Rosanna DeSoto (born September 2, 1950)[2] is an American actress who has performed in films and television. She is best known for her roles in Stand and Deliver, for which she won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female,[3][4] and in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country as Azetbur, the daughter of Klingon Chancellor Gorkon.[5][6]
Rosanna DeSoto | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 2, 1950 San Jose, California, U.S.[1] |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Spouse(s) | Jonathan Taplin (1974—1978) David S. Ward (1980—present) |
| Children | 2 |
DeSoto's other film roles include La Bamba (1987) as Ritchie Valens' mother Connie Valenzuela;[7] and Family Business (1989) as the wife of Vito McMullen (Dustin Hoffman).[8]
DeSoto's first television role was in the series A.E.S. Hudson Street (1978) as Nurse Rosa Santiago.[9] She starred in the short-lived series The Redd Foxx Show (1986).[10] She has made guest appearances on many television series, including Cannon, Kung Fu, Barnaby Jones, Barney Miller, Melrose Place, Murder, She Wrote, The Bold and the Beautiful and Law & Order.
Early life and education
editDeSoto was born in San Jose, California on September 2, 1950.[1][2][4][11] Both of her parents were Mexican immigrants from Michoacán. DeSoto had four brothers and four sisters, making her one of nine siblings. She spent her early years handpicking fruit, particularly apples.[4]
DeSoto graduated from San Jose State University, double majoring in Spanish literature and drama. During her tenure at SJSU, DeSoto rehearsed and performed with the Light Opera Company.[4]
Career
editDeSoto made her film debut in 1979 with The In-Laws.[4] She appeared opposite Nick Nolte and Debra Winger in Cannery Row (1982).[4] DeSoto won the Golden Eagle Award for Best Actress for her performance in The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982).[4] In 1986, she appeared opposite Rob Lowe and Demi Moore in About Last Night, playing Mrs. Lyons.[1][4] That same year, she portrayed waitress Diana Olmos in the short-lived sitcom The Redd Foxx Show.[10][12][13][14]
In 1987, DeSoto appeared in the biographic film La Bamba. In that film, she portrayed Connie Valenzuela, the mother of Ritchie Valens, played by Lou Diamond Phillips.[1][4][6][7] The next year, DeSoto collaborated with Phillips again in the 1988 biopic Stand and Deliver, where she portrayed Fabiola Escalante, the wife of Jaime Escalante (Edward James Olmos).[1][4] Her performance garnered her an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female.[3][4]
In 1989, she played the wife of Dustin Hoffman's character in Family Business.[1][4][8] That same year, she landed the principal role in Face of the Enemy.[4] She also played Azetbur in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991).[4][5][6] DeSoto portrayed Linda in The 24 Hour Woman (1999).[1] She has also acted in the soap opera, The Bold and the Beautiful.[6]
DeSoto wrote and appeared in “A Woman in Progress/Canto de Oro, Cuento de Mujer” that was produced by the Intar Theater group in New York in 2005.[6]
Personal life
editFrom 1974 to 1978, DeSoto was married to Jonathan Taplin. They have one daughter, Daniela (born June 1976).[4][15][16]
DeSoto has been married to David S. Ward since September 20, 1980.[17] They have a daughter, Sylvana Ward Durrett (born 1981).[4][6][18]
DeSoto is also the aunt of Ken Ramoz, who appeared in such films as Gettysburg (1993) and Getting Even with Dad (1994).[19]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | The In-Laws | Evita | |
| 1980 | Serial | Maria | |
| 1982 | The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez | Carlota Muñoz | |
| 1982 | Cannery Row | Ellen Sedgewick | |
| 1986 | About Last Night... | Mrs. Lyons | |
| 1986 | American Justice | Manuela | |
| 1987 | La Bamba | Connie Valenzuela | |
| 1988 | Stand and Deliver | Fabiola Escalante | |
| 1989 | Family Business | Elaine McMullen | |
| 1989 | Face of the Enemy | Nelioufar Mobbasser | |
| 1991 | San Juan Story | Olga Torres | Short |
| 1991 | Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country | Azetbur | |
| 1999 | The 24 Hour Woman | Linda | |
| 2000 | Mambo Café | Carmen | |
| 2001 | Wooly Boys | Martinez | |
