March 2008
Born	Guadalupe Moreno (1942-09-27) September 27, 1942 (age 69) El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1966–present

Lupe Ontiveros (born September 17, 1942) is an American film and television actress. Ontiveros has acted in numerous films and television shows, most often playing a maid or, more recently, an all-knowing grandmother; she estimates she has played a maid between 150 and 300 times on screen.^[1]

Early life[link]

Ontiveros was born Guadalupe Moreno in El Paso, Texas, the daughter of Luz "Lucita" Castanon and Juan Moreno, middle-class Mexican immigrants who overcame a lack of formal education and were owners of a tortilla factory and two restaurants in El Paso.^[2][3] She graduated from El Paso High School and went on to study at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas, where she received a bachelor's degree in social work. Ontiveros was raised Roman Catholic.^[4] After her marriage, she and her husband moved to California to realize his dream of starting an automotive business. During a period of professional dissatisfaction with her social service career, Ontiveros was trying to decide whether to go back to school for a nursing degree when she saw an article about a need for local film "extras". With her husband's encouragement, she began with that simple job and parlayed it into a long stage and screen career.

Prior to acting, Ontiveros worked for 18 years as a social worker, and she continues as an activist with many of the same causes with which she worked in that profession, such as domestic violence prevention and AIDS awareness and prevention, among other health issues.

Film career[link]

Ontiveros has said that although she wants to see a more diverse set of roles made available to Latina actors, she is proud of the work she has done each time she has played a maid or other working-class character: "I'm proud to represent those hands that labor in this country. I've given every maid I've ever portrayed soul and heart."^[5] In part because of her history in this role, she was chosen as the narrator for the documentary Maid in America.^[6]

One of Ontiveros' most prominent early movie roles was in the 1983 Gregory Nava film El Norte, in which she played a seamstress and maid who acts as mentor to a newly arrived immigrant girl from Guatemala. In a 2004 interview with the Dominican newspaper Listin Diario, she called El Norte "the film that always will remain in me... [it] tells the immigrants' story" when asked to name her favorite film from her long career.^[7] She played the housekeeper Rosalita, a Hispanic maid hired to assist in the packing and moving of the Walsh family in the hit adventure film The Goonies (1985) and a housekeeper in Dolly Dearest (1992).

Ontiveros worked with Nava in subsequent films, including My Family/Mi Familia (1995) and Selena (1997). In the film, she portrayed Yolanda Saldívar, the convicted murderer of Tejano singer Selena. She also appeared in the Academy Award winning film As Good as It Gets.^[8]

In 2000, she was featured in the film Chuck & Buck, in which she played Beverly, a tough theater director who puts on a play written by one of the film's main characters. She has said in multiple interviews she accepted the role even before seeing the script, solely on the basis of being asked to play a character who was not defined by Hispanic ethnicity. For that role, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture at the 2000 Independent Spirit Awards.

She co-starred with America Ferrera in the 2002 film Real Women Have Curves as the overbearing mother of Ferrera's character. Her performance received excellent reviews and earned her and her co-star a Special Jury Prize at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. She and Ferrera appeared together again in the family comedy Our Family Wedding.

Television[link]

Ontiveros had a recurring role in the 2004-05 season of American prime time soap opera series Desperate Housewives as Juanita Solis, Gabrielle's suspicious mother-in-law. She received an Emmy nomination as Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for this role. In 2004 she also began a role as Abuela Elena, the grandmother of the title characters in the animated PBS children's series Maya & Miguel. The multicultural and bilingual series later introduced a deaf character, Marco, after a sign language-themed episode was suggested by the actress, who has two hearing impaired adult sons.^[9]

The actress was one of the stars of the WB's Greetings from Tucson, playing the grandmother in an upwardly mobile family of mixed Irish and Mexican heritage. She previously had recurring guest roles on the series Veronica's Closet, for which she won an ALMA Award in 1998, and on the short-lived soap opera Pasadena. She also has been a guest star on Hill Street Blues, Red Shoe Diaries, Resurrection Blvd., Cory in the House, and King of the Hill, among many other series.

Theater[link]

After deciding she wanted an acting career, Ontiveros began in earnest, following up full-day sessions at her first career with evening work at Nosotros, a community theater in Los Angeles.^[10] In 1978, she was cast as Dolores in Luis Valdez’s historic play Zoot Suit in her first major theatrical role. She went on to reprise the role on Broadway — the first Mexican American theatrical production ever to play there — and in the 1982 film version. She was a founding member of the Latino Theater Company.^[11]

Personal life[link]

In August 2006, the Kaiser Permanente insurance company announced that Ontiveros would be the featured presenter in a new health-education DVD to be available in English and Spanish.^[12] She also has promoted higher education for Latinos through advertisements for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund in 2002 and participation in a 2003 campaign to increase access to the 2004 Hispanic Scholarships Directory across southern California.

She and her husband are the parents of three adult sons and reside in Pico Rivera, California.

