Antonia Rey (born Maria Antonia Francesch, 1926 or 1927 – February 21, 2019)[1] was a Cuban-born American actress.
Antonia Rey | |
---|---|
Born | Maria Antonia Francesch 1926 or 1927 Havana, Cuba |
Died | February 21, 2019 (aged 92) |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1954–2019 |
Spouse | Andres Castro (m. 1958) |
Rey was born in Havana, Cuba, the daughter of Emilia (née Rangel), a nurse, and Antonio Francesch, a dentist.[citation needed] She married theatre director Andres Castro in 1958 – during the intermission of a play. Despite offers of prominence in their fields, they chose to flee communist Cuba in 1961.[1]
Rey's Broadway credits include The Rose Tattoo (1995), The Ritz (1975), A Streetcar Named Desire (1973), 42 Seconds from Broadway (1973), The Engagement Baby (1970), Camino Real (1970), Mike Downstairs (1968), and Bajour (1964).[2]
Rey is better known for her cameos in various movies like Kiss Me, Guido (1997),[3] Jacob's Ladder and King of the Gypsies, as well as the TV-movie pilot for Kojak entitled The Marcus-Nelson Murders. She has also appeared in shows such as Who's the Boss?, Third Watch, Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Rey's final role was Assunta Bianchi, in the television series Happy!; her character dies in the second to last episode of the series, which aired three months after Rey's death, and featured a closing “In Memory” credit dedicated to Rey.
In 2003, she received the HOLA Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA).[citation needed]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1968 | Coogan's Bluff | Mrs. Amador | |
1969 | Popi | Mrs. Cruz | |
1971 | Klute | Mrs. Vasek | |
1971 | 'Doc' | Concha | |
1971 | Who Killed Mary Whats 'ername? | Waitress | |
1971 | Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow! | ||
1972 | To Find a Man | Modesta | |
1974 | The Lords of Flatbush | Mrs. Rosiello | |
1976 | The Money | Pearl | |
1978 | King of the Gypsies | Danitza Giorgio | |
1979 | Hair | Mrs. Berger, George's Mother | |
1979 | Boardwalk | Carmelita | |
1980 | The Changeling | Estancia | |
1981 | Time Bandits | Daisy | |
1982 | The Clairvoyant | Spanish Woman | |
1984 | Moscow on the Hudson | Counter Woman at McDonald's | |
1984 | Beat Street | Flora | |
1984 | Garbo Talks | Esmeralda | |
1986 | Wise Guys | Aunt Sadie | |
1987 | Forever, Lulu | Clara | |
1987 | Spaceballs | Clarie | |
1988 | White Hot | Market Woman | |
1988 | Spike of Bensonhurst | Bandanas Mother | |
1989 | Simple Justice | Mrs. Maria Pajarro | |
1990 | Jacob's Ladder | Woman on Subway | |
1991 | True Colors | Soledad | |
1991 | I Was On Mars | La Mama | |
1992 | Chain of Desire | Jesus' Mother | |
1994 | Only You | Fortune Teller | |
1994 | It Runs in the Family | Gypsy Woman | |
1995 | Die Hard with a Vengeance | Mrs. Stella | |
1995 | Tarantella | Grandmother | |
1997 | Kiss Me, Guido | Josephia Zito | |
1997 | The Full Monty | Emmy | |
1998 | The Object of My Affection | Mrs. Ochoa | |
1999 | Gloria | Tenant | |
2001 | Piñero | Senora | |
2005 | The Reality Trap | Consuela | |
2014 | Match | Mrs. Trujillo | |
2015 | Alto | Nonna Del Vecchio” |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2000–2010 | Dora the Explorer | Abuela, Wizzles (voice) | 11 episodes |
2001–2002 | Courage the Cowardly Dog | Maria Ladrones, Space Chicken's Wife (voice) | 2 episodes |
2017–2019 | Happy! | Assunta Bianchi |