| 2005 | Once Upon a Wedding | Sonia |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Cannon | Elena Duran | 1 episode |
| 1973 | The Mod Squad | Dolores | 1 episode |
| 1973 | Kung Fu | Kiona ( as Rosana Soto ) | 1 episode |
| 1975-1979 | Barney Miller | Miss del Fuego/Elena Elezando/Teresa Tasco | 4 episodes |
| 1975 | Harry O | Edwina | 1 episode |
| 1975 | McMillan & Wife | Katina | 1 episode |
| 1976 | The Streets of San Francisco | Angie | 1 episode |
| 1978 | A.E.S. Hudson Street | Nurse Rosa Santiago | Regular; 5 episodes |
| 1978 | Rhoda | Receptionist | 1 episode |
| 1978 | The White Shadow | Spanish Teacher | 1 episode |
| 1979 | Angie | Nurse Alonzo | 1 episode |
| 1979 | Lou Grant | Angela Cariaga | 1 episode |
| 1979 | Paris | Marisa Gomez | 1 episode |
| 1981 | Three Hundred Miles for Stephanie | Lydia | |
| 1982 | American Playhouse | Carlota Muñoz | 1 episode |
| 1983 | Condo | 1 episode | |
| 1983 | Women of San Quentin | Adela Reynosa | |
| 1985 | Punky Brewster | Rita J. Sanchez | 2 episodes |
| 1985-1987 | Miami Vice | Erendira/Maria Lupe Cruz | 2 episodes |
| 1986 | The Redd Foxx Show | Diana Olmos | Regular; 7 episodes |
| 1986 | Joe Bash | Maria | 1 episode |
| 1988-1996 | Murder She Wrote | Consuela Schaeffer/Maria Galvan/Iza Decalde | 3 episodes |
| 1992 | Melrose Place | Delia Saldana | 2 episodes |
| 1992 | Child of Rage | Doris | |
| 1992 | Law & Order | Mrs. Ortega | 1 episode |
| 1993 | Quantum Leap | Fiddler | 1 episode |
| 1995 | Picture Windows | Layla | 1 episode |
| 1995 | Kissing Miranda | Carmen Ortega | 1 episode |
| 1996 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Cora Reynolds | 1 episode |
| 1997 | Invasion | Nancy Ochoa | |
| 1998 | Thicker Than Blood | Señora | |
| 2000 | Chicago Hope | Lulu | 1 episode |
| 2001 | Strong Medicine | Dr. Elena Gomez | 1 episode |
| 2001 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Liliana Dominguez | 6 episodes |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Rosanna DeSoto[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Hollywood.com
- ^ a b Stand and Deliver awards and nominations at The New York Times
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Telgen, Diane (1993). Notable Hispanic American Women. VNR AG. ISBN 9780810375789.
- ^ a b Maslin, Janet (6 December 1991). "Star Trek VI the Undiscovered Country (1991) Review/Film; Aging Trekkers to the Rescue One Last Time. Really". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f "Sylvana Soto-Ward, Adam Durrett". The New York Times. 1 August 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ^ a b Longsdorf, Amy (18 October 2014). "'Days' a strong addition to 'X-Men' franchise". Courier-Post. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
- ^ a b Canby, Vincent (15 December 1989). "Family Business (1989) Review/Film; 'Family Business,' a 3-Generation Caper". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
- ^ Leszczak, Bob (1993). Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide. McFarland. ISBN 9780786493050.
- ^ a b "Redd Foxx Is Back". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 10 February 1986. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
- ^ Berumen, Frank Javier Garcia (2014). Latino Image Makers in Hollywood: Performers, Filmmakers and Films Since the 1960s. McFarland. ISBN 9781476614113.
- ^ "New Black Shows Make Debut in TV's Mid-Season Changes". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 27 January 1986. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ^ Margulies, Lee (17 January 1986). "Tv Review : Redd Foxx In New Show". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ^ "National Report: Foxx Felled By a Heart Attack Taping TV Show; Calls for Wife and Dies". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. 28 October 1991. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ^ Jonathan Taplin overview at Turner Classic Movies
- ^ Rosanna DeSoto overview at Turner Classic Movies
- ^ David S. Ward biography at Hollywood.com
- ^ "Sylvana Ward Durrett and Daniela Taplin Lundberg's Birthday Party". Vogue. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ^ "TAEM interview with screenwriter Ken Ramoz". December 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2015.