Television Academy Names Rita Moreno to This Year’s Hall of Fame Class

Posted on October 25, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Rita Moreno is entering a special hall…

The Television Academy has announced its 26th Hall of Fame class, with the 90-year-old Puerto Rican entertainer among the honorees.

Moreno will be joined by choreographer and actress Debbie Allen, documentarian Ken Burns, BET founder Robert L. Johnson, CBS executive Bob Daly and cinematographer Donald A. Morgan.

Moreno, an EGOT winner (Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, Tony Awards), is a two-time Emmy winner for The Muppet Show and The Rockford Files.

She has starred in series including The Electric Company, Sesame Street, Nine to Five, Oz, Cane, Happily Divorced, Jane the Virgin, and the Latinx reimagining of Norman Lear’s One Day at a Time.

Moreno’s many accolades also include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Arts, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, the Kennedy Center Honors and the Peabody Award.

Moreno is among two of the honorees who’ve already received honorary awards from the Television Academy. She was awarded a “Televisionary Award” in 2008. Allen received a Governors Award last year.

The Hall of Fame event will take place on Wednesday, November 16, at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

In addition to the induction of the 2022 Hall of Fame recipients, the event will include the presentation of the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award to actor/director/activist Sean Penn and the unveiling of new busts of four previous inductees.

“These legendary performers, creators, craftspeople and television executives are luminaries in our industry,” Frank Scherma, chairman and CEO of the Television Academy, said in a statement. “Their work has influenced and immeasurably elevated the current television landscape and culture. We are proud to induct these trailblazers into the Hall of Fame and honored to celebrate their extraordinary contributions to our industry.”

“This year’s honorees have told the American story through television in ways that will forever shape our history and culture,” said Rick Rosen, Hall of Fame selection committee chair (who is also WME co-founder and head of television). “Whether they reshaped the industry itself through visionary leadership or created pieces of work that have had a lasting legacy, these individuals will forever be remembered for the impact they’ve had on the medium.”

The 2022 Hall of Fame honorees join more than 150 individuals previously inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception in 1984. The honors were presented every year from 1984 to 1993, but the Academy has skipped 13 years since then for various reasons. This is the first induction class since 2019.

In addition to Rosen, this year’s Hall of Fame selection committee included Marcy Carsey, Emmy-winning producer; Pearlena Igbokwe, chairman of Universal Studio Group; Peter Roth, former chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group; Nina Tassler, co-chief executive officer of PatMa Productions; and Dana Walden, chairman of Disney General Entertainment Content.

Luis Guzmán to Star in Jacquelyn Quinones Feature Directorial Debut “Miles Away”

Posted on January 27, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Guzmán is miles away…

The 65-year-old Puerto Rican actor has joined the cast of Miles Away, an upcoming indie from writer, director and producer Jacquelyn Quinones.

Produced by Quinones, Miles Away is a dramedy that explores a day in the life of a rideshare driver, with short vignettes of passengers all feeding into the story of the driver learning to deal with no money, a thankless job and a sister with mental illness.

Andre Royo, Noel Gugliemi, Alberto Frezza, Norma Maldonado, Henri Esteve, Jennifer Bartels, Eddie Martinez, Jessica Sarah Flaum, Marilyn Camacho and Charo Toledo round out the cast of the Puerto Rican filmmaker’s feature directorial debut, in which she also appears.

“Excited to be part of this project. Jackie Quinones is a new voice for a new generation. Her work personifies the social and cultural diversity reminiscent of the now and necessary for the future,” said Guzmán. “She is an insightful creative, her work transcends stereotypes. Miles Away finds a unique harmony toeing the line of conventional storytelling and inventive hybrid genre narratives focusing on social change.”

Guzmán is an Independent Spirit Award nominee who has garnered nearly 160 screen credits over the course of his five-decades and change in entertainment.

He can currently be seen in the Starz drama Hightown and will next appear in Tim Burton’s Netflix series Wednesday, among other projects.

The actor is also known for turns films like Top Five, We’re the Millers, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, He’s Just Not That Into You, Yes Man, School for Scoundrels, Fast Food Nation, Waiting…, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, Anger Management, Punch-Drunk Love, Boogie Nights and Traffic, among many others.

Additional television credits include Ultra City Smiths, Shameless, Godfather of Harlem, Code Black, Roadies, Narcos and Oz.

Michael Rivera To Appear in Recurring Role on NBC’s “Law & Order: Organized Crime”

Posted on March 31, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Michael Rivera is joining the force…

The Latino actor has landed a recurring role opposite Christopher Meloni, Dylan McDermott, Tamara Taylor and Danielle Moné Truitt in NBC’s SVU spinoff series, Law & Order: Organized Crime.

Rivera joins a roster of recurring additions that includes Nicky Torchia and Ibrahim Renno.

