Rita Moreno

Despite her hard upbringing, Rita Moreno went on to become one of a select few in show business to win a Grammy, an Oscar, an Emmy and a Tony. Rita Moreno was born Rosita Dolores Alverio on December 11, 1931 in Humacao, Puerto Rico. Born into a poor family, Moreno and her mother moved to the United States so that her mother could find employment in New York City, and Moreno never saw her father or brother again. Unable to speak English, Moreno was shy around her peers, but found that she came alive on stage; where she would perform the Mexican hat dance for various assemblies and talent shows.

At just 13 years old, Moreno made her debut on Broadway, playing Angelina in a production of Skydrift. She continued to perform in nightclubs throughout her teens, under the name the "Latin Spitfire." At age 19, Moreno made her film debut in So Young So Bad (1950). Substantial roles in Hollywood eluded the actress, however, and in her early twenties she decided to leave MGM for Fox films, where she starred in Untamed (1955), Seven Cities of Gold (1955) and The King and I (1956).

At age 30, Moreno landed the role of Anita in West Side Story, earning her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Her career then began to take off in the 60s, as well as her professional life. In 1965, Moreno married Lenny Gordon, who then became her manager. In 1968, she was recognized with the Joseph Jefferson Award for her role in The Rose Tattoo.

The 70s saw Moreno landing film roles that stretched beyond the Latin stereotypes she had previously been offered. She also landed a role on the small-screen in 1971, on the quick-witted children's show The Electric Company, also starring Morgan Freeman, Joan Rivers, and Bill Cosby.

Moreno found the show, which was both entertaining and educational, to be a rewarding experience; and in 1972 she also won a Grammy for her work on the soundtrack to The Electric Company.

Moreno went on to also win a Tony Award for her role in The Ritz; an Emmy for her performance on The Muppets, as well as another Emmy for her work on The Rockford Files. She has appeared on several series throughout the years, including The Love Boat, The Cosby Show, The Golden Girls, Miami Vice; and most recently, Law & Order: Trial by Jury and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, both in 2005.

Other entertainers to have taken home a Grammy, Oscar, Emmy and a Tony include Mel Brooks, Audrey Hepburn, Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, and Whoopi Goldberg.