Rosa María was the mother of the iconic Hollywood actress Rita Moreno. Rosa María’s daughter gained a reputation for her role as Anita in West Side Story in 1961, a role that earned her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first Latina actress to win the honor. She broke new ground for Latinos in entertainment throughout her career. Moreno began her career in show business at early age thanks to her mother who brought her to New York at an early age. Who is Rita Moreno’s mother?
Rosa María: Bio Summary
| Full Name | Rosa María (Rosita) Williamson |
| famous as | Mother of Rita Moreno |
| Age | 86 years old at the time of death |
| Date of Birth | 25 Dec 1912 |
| Place of Birth | Ceiba Norte, Juncos, Puerto Rico |
| Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Mixed |
| Children | Rita Moreno, Francisco Alverio |
| Spouses | Edward Moreno, Paco Alverío |
Who is Rita Moreno’s mother?
Rosa María was born on 25 December 1912 in Ceiba Norte, Juncos, Puerto Rico. She was the daughter of Justino Marcano Rivera and Trinidad López Morales. She gained much of her fame from being the mother of famous Hollywood star Rita Moreno. Rosa married Francisco José “Paco” Alverío on 4 Jul 1931 in Juncos, Puerto Rico.
Rosa María was a seamstress
Rosa, a seamstress, and her husband Paco Alverío, a Farmer had their daughter Rita when Rosa was just 17 and raised in nearby Juncos, Puerto Rico. Aside from Rita, the couple had another child- Francisco Alverio. When the West Side Story actress was 5, her parents called their marriage a quit and when their separate ways.
ALSO, READ; Francisco Alverio: Facts About Rita Moreno’s Brother
Rosa Maria Marcano traveled on the ship Caracas with her daughter Rita, sailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on June 26, 1935, and arriving in New York on July 1, 1935, for a better life and opportunities. Her address was 502 W. 147th Street in New York City. She came with only her daughter, leaving her son Francisco with her husband. Rita Moreno and her brother never met again until 2021.
Rosa met and got married to Enrique Cosio on 14 Oct 1940 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Some few years later the couple called their marriage a quit and went their separate ways. 30 years old Rosa once again got married to Edward Moreno (age 28) on 4 Aug 1950 in Los Angeles, California, United States per Wikitree.
Rita Moreno adopted the surname of her stepfather, Edward Moreno, and soon began dance lessons. She spent her teenage years living in the villages of Valley Stream on Long Island, part of the town of Hempstead bordering New York City. Per Wikitree, Rosa tied the knot again with Robert E Williamson on 22 Jan 1966 after her marriage with Moreno came to an end. Rosa and Edward Moreno had a son whose name was Dennis Edward Moreno.
ALSO, READ; Paco Alverío: Who is Rita Moreno’s father?
Rosa Maria’s daughter has made her proud, she has broken new ground for Latinos in the field of entertainment throughout her career. Over the decades of her career, she has been awarded dozens of show business awards, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995, an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, a Tony (EGOT), and the Triple Crown of Acting.
ALSO, READ; Fernanda Luisa Gordon: Where is Rita Moreno’s Daughter now?
What happened to Rita Moreno’s mother?
Per reports, Rita Moreno’s mother Rosa María passed away on 21 Aug 1999 in Sun City, Riverside, California, United States. She died at the age of 84. She rests in Riverside National Cemetery with her husband Robert.
Once romantically linked to Brando, Rosa’s daughter Moreno married Dr. Leonard Gordon in 1965. The couple has a daughter, Fernanda Luisa Gordon, and two grandchildren. Her husband died in 2010 at the age of 90. Rosa María’s granddaughter Fernanda is also an actress and has starred in a dozen of films. Fernanda is also a jewelry designer and freelance graphic designer.
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