Actress[link]

• 2012
  • Rob! .... Abuelita
  • Desperate Housewives .... Juanita Solis
• 2010
  • Our Family Wedding .... Momma Cecilia
• 2009
  • Hacia la vida .... Soledad
  • Reaper .... Ben's Grandmother (2 episodes, 2009)
  • Southland .... Marta Ruiz (1 episode, 2009)
  • Crawlspace
• 2008
  • Days of Wrath .... Anita
  • Weeds .... Nun (1 episode, 2008)
  • Juan Frances: Live! .... Nena
• 2007:
  • Universal Signs .... Claire
  • This Christmas .... Rosie
  • Dark Mirror .... Grace
  • Cory in the House .... Mama Martinez (2 episodes, 2007)
  • Tortilla Heaven .... Adelfa
• 2006:
  • A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story (TV) .... Mami
• 2005:
  • Mind of Mencia .... Carlos's Mom (1 episode, 2005)
  • Testing Bob (TV) .... Secretary
  • Desperate Housewives .... Juanita Solis (6 episodes, 2004–2005)
  • Reba .... Penny (1 episode, 2005)
• 2004:
  • Maya & Miguel .... Abuela Elena (1 episode, 2004)
  • 30 Days Until I'm Famous (TV) .... Rosa Moreno
• 2002
  • Greetings from Tucson .... Magdalena (5 episodes, 2002–2003)
  • Mr. St. Nick (TV) .... Tia Sophia
  • Resurrection Blvd. .... Lupe (1 episode, 2002)
  • Passionada .... Angelica Amonte
  • Pasadena .... Pilar (4 episodes, 2001–2002)
  • The Brothers García .... Abuelita / ... (3 episodes, 2000–2002)
  • Leap of Faith .... Lupe (1 episode, 2002)
  • King of the Hill .... Anne (1 episode, 2002)
  • Real Women Have Curves .... Carmen Garcia
• 2001
  • Storytelling .... Consuelo ('Non-fiction')
  • Gabriela .... Grandma Josie
  • La olla
• 2000
  • Strippers .... Credit Message
  • Luminarias .... Tia Tonia
  • Picking Up the Pieces .... Constancia
  • Chuck & Buck .... Beverly Franco
  • The Egg Plant Lady .... Connie
• 1999
  • Candyman 3: Day of the Dead (V) .... Abuela
  • As Good as It Gets .... Nora Manning
  • Veronica's Closet .... Louisa (4 episodes, 1997)
  • The Brave .... Maria
  • Dave's World .... Bingo Lady (1 episode, 1997)
• 1997
  • Selena .... Yolanda Saldivar
• 1996
  • Caroline in the City .... Rosa (1 episode, 1996)
  • Red Shoe Diaries (1 episode, 1996)
• 1995
  • My Family .... Irene
• 1993
  • La carpa .... La Vendedora
  • Dudley .... Marta (4 episodes, 1993)
  • Blood In Blood Out ......Carmen (Drug Dealer)
  • Rio Diablo (TV) .... Ducna
• 1992
  • Universal Soldier .... Gregor's Maid
  • Tales from the Crypt .... Madame Leona (1 episode, 1992)
• 1991
  • Great Performances .... Parranda (pastore) (1 episode, 1991)
  • Dolly Dearest .... Camilla
  • How Else Am I Supposed to Know I'm Still Alive? .... Lupe
• 1990
  • A Show of Force .... Pepita
  • Grand Slam TV series .... Grandma Gomez (unknown episodes)
• 1989
  • Those She Left Behind (TV) .... Rosa
• 1988
  • Punky Brewster .... Mrs. Aragon (1 episode, 1988)
  • CBS Schoolbreak Special .... Mrs. Rojas (1 episode, 1988)
  • Who's the Boss? .... Margarita (1 episode, 1988)
  • Hallmark Hall of Fame .... Remedios Acosta (1 episode, 1988)
• 1987
  • I Married Dora (2 episodes, 1987)
  • Born in East L.A. .... Rudy's mother
  • The Rosary Murders .... Sophie
  • 1986
  • When the Bough Breaks (TV) .... Cruz
  • Fame .... Mrs. Castillo (1 episode, 1986)
  • 1985
  • The Goonies .... Rosalita
  • Little Treasure .... Market Voice #1
• 1984
  • Jessie .... Mary Velasco (1 episode, 1984)
  • a.k.a. Pablo .... Mrs. Alvarez (1 episode, 1984)
• 1981
  • Hill Street Blues .... Mrs. Uribe / ... (3 episodes, 1981–1984)
  • El Norte .... Nacha
  • ABC Afterschool Special .... Mrs. Nunez (1 episode, 1983)
• 1982
  • The Border .... Madam in Whorehouse
  • American Playhouse (1 episode, 1982)
• 1981
  • Zoot Suit .... Dolores
• 1980
  • B. J. and the Bear .... Mexican Maid (1 episode, 1980)
  • Cheech & Chong's Next Movie .... Old Lady
• 1978
  • The White Shadow .... Mrs. Gomez (3 episodes, 1978–1980)
  • California Suite .... Maid - At the Hotel
  • The Boss' Son .... Maria
  • The Big Fix .... Maid
  • Soap .... Lady in Airport (1 episode, 1978)
• 1977
  • The World's Greatest Lover .... Whore #2
  • Eight Is Enough .... Mariana (1 episode, 1977)
  • Alice .... Maria Fernanadez / ... (2 episodes, 1977)
• 1976
  • Charlie's Angels .... Maid (1 episode, 1976)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Lupe Ontiveros at the Internet Movie Database

