Rachel Ticotin Strauss (born November 1, 1958) is an American actress and dancer. She has played prominent roles in films such as Fort Apache, The Bronx (1981), Total Recall (1990), Falling Down (1993), Don Juan DeMarco (1994), Con Air (1997), Man on Fire (2004), and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005). She is also known for her television work, notably as Lt. Arleen Gonzales on Law & Order: LA (2010–11) and the voice of Capt. Maria Chavez on the animated series Gargoyles (1994–97).
Early life Ticotin was born in The Bronx in 1958, one of six children born to a Puerto Rican mother and a Russian-Jewish father. Her father was a used-car salesman. She began taking dance lessons at age 9 under Tina Ramirez, and joined her Ballet Hispanico at age 14, performing with the company for four years. She worked with choreographers like Alvin Ailey, Donald McKayle, Anna Sokolow and Geoffrey Holder. Ticotin graduated from Professional Children's School.
Ticotin earned money for acting lessons by working as a babysitter, in addition to managing New York's Public Theater and working as an usher there. She also was a production assistant for some films made in New York.
Career In 1978, Ticotin made her film debut as a dancer in the film King of the Gypsies. She also acted in the Off-Broadway production of Miguel Piñero's The Sun Always Shines for the Cool. During this period, she received an onscreen credit as a production assistant on Brian De Palma's Dressed to Kill and Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull. Her first big break came when, working as a production assistant alongside her brother David in 1981, she was given a significant role as Isabella, Paul Newman's love interest in the movie Fort Apache, The Bronx (1981). That same year, she was listed as one of 12 promising new actors in John A. Willis' Screen World Vol. 33.
In 1983, she landed a regular role on NBC's television drama For Love and Honor. Other television projects in which she has appeared include: Ohara (1987), Prison Stories: Women on the Inside (1991), Crime & Punishment (1993), Disney's Gargoyles (1994), and First Time Felon (1997).
Ticotin's film work includes: Critical Condition (1987) as Rachel Atwood (alongside Richard Pryor), Total Recall (1990) as Melina (alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone), Where the Day Takes You (1992) as Officer Landers (alongside Sean Astin, Lara Flynn Boyle, and Will Smith), Falling Down (1993) as Detective Sandra Torres (alongside Michael Douglas and Robert Duvall), and Con Air (1997) (alongside Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, and John Malkovich), in which she earned an ALMA Award for her role as prison guard Sally Bishop. In 1995, she played the role of Doña Inez, the Mexican mother of Don Juan, in the tongue-in-cheek romantic comedy Don Juan DeMarco, with Johnny Depp playing the title role.
Ticotin has participated in over 40 films and television series, appearing in Man on Fire (2004) as Mariana (alongside Denzel Washington), and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005). Ticotin was cast as Vangie Gonzalez Taylor in the second season of PBS's television series American Family alongside Edward James Olmos, Esai Morales, Raquel Welch, and Kate del Castillo. Ticotin also appeared in season two of the ABC series Lost as Captain Teresa Cortez, mother of Michelle Rodriguez's character Ana Lucia Cortez.
In September 2010, she joined the cast of the NBC legal drama Law & Order: LA as Lieutenant Arleen Gonzales in place of Wanda De Jesus, who originally played the role. Ticotin reshot the scenes originally performed by De Jesus. She also played Dr. Marie Cerone on the ABC medical drama television series Grey's Anatomy in 2018.
Personal life Ticotin was married to actor David Caruso from 1984 to 1987, with whom she has a daughter (Greta), born in 1984. Since 1998, she has been married to actor Peter Strauss.
In her 50s, she enrolled in Columbia University, studying English, and graduating in 2019. At age 60, she was the first of her six siblings to earn a college degree.
Ticotin has co-directed the annual Rising Stars show at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School since 2010.