In Law & Order: Organized Crime, Elliot Stabler (Meloni) returns to the NYPD to battle organized crime after a devastating personal loss. Stabler will aim to rebuild his life as part of a new elite task force that is taking apart the city’s most powerful criminal syndicates one by one. Meloni also is reprising his role as Stabler on SVU this season. No information about the other Organized Crime characters is being released.

Torchia will play Eli Stabler, the son of Meloni’s Elliot Stabler. Rivera will portray Detective Diego Morales, and. Renno will play Izak Bekher.

Law & Order: Organized Crime was created by Dick Wolf, who will executive produce. Fred Berner directed the first episode.

The series is produced by Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

The drama will premiere at 10:00 pm on April 1 as part of a crossover with Law & Order: SVU that starts at 9:00 pm.

Rivera booked his first role on Law & Order in 2001 at the age of 12. Since then he has joined the Law & Order cast numerous times, as well as spinoffs Conviction, SVU and Criminal Intent. He also appeared in a fractional role with Meloni on HBO’s Oz.

Aislinn Derbez Joins Voice Cast of Netflix’s Animated Comedy “Back To The Outback”

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Aislinn Derbez is headed Down Under…

The 33-year-old Mexican actress has joined the voice cast of Netflix’s animated comedy film Back To The Outback.

She joins a cast that includes Isla Fisher, Tim Minchin, Eric Bana, Guy Pearce, Miranda Tapsell, Angus Imrie, Rachel House, Keith Urban, Celeste Barber, Wayne Knight, Diesel Cash La Torraca, Lachlan Ross Power, and Oscar-nominee Jacki Weaver.

In the movie, tired of being locked in a reptile house where humans gawk at them like they’re monsters, a ragtag group of Australia’s deadliest creatures plot a daring escape from their zoo to the Outback, a place where they’ll fit in without being judged for their scales and fangs.

Leading the group is Maddie (Fisher), a poisonous snake with a heart of gold, who bands together with a self-assured Thorny Devil lizard Zoe (Tapsell), a lovelorn hairy spider Frank (Pearce), and a sensitive scorpion Nigel (Imrie). But when their nemesis — Pretty Boy (Minchin), a cute but obnoxious koala — unexpectedly joins their escape, Maddie and the gang have no choice but to take him with them.

The film is due to launch in fall 2021. The comedy adventure marks the directorial debuts of filmmakers Clare Knight and Harry Cripps, who penned the script.

Music will come from Rupert Gregson-Williams and songs will be by Minchin (Broadway’s Matilda). Animation and imagery will come from ReelFX.

Said director Knight: “I have always been touched by stories of hidden beauty. Maddie is both uniquely beauty and beast, and to get to present that message in comedy is the icing on the cake.”

Added writer-director Cripps: “Growing up in Australia, I spent a lot of time in the Blue Mountains which has many different types of snakes and spiders, and I always preferred them to the cute cuddly animals, so it’s such a treat to make a film where the heroes are these poisonous but beautiful little creatures. This film is a love letter to Australia’s incredibly diverse and unique wildlife.”

David Zayas to Star in the Action Film ” Force of Nature”

Posted on August 9, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

David Zayasis a force of nature…

The 56-year-old Puerto Rican actor will star opposite Mel Gibson, Kate Bosworth and Emile Hirsch in Emmett-Furla-Oasis’ Force of Nature.

Zayas, best known for his role on Dexter, will play John the Baptist in the Michael Polish-directed action film about a gang of thieves who plot a heist during a hurricane, only to have a cop complicate events.

Zayas’ character is part of the bank heist crew, described as a ruthless, cold guy who’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants, even if means sacrificing people on his team.

The film is currently shooting in Puerto Rico.

Zayas is a former New York police officer, and he began his acting career with LAByrinth Theater Company in 1992. His film credits include The Expendables, Michael Clayton, 16 Blocks, The Savages and Martin Scorsese’s Bringing Out the Dead. He’ll next appear in Paramount Players’ Body Cam.

He played Angel Batista on the Emmy-winning Showtimes eries Dexter, was recently seen as Sal Maroni on Fox’s Gotham, portrayed Sheriff Aguirre on Netflix’s Bloodline, and Eduardo Magana on Hulu’s Shut Eye among several credits. While working on the crime drama The Beat, Zayas met Emmy-winning television writer and producer Tom Fontana, who went on to create the role of Enrique Morales on HBO’s Oz especially for him.

Acevedo Lands Undisclosed Role in “Insidious: Chapter 4”

Posted on August 31, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Kirk Acevedo has an Insidious future…

The 44-year-old Puerto Rican actor, who currently stars in Syfy’s time-travel thriller series 12 Monkeys, has joined the cast of Insidious: Chapter 4, which is filming and scheduled to open on October 20, 2017.

Acevedo’s character is being kept under wraps.

