A Puerto Rican-born American actress, dancer, and singer, Rita Moreno is widely recognized for her notable contributions to the entertainment industry. Likewise, she has earned the Triple Crown of Acting, which is comprised of individual Academy, Emmy, and Tony awards.
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| Caption: Picture of Puerto Rican actress, Rita Moreno (Photo: Pinterest) |
Rita Moreno Married Life
Well, Rita Moreno had a relatively unhappy married life. She and her husband Leonard Gordon married for over 40 years, though their marriage was not a happily ever after. Initially, the duo was Hollywood's couple goals. Over the course of four decades of marriage, they seemed to have cracked the marriage code. Rita met her husband Gordon for the first time on a blind date. He didn't know about meeting with the legendary Rita.
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| Caption: Rita Moreno with her husband Leonard Gordon (Photo: alamy) |
A Broadway show starring Rita Moreno called The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window led to their first date outside the theatre. In real life, her role foreshadowed her complicated marriage with Leonard. Eventually, Rita tied the knot with her husband Gordon on June 18, 1965, and remained married until his demise in 2010. She considered divorce at one point in their marriage but chose to stay for their daughter.
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| Caption: Rita Moreno with her husband Leonard Gordon & their daughter Fernanda (Photo: briefly) |
Despite Gordon's controlling behavior, Rita claims he was a wonderful person. Moreno enjoys her life as a single woman and doesn't have to answer to anyone. Rita revealed in an interview with People that she would rather eat glass than getting married again. She said;
"Someone asked me recently if I would consider being married again, and my answer was simple. I'd rather eat glass. I don't want to get married. No, no, no, no, no"
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| Caption: Rita Moreno with her husband Leonard Gordon (Photo: insight) |
In early 2021, Rita Moreno's new documentary, Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It, premiered at Sundance Film Festival, exposing that her seemingly perfect marriage wasn't what it seemed. According to her, the freedom to open up about her marriage was very important to her, since the marriage from her perspective was a charade.
Rita Moreno's Daughter
Rita Moreno is the mother of a daughter Fernanda Luisa Gordon, born in 1967. Their marriage lasted so long that it is hard to believe they only had one child. Her daughter Fernanda is the reason Rita stayed on in the marriage, suffering to keep the family unit together.
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| Caption: Rita Moreno with her daughter Fernanda (Photo: closerweekly) |
Likewise, she followed in her mother's footsteps by pursuing a career in the bright lights of Hollywood. Fernanda dabbles as a jewelry designer and freelance graphic designer on the side. Rita's daughter bore children making her a grandmother to her sons; Justin and Cameron.
Why Did Rita Moreno Try to End Her Life?
Rita Moreno had a tough time recovering from Brando's emotional abuse and philandering. Soon after she tried to end her life. So much so that Rita tried to kill herself with sleeping pills. Moreno said;
"It was humiliating and I was letting him step all over me," "I wanted to get rid of myself because I didn't think I deserved to live."
Fortunately, she survived and sought professional help.
Rita Moreno Abortion
Rita's relationship with Marlon Brando lasted eight years. Upon discovering she was pregnant, the actor promptly arranged for her to have an abortion.
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| Caption: Rita Moreno posing for the picture (Photo: nrp) |
However, the procedure didn't go according to plan, and had to bear risk. Her bleeding continued for days after the botch, which was nearly fatal. The possibility of her death was there but she survived and living a healthy life.
Who is Rita Moreno Husband?
Rita Moreno's late husband Leonard Gordon was a cardiologist by profession and internist. His birth is March 26, 1920, in New York. His parents Alex Gordon and Senka Gordon.
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| Caption: Rita Moreno with her husband Leonard Gordon (Photo: briefly) |
After that, he became his wife's manager. This might appear to be a loving step, but maybe it was another attempt to control Rita.
When Rita Moreno Husband Died?
Rita Moreno's husband Leonard Gordon passed away June 30, 2010, in Berkeley, California. At the age of 90, Gordon died.
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| Caption: Rita Moreno with her husband Leonard Gordon (Photo: avalon) |
Leonard's prime cause of death was natural causes. Surely, Gordon died peacefully at his home family by his side.
Rita Moreno Quick Facts
- Rita Moreno is a Puerto Rican actress, dancer, and singer, born on December 11, 1931.
- Her birth name is Rosa Dolores AlverÃo Marcano.
- Rita is the daughter of Rosa MarÃa (née Marcano), a seamstress, and Francisco José "Paco" AlverÃo, a farmer.
- Her birth place is Humacao, Puerto Rico, and nicknamed "Rosita".
- At the time of Moreno's birth, her mother was 17 years old and raised in nearby Juncos.
- In 1936, Moreno's mother moved to New York City with her daughter, but not with her son.
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| Caption: Rita Moreno posing for the picture (Photo: guim) |
- Her sibling brother Francisco, with whom she would not see again until 2021.
- She adopted the surname of her step-father Edward Moreno after her month Rosa married again.
- During her teenage years, she lived in the villages of Valley Stream on Long Island, part of the town of Hempstead, bordering New York City.
- Throughout her extensive career spanning over seven decades, she has appeared in numerous film, television, and theater projects.
- A documentary about her life was released in 2021 called Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It.
- Among the very few people to win the EGOT, Moreno is one of the few to win Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, and Tonys.
- Rita Moreno earned an estimated net worth of $10 Million.
- Rita Moreno stands at the height of 5 feet 1 inch or 1.57 meters tall.