Filmography
Film + Year Title Role Notes 1978 King of the Gypsies Gypsy Dancer 1981 Fort Apache, The Bronx Isabella 1987 Critical Condition Rachel Atwood 1990 Total Recall Melina1991 One Good Cop Detective Grace F/X2 Kim Brandon 1992 Where the Day Takes You Officer Landers 1993 Falling Down Detective Sandra Torres1994 Natural Born Killers Wanda Bisbing Deleted role Criminal Passion Tracy Perry Don Juan DeMarco Doña Inez 1995 Steal Big Steal Little Laura Martinez1997 Turbulence Rachel Taper Con Air Guard Sally Bishop 1999 Can't Be Heaven Maggie 2000 Civility Rebecca Russo 2001 Full Disclosure Armiti Khalq 2002 Desert Saints Dora 2003 Something's Gotta Give Dr. Martinez 2004 Man on Fire Mariana Garcia Guerrero 2005 Christina Lowell2008 Rosa Martinez Christina Lowell Ana 2011 America Esther 2020 Superintelligence NSA Director Tyson 2026 Diamond Mrs. Echevarria
Television + Year Title Role Notes 1983–84For Love and HonorCpl. Grace Pavlik 12 episodes 1985–86 Our Family Honor Karen Pellagrino Episodes: "Crimes of Passion: Parts 1 & 2"1986 Stingray Elena Ballesteros Episode: "Ancient Eyes" 1987–88 Ohara Teresa Storm Main cast; Season 2 1993 Crime & Punishment Det. Annette Rey 6 episodes1994 Tales from the Crypt Charbonnet / Lilian Episode: "Staired in Horror" 1994–96 Gargoyles Cpt. Maria Chavez (voice) 12 episodes2001 Theodora 'Teddi' Madden Episode: "Mona Lisa" 2002 American Family Vangie Gonzalez Taylor 6 episodes 2003–05 Skin Laura Roam 6 episodes 2005–06 Lost Cpt. Teresa Cortez Episodes: "Collision" and "Two for the Road" 2007 John from Cincinnati Woman In Jail Cell Episode: "His Visit: Day One" 2009 Weeds Candela Episode: "All About My Mom" 2010–11 Law & Order: LA Lt. Arleen Gonzales Main cast2012 Unforgettable Sharon Vega Episode: "Allegiances" NCIS: Los Angeles Monica Tenez Episode: "Dead Body Politic" 2013 Blue Bloods Carmen Castillo Episode: "Warrior" 2017 Homeland Mercedes Episode: "The Return" 2018 Grey's Anatomy Dr. Marie Cerone 3 episodes 2019 The Act Gina 4 episodes 2023 NCIS Joy Aaronson Episode: "Bridges"2026Sheriff CountryEva Santos3 episodes
TV films and miniseries + Year Title Role Notes 1985 Love, Mary Rachel Martin1986 Rockabye Victoria Garcia When the Bough Breaks Raquel Santos 1988 Spies, Lies & Naked Thighs Sonia 1991 Prison Stories: Women on the Inside Iris1992 Keep the Change Astrid From the Files of Joseph Wambaugh: A Jury of One Christine Avila1994 Thicker Than Blood: The Larry McLinden Story Diane Deconstructing Sarah Elizabeth Davis 1995 Dexter Ireland 1997 First Time Felon McBride 1999 Aftershock: Earthquake in New York Elizabeth Perez2001 Warden of Red Rock Maria McVale 2015 The Curse of the Fuentes Women Esperanza Fuentes 2016 Secret Summer Ms. Annie Archer
Awards and nominations +AwardsYearCategoryWorkResultRef.ALMA Award1998Outstanding Actress in a Made-for-Television Movie or Mini-SeriesFirst Time FelonOutstanding Actress in a Feature FilmCon AirBlockbuster Entertainment Award1998Favorite Supporting Actress in an Action/Adventure FilmSaturn Award1991Best Supporting ActressTotal Recall
See also
List of Puerto Ricans
References
External links
Profile of Rachel Ticotin among the cast of American Family at PBS.org