Olga Merediz
Olga Merediz | |
|---|---|
 Merediz in 2015 | |
| Born | February 15, 1956 Guantánamo, Cuba |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Tulane University |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Known for | Abuela Claudia in In the Heights |
| Awards | Drama Desk Award HOLA Tespis Award |
Olga Merediz[1][2] (born February 15, 1956) is an American actress. Merediz originated the role of Abuela Claudia in the Broadway musical In the Heights, for which she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical. She played the role for the show's entire Broadway run, and reprised the role in the film adaptation.[3][4] Her television credits include NBC's 2016 series Shades of Blue and Netflix's Orange Is the New Black.
Early life[]
Merediz was born in Guantánamo, Cuba on February 15, 1956.[1][2] She left Cuba with her family when she was five years old to Miami, Florida.[5] Thereafter, she relocated with her family to Puerto Rico where she grew up.[5] Merediz graduated with a bachelor's degree from Newcomb College, the former female counterpart to Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.[5]
Career[]
Film and television[]
Merediz’s motion picture credits include Custody, Humor Me, Top Five, The Place Beyond the Pines, The Angriest Man in Brooklyn, Mr. Popper's Penguins, Remember Me, K-Pax, Apartment 5-C, Trouble in the Heights, Like Sunday, Like Rain, Fugly!, Requiem for a Dream, Angie, Evita, and Changing Lanes. She worked with Meryl Streep in both Marvin's Room and Music of the Heart, and with Sidney Lumet in Q&A. Robert Redford directed her in The Milagro Beanfield War.[6]
Her television credits include Diary of a Future President for Disney+, NBC's drama New Amsterdam, comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Bull, and Shades of Blue. On Netflix, she recurs in four seasons of Orange Is the New Black. In Madam Secretary for CBS, Merediz portrayed the role of Congresswoman Elle Vasquez. Merediz is a series regular in the UK television series Bounty Hunters playing the part of Maria. In 2014, Merediz joined the cast of the George Lopez-starring FX series, Saint George, playing Alma, Lopez's mother. Her other television credits are Royal Pains, Blue Bloods, Pan Am, Law & Order: SVU, The Sopranos, The Job, The George Lopez Show, Third Watch, Law & Order, and 100 Centre Street.[6] She had recurring roles in both The Jury and Hope & Faith. Merediz also appeared on the pilot episode of the FOX TV series Past Life, as well as an episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay as a judge.
Theatre and stage[]
In addition to In the Heights, her Broadway credits include Reckless at the Manhattan Theatre Club, Man of La Mancha, and Les Misérables. She also appeared as Rosie in Mamma Mia!.
Before they went to Broadway, Merediz starred in the Off-Broadway versions of In the Heights, and The Human Comedy. Some of her other Off-Broadway credits include Women without Men, The Haggadah, Lullabye and Goodnight, and The Blessing.
Additionally, Merediz was directed by John Cassavetes in a play called Thornhill.
Voice-over credits[]
Merediz has an extensive voice-over and narration portfolio, including the PBS Nature documentaries: Bears,[7] Hotel Armadillo,[8] Jungle Animal Hospital,[9] Nature's Miracle Orphans,[10] and Cuba: The Accidental Eden.[11] Her voice can be heard in numerous TV/radio commercials, Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go! and Elena of Avalor.
She served as spokesperson for the MTA, New York City Transit Authority.[12]
Awards and nominations[]
At the 2008 Tony Awards, she received a nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for the Broadway incarnation of In the Heights.[13] In addition to her Tony Award nomination, Merediz won a 2007 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance for her role in the off-Broadway run of In the Heights, as well as a 2003 HOLA Tespis Award from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors.[14]
In 2013, Latina magazine named her as one of the 50 Best Latin Singers and Pop Stars of All Time. According to the magazine, "The Cuban Broadway star knows how to dominate a live stage and owns it!"[15]
Filmography[]
Film[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Brother from Another Planet | Noreen's Client | |
| 1988 | The Milagro Beanfield War | Milagro Townsperson | |
| 1990 | Q&A | Mrs. Valentin | |
| 1991 | City of Hope | Nidia | |
| The Super | Female #2 | ||
| 1992 | Boomerang | Guard | |
| 1994 | Angie | Roz | |
| 1995 | Drunks | Chairwoman | |
| 1996 | Evita | Bianca Duarte | |
| Marvin's Room | Beauty Shop Lady | ||
| 1997 | States of Control | Purse-snatched Woman | |
| White Lies | Woman #1 in Window | ||
| 1999 | Things I Forgot to Remember | Carmela | |
| Music of the Heart | Ms. Olivas | ||
| 2000 | Isn't She Great | Mrs. Ramirez | |
| Center Stage | ABA Receptionist | ||
| Requiem for a Dream | Malin & Block Secretary | ||
| 2001 | K-PAX | Transit Officer | |
| 2002 | Changing Lanes | Mrs. Miller | |
| Apartment 5C | Jenny | ||
| 2004 | Imaginary Heroes | Maria | Uncredited |
| 2006 | A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints | Aunt Mary | |
| 2010 | Remember Me | Aidan's Professor | |