Universal Pictures/Blumhouse Productions’ latest installment to the $370M microbudget franchise is being helmed by series newcomer Adam Robitel.

Acevedo joins Lin Shaye as parapsychologist Elise Rainier, as well as franchise co-creator Leigh Whannell and Angus Sampson, who respectively play Specs and Tucker.

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions is financing Insidious: Chapter 4 and handling international distribution. Whannell wrote all four Insidious movies and directed Chapter 3.

Acevedo plays Ramse in Syfy’s 12 Monkeys and previously starred in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. His other credits include Prime Suspect, The Walking Dead, Band of Brothers, Thin Red Line and Oz.

Guzman Lands Recurring Role in Showtime’s Comedy Pilot “Roadie”

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Luis Guzman is ready to hit the roadie…

The 58-year-old Puerto Rican actor has landed a recurring role in Showtime’s comedy pilot Roadies.

The show follows a hot-ticket concert tour with a twist: The band is in the background, and the roadies take the spotlight.

Guzman will play Gooch, the band’s cherished bus driver.

Guzman’s television credits include appearances on How To Make It In America, Community, John from Cincinnati and Oz.

His film credits include The Bone Collector, The Lookalike and We’re The Millers.

Zayas Lands Mobtastic Role in Fox’s Batman Prequel Series “Gotham”

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

David Zayas is heading to Gotham City…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican actor and Dexter alum has joined the cast of Fox’s Batman prequel drama series Gotham.

Zayas will portray DC Comics character Mob Boss Salvatore Maroni in a recurring role. He’s considered one of the city’s most dangerous gangsters.

In the Batman mythology, Maroni is a street operator who clawed his way into controlling the city’s drug trade and unions. He is second only to Carmine Falcone in power and reach, and second to none in his appetite for violence.

In time, Maroni will develop into one of Batman’s first enemies and become infamous as the man responsible for disfiguring district attorney Harvey Dent, leading to his transformation into Two-Face.

But for now, as he strives to increase his territory in Gotham, he’ll find himself on a crash course with his rival Falcone (portrayed by John Doman) for control of the city.

In the feature film The Dark Knight, the role of Maroni was played by Eric Roberts.

Zayas, a former New York police officer, segued to a career in acting in 1992, originally focusing on theater before expanding to film and television projects. While co-starring on the short-lived UPN cop drama The Beat, Zayas met the show’s executive producer Tom Fontana who went on to create the Enrique Morales character on his HBO series Oz for him. He’s best known though for his role as Angel Batista on Showtime’s Dexter.

He recently recurred on the FX comedy series Saint George. He also appeared in the features The Expendables, Skyline and Michael Clayton and will next be seen in the indie Ride and the Annieremake.

Zayas to Star in the Mob Thriller “The Wannabe”

Posted on October 23, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

David Zayas is officially a wannabe…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican actor, best known for his role as Angel Batista on Showtime’s Dexter, has joined the cast of the mob thriller The Wannabe.

Zayas joins Golden Door’s Vincenzo Amato, Moonrise Kingdom’s Neal Huff, Goodfellas’ Mike Starr and The Town’s Slaine as the final additions to the film’s cast.

The Wannabe, which will begin shooting on October 28 in Brooklyn, stars Patricia Arquette, Vincent Piazza and Michael Imperioli and will be directed by Nick Sandow, who also wrote the script.

Martin Scorsese and Dean Devlin are executive producing the film, which is set in New York City in the early ’90s and follows a man obsessed with mob culture (Piazza) who attempts to fix the jury in the trial of John Gotti. But his plans are foiled, so he sets off with Rose (Arquette), a neighborhood fixture, on a ride worthy of mob lore.

Zayas, who portrayed Enrique Morales on the HBO prison drama series Oz, recently signed on to Sony‘s new Annie film.

Moreno Cast as “Abuelita” in NBC’s “Welcome to the Family”

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Rita Moreno will have Family duty in the near future…

The 81-year-old Puerto Rican actress/singer/dancer has joined the cast of NBC‘s new sitcom Welcome to the Family.

Moreno, who’ll receive the SAG Award‘s Life Achievement statue in January, will play Abuelita, the sassy grandmother of Lisette (portrayed by Justina Machado), who looms large over the Hernandez family.

Moreno’s character, expected to first appear in November, is described as extremely religious, judgmental, tough, perpetually scowling and rude. The thought of disappointing Abuelita is so unappealing that Lisette and her family tell her elaborate lies about their lives whenever she comes to visit.

Moreno is best known for her roles in West Side Story, The Electric Company and Oz. She’s also among an elite group of performers to have won an Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy.

In addition to Moreno and Machado, the new comedy series also stars Ricardo Chavira, Joey Haro and Fabrizio Guido.

Welcome to the Family premieres Thursday, October 3 at 8:30 pm ET on NBC.

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