Rita Moreno Young: See Photos of ‘West Side Story’ Legend From the Start of Her Career to Now

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December 11, 2023 10:16AM EST
rita moreno
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Rita Moreno is a Hollywood legend who has been entertaining for over 7 decades. Check out photos of Rita here!

Talk about the triple threat! Rita Moreno is an undeniable legend who has danced, sung, and acted her way into the hearts of generations of movie and musical fans. The Puerto Rican talent was born in 1931 and moved to New York City with her mother just a few years later. She started dancing at 11 and had her first Broadway part when she was just 13.

After appearing in hit musicals like ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ and ‘The King And I’ in the 50s, her breakout role was with 1961’s ‘West Side Story’, where she played Anita. Rita would earn her first Oscar for the role. Eventually she would become the first Latin American talent to become an EGOT — someone who can boast about having an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award.

And she hasn’t let age slow her down. Rita honored the legacy of ‘West Side Story’ by returning for the 2021 Steven Speilberg remake as a new character and as a producer.

Scroll through the gallery to see Rita through her 70 years on the stage and screen!

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Rita Moreno (1950)

Rita Moreno (1950)
Clarence Sinclair Bull/Mgm/Kobal

Rita Moreno pictured looking gorgeous in 1950.

December 8, 2021, 4:27PM
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Rita Moreno for 20th Century Fox

Rita Moreno for 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock

Rita Moreno throws a blanket over her head in a studio portrait for 20th Century Fox. She started her film career during the “Golden Age Of Hollywood after she moved to a home near MGM’s Culver City, California studios.

December 8, 2021, 4:27PM
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Rita Moreno in West Side Story (1961)

Rita Moreno in West Side Story (1961)
United Artists/Kobal/Shutterstock

Rita Moreno kicks it up in West Side Story. She played Anita, the best friend of protagonist Maria.

Talking about the role to NPR, she said, “What was important about Anita to me — and still is — is that Anita, believe it or not, was the only part I ever remember where I represented Hispanics in a dignified and positive way. It represented a lot of breakthroughs for young actors of Hispanic origin.”

December 8, 2021, 4:27PM
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Rita Moreno wins her 2nd Emmy (1978)

Rita Moreno wins her 2nd Emmy (1978)
AP/Shutterstock

Rita Moreno holds the Emmy statuette in 1978. She won outstanding lead actress for a single appearance in a drama or comedy series for ‘The Rockford Files’.

During her acceptance speech she thanked one of the show’s writers, Juanita Bartlett. She called her “a lady who really knows how to write about ladies”.

December 8, 2021, 4:27PM
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Rita Moreno in ‘The Night Of The Following Day’ with Marlon Brandon (1968)

Rita Moreno in ‘The Night Of The Following Day’ with Marlon Brandon (1968)
Courtesy Everett Collection

Rita relaxes in the tub opposite Marlon Brandon in ‘The Night Of The Following Day’. The duo had a tumultuous romance, dating on and off for 8 years in the 60s and 70s.

“He was a big love of mine in my life,” Rita told People in 2017. She pointed out a photo of him in her front room and went on, “This one, it almost seems like a vignette out of a movie, so that’s why it’s there. He was the lust of my life.” She added that husband Leonard Gordon, who passed in 2010, was the “love of her life,” though.

December 8, 2021, 4:27PM
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Rita Moreno gets a Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star (1995)

Rita Moreno gets a Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star (1995)
Damian Dovarganes/AP/Shutterstoc

Rita Moreno rejoices as her star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame is unveiled. The star was also awarded the National Arts Medal by President Barack Obama in 2009.

December 8, 2021, 4:28PM
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Rita Morena at the Alma Awards (1999)

Rita Morena at the Alma Awards (1999)
Crollalanza/Shutterstock

Rita Moreno sizzles in red at the Alma Awards in 1999. That year she won a trophy for Best Actress In A Drama Series for her role in ‘Oz’. That year Rita was also nominated for her part in the movie ‘Slums Of Beverly Hills’.