Esai Morales
Morales in 2009
Born	Esai Manuel Morales (1962-10-01) October 1, 1962 (age 49)[1] Brooklyn, New York, USA[2]
Occupation	Actor, producer, director, musician
Years active	1982-present
Partner	Elvimar Silva (present)
Children	Mariana Oliveira Morales (born 2010)

Esai Manuel Morales (born October 1, 1962) is an American actor. He is well known for his role as Bob Morales in the 1987 biopic La Bamba. He also appeared in the PBS drama American Family and in the Showtime series Resurrection Blvd.. However, he is best known for his roles as Lt. Tony Rodriguez on NYPD Blue and Joseph Adama in the science fiction television series Caprica.

Early life[link]

Morales is of Puerto Rican descent and was born in Brooklyn, New York to parents Iris Margarita (née Declet), a union activist involved with the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, and Esai Morales, Sr., a welder.^[3] Morales began his pursuit of an acting career by attending the School of Performing Arts in Manhattan.^[4]

Career[link]

His first professional performances were in theater and television in New York, and his first film—Bad Boys, about teenagers in prison—was released in 1983. He played the ex-convict and biker half-brother of 1950s rock and roll singer Ritchie Valens in the 1987 movie La Bamba. Some of his other roles have reflected his socio-political interests, such as The Burning Season in 1994, My Family/Mi Familia in 1995, The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca in 1997, and Southern Cross in 1999.^[5] In the latter three films, as well as in a others such as Bloodhounds of Broadway in 1989 and Rapa Nui in 1994, Morales saw increased amounts of screen time, starting with a role in the Pauly Shore film In The Army Now. He portrayed a police officer in the film Dogwatch in 1996. He played Father Herrera in The Virgin of Juarez.^[6]

Morales appeared on television in the mid-1980s on Fame. He co-starred with Burt Lancaster in the NBC-TV miniseries, On Wings of Eagles, playing the Iranian Rashid, the hero of a true story about Ross Perot. Morales also appeared in Miami Vice, The Equalizer, and 24.

In the 1990s, he guest-starred on episodes of The Outer Limits, Tales from the Crypt, and two shorter-lived series, L.A. Doctors and The Hunger. He was a featured TV actor, seen in a two-part episode of Family Law in 2000. His tenure on NYPD Blue as the head of the 15th precinct detective squad began in mid-season 2001 and continued until 2004, when he decided to cancel his contract.

Paid in Full was scheduled for release in October 2002. It marked a return to a criminal character such as those in his previous roles - in this case playing a drug dealer named Lulu. In 2005, he (along with Mercedes Ruehl) received the Rita Moreno HOLA Award for Excellence from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA). That same year, he contributed his vocal talents to the video game True Crime: New York City, playing Sgt. Victor Navarro.

Morales with Grace Park and Eric Stoltz

Morales was cast in the film American Fusion,^[7] and on June 19, 2006, he joined the cast of the Fox series Vanished, as FBI agent Michael Tyner alongside actors Gale Harold and Ming-Na. The series was later canceled.^[8] In 2007, he completed filming for Kill Kill Faster Faster, a contemporary film noir inspired by the critically acclaimed novel of the same name by Joel Rose. In 2007, Morales appeared in an episode of the USA Network drama series Burn Notice as a Cuban shopkeeper being shaken down for "protection" money by local criminals. In early 2008, Morales had a role in the CBS drama Jericho as Major Edward Beck. He appeared in all seven episodes of the shortened second season.

In May 2008, it was announced that Morales would play the role of Joseph Adama in the science fiction television series Caprica – Syfy's prequel to the series Battlestar Galactica.^[9][10] The series premiered on January 22, 2010.

In 2011, Morales starred in the drama film Gun Hill Road, as Enrique ^[11], and in the web drama Los Americans airing on PIC.tv.^[12]

Personal life[link]

Morales has described himself as an "actorvist",^[13] primarily as one of the founders of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, taking inspiration from his mother, who was an organizer for the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union.^[14] He is also interested in environmental issues and was a founding board member of E.C.O. (Earth Communications Office).^[15]

In the February 28th, 2007 all-star benefit reading of "The Gift of Peace" at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, he portrays a hopeful member of a struggling immigrant family, and plays alongside actors Ed Asner, Barbara Bain, Amy Brenneman, George Coe, Wendie Malick, and James Pickens, Jr.. The play is an open appeal and fundraiser for passage of U.S. House Resolution 808, which seeks to establish a Cabinet-level "Department of Peace" in the U.S. government, to be funded by a two percent diversion of the Pentagon's annual budget.^[16]

Morales is a vegetarian.^[17] He and girlfriend Elvimar Silva welcomed a little girl, Mariana Oiveira, in September 2010.^[3]

Filmography[link]