| 2011 | Mr. Popper's Penguins | Nanny | |
| Trouble in the Heights | Gloria | ||
| 2012 | One for the Money | Rosa Gomez | |
| The Place Beyond the Pines | Malena Gutierrez | ||
| 2014 | The Angriest Man in Brooklyn | Jane | |
| Top Five | Chelsea's Mom | ||
| Like Sunday, Like Rain | Esa | ||
| Fugly! | Moms | ||
| 2016 | Custody | Joyce | |
| Urge | Esthetician | ||
| America Adrift | Sorida | ||
| 2017 | The Light of the Moon | Mariana | |
| Humor Me | Fortune Teller | ||
| 2019 | Fair Market Value | Missy Goya | |
| 2020 | Godmothered | Beth | |
| 2021 | In the Heights | Abuela Claudia |
Television[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | The Cosby Show | Mrs. Rodriguez | Episode: "Mr. Quiet" |
| 1986 | Another World | Dolores | 1 episode |
| 1987 | Leg Work | Nuse | Episode: "Things That Go Bump in the Night" |
| 1987–95 | ABC Afterschool Special | Mrs. Mathias / Dr. Montoya | 2 episodes |
| 1988–89 | Tattingers | Nanette | 2 episodes |
| 1989 | Baby Cakes | Check-out Girl | TV movie |
| 1991–2009 | Law & Order | Various | 6 episodes |
| 1995 | Central Park West | Anne | 2 episodes |
| 1996 | The Sunshine Boys | Sue | TV movie |
| 2000 | The Sopranos | Fran | Episode: "Bust Out" |
| 2001 | The Job | Yolanda Sommeriba | Episode: "Anger" |
| Third Watch | Judge | Episode: "He Said/She Said" | |
| 2002 | George Lopez | Aunt Cecilia | Episode: "Who's Your Daddy?" |
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Mrs. Martinez | Episode: "Best Defense" | |
| 2003 | Dora the Explorer | Maestra Beatriz (voice) | Episode: "School Pet" |
| Hope & Faith | Gloria | 3 episodes | |
| 2003–19 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Veronica Nash / Judge Roberta Martinez | 5 episodes |
| 2004 | The Jury | Leticia Schikert | 2 episodes |
| 2005 | Go, Diego, Go! | Mrs. Marquez (voice) | Episode: "Diego Saves the Humpback Whale" |
| 2009 | Au Pair 3: Adventure in Paradise | Teresa | TV movie |
| Royal Pains | Esperanza | Episode: "If I Were a Sick Man" | |
| 2010 | Past Life | Carmen Santos | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2011 | Blue Bloods | Inez | Episode: "My Funny Valentine" |
| Pan Am | Mrs. Rodriguez | Episode: "Unscheduled Departure" | |
| 2014 | Saint George | Alma Lopez | 10 episodes |
| 2014–19 | Orange Is the New Black | Lourdes | 6 episodes |
| 2015 | Alternatino | Mother | Episode: "Respect Your Mother" |
| 2016 | Madam Secretary | Rep. Elle Vazquez | Episode: "Breakout Capacity" |
| 2016–17 | Shades of Blue | Lorena Zepeda | 3 episodes |
| 2017 | The Breaks | Episode: "Blind Alley" | |
| Bounty Hunters | Maria | 5 episodes | |
| 2017–18 | Stuck in the Middle | Abuela | 2 episodes |
| 2017–19 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Julia Diaz | 2 episodes |
| 2018–19 | New Amsterdam | Warden Gloria Salazar | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Elena of Avalor | Felicia (voice) | Episode: "Flower of Light" |
| 2019–20 | Bull | Judge Ollis | 2 episodes |
| 2020 | Diary of a Future President | Francisca | Episode: "Matters of Diplomacy" |
Stage[]
| Year | Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Lullabye and Goodnight | Saint | Off-Broadway |
| 1984 | The Human Comedy | Mexican Woman | Broadway |
| 1987 | Les Misérables | Female Ensemble/Madame Thénardier Understudy | Broadway (Replacement) |
| 2001 | Mamma Mia! | Rosie | Broadway (Replacement) |
| 2002 | Man of La Mancha | The Housekeeper | Broadway Revival |
| 2004 | Reckless | Trish/Woman Patient | Broadway |
| 2008 | In the Heights | Abuela Claudia | Broadway Nominated—Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Willis, John (1995). Theatre World 1992-1993. p. 207. ISBN 9781557832030.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Olga Merediz | Biography and Filmography | 1956". Hollywood.com. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
- ^ Gans, Andrew. "In the Heights to Close on Broadway in January; Miranda to Return to Cast" Archived 2010-12-01 at the Wayback Machine. Playbill.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth. "In the Heights Ends Broadway Run Jan. 9; Tour Continues and Film Is in the Wings" Archived 2011-01-11 at the Wayback Machine.playbill.com, January 9, 2011.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Freshley, Catherine. "Tulane University - Balance and Ambition". Tulane University. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Andreeva, Nellie (2013-12-13). "Nia Long To Co-Star In WEtv Drama 'The Divide', Shaun Toub Added To NBC Pilot 'Tin Man', Olga Merediz Joins FX's 'Saint George'". Deadline. Retrieved 2017-08-12.
- ^ Bears
- ^ Hotel Armadillo
- ^ Jungle Animal Hospital
- ^ Nature's Miracle Orphans
- ^ Cuba: The Accidental Eden
- ^ Steinhauer, Jennifer (20 March 1994). "F.Y.I." The New York Times. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
- ^ Soltes, John. "Growing old with Olga Merediz in the new musical, ‘In the Heights’". The Leader. June 19, 2008.
- ^ The Broadway League. "Olga Merediz | Awards and Nominations". IBDB.
- ^ "Music". LATINA. Retrieved 2017-08-12.
External links[]
- 1956 births
- American people of Cuban descent
- Living people
- Hispanic and Latino American female singers
- American musical theatre actresses
- American television actresses
- American voice actresses