Maria Antonia Rey (October 12, 1927Willis, John (1969). Theatre World 1968-69 Season, Volume 25. New York: Crown Publishers. p. 244. . See also: O'Donnell, Monica M., ed. (1986). Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. Volume 2 : A Biographical Guide. Detroit, MI: Gale Research. p. 268. . Willis, John (1993). Screen World 1992, Volume 43. New York: Applause Books. p. 250. . Unterberger, Amy L. (1994). Who's Who Among Hispanic Americans 1994-95. Detroit, MI: Gale Research. p. 666. . Romanoff, Alan (1995). Birthdays of the Rich and Famous. Cleveland, OH: Darco Press. p. 33. . – February 21, 2019) was a Cuban-born American actress.
Life and career Born in Camajuaní and educated in Havana,Unterberger, Amy L. (1994). Who's Who Among Hispanic Americans 1994-95. Detroit, MI: Gale Research. p. 666. . Rey was the only child of Emilia Rey and dentist Antonio Francesch. Due to her father's premature death, she was given her mother's surname at birth. Over the course of her adolescence, Rey acquired two stepbrothers following her mother's remarriage, to banker Rafael Rangel.
Rey married theatre director Andres Castro in 1958during the intermission of a play. Despite offers of prominence in their fields, they chose to flee communist Cuba in 1961.
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).
Rey is better known for her cameos in various movies like Kiss Me, Guido (1997), 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.
Filmography
Film 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”
Television Year Title Role Notes 1988–1990 Who's the Boss? Aunt Rosa2 episodes 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
References
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