December 8, 2021, 4:28PM
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Rita Moreno at the Imagen Awards (2007)

Rita Moreno at the Imagen Awards (2007)
Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock

Rita Moreno turns heads in glittering black at the 22nd Annual Imagen Awards for Excellence in Latino Entertainment. on July 28 2007. The event took place at the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

December 8, 2021, 4:28PM
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Rita Moreno walks New York Fashion Week (2008)

Rita Moreno walks New York Fashion Week (2008)
Henry Lamb/BEI/Shutterstock

Rita Moreno strut down the catwalk of the Heart Truth Red Dress Collection show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York on Feb. 1 2008. She was full of sass during the fashion show, which is held annual and helps bring awareness about heart disease in women.

December 8, 2021, 4:28PM
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Rita Moreno at AFI Night at the Movies (2008)

Rita Moreno at AFI Night at the Movies (2008)
Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock

Rita Moreno is chic at AFI Night at the Movies Oct. 1 2008. The star continued making movies through the decades. Talking about her current roles with Variety in 2021, she said, “Why should I have to play a grandmother simply because I’m old? Can I be a lawyer? A scientist? So far, the answer is … not so much. Hollywood suffers in a profound way from ageism.”

December 8, 2021, 4:28PM
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Rita Moreno at the Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)

Rita Moreno at the Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock

Rita Moreno wows at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Jan. 18 2014. She was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the show.

While taking the stage, she said she was “breathless” and “so bloody happy” before singing several bars of the song “This Is All I Ask”. “As I approach the prime of my life,” she sang, “I find I have the time of my life.”

December 8, 2021, 4:28PM
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Rita Moreno (2017)

Rita Moreno (2017)
Jim Smeal/Shutterstock

Rita Moreno attends a Conversation with NormanLear and ‘One Day at a Time’ in June 2017. Talking about the Netflix reboot of their 1975 show in 2020 interview, Rita said, “I made some smart-a– remark recently on the social networks about how this show [‘One Day At A Time’] will not go away.” Repeating her remarks, she said, “It’s like Norman Lear, New York vermin, and me.”

December 8, 2021, 4:28PM
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Rita Moreno at the Golden Globes (2018)

Rita Moreno at the Golden Globes (2018)
Shutterstock

Rita Moreno is tough in leather at the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 7 2018. She and Norman Lear arrived in style to the awards show, zipping down the red carpet on motorized scooter.

December 8, 2021, 4:28PM
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Rita Moreno at ‘West Side Story’ New York premiere (2021)

Rita Moreno at ‘West Side Story’ New York premiere (2021)
Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

Rita Moreno attends the New York premiere of ‘West Side Story’ on Nov. 29 2021. In the remake Moreno plays a new character, Valentina. She is the widow of the character Doc, who runs the local drug store in the play and the 1961 movie.

The star talked about what it was like to see young actress Ariana DeBose play her original part of Anita on ‘NBC Nightly News’ in 2021.”She is a beautiful Anita in the movie,” Moreno gushed. “It was so bizarre because suddenly I was playing another role and she was playing Anita.”

December 8, 2021, 4:28PM
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Rita Moreno at ‘West Side Story’ LA premiere (2021)

Rita Moreno at ‘West Side Story’ LA premiere (2021)
CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/Shutter

Rita Moreno attends the premiere of ‘West Side Story’ in Hollywood Dec. 7 2021. The film stars Ansel Elgort as Tony and newcomer Rachel Zegler as Maria.

While promoting 2021’s ‘West Side Story’ Rita revealed she almost quit the film over nasty lyrics about her native Puerto Rico. “It felt horrible,” she said in a Dec. 2021 interview. She and the director later came to a compromise and she stayed on.

December 8, 2021, 4:28PM
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Rita Moreno at the 2022 Oscars

Rita Moreno at the 2022 Oscars
Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

An icon! Rita Moreno was stylish in black Carolina Herrera and a sassy feathered headpiece at the 94th Annual Academy Awards, which took place on Mar. 27, 2022. 

March 29, 2022, 11:06AM