Rosie Perez — Biography
Rosie Pérez, whose full name is Rosa Maria Pérez, was born on September 6, 1964. She is a multifaceted American talent, recognized as an actress, talk show host, author, dancer, choreographer, and director. Pérez gained widespread acclaim for her role as Tina in Spike Lee's pivotal film Do the Right Thing, released in 1989, which marked her significant entry into mainstream cinema. She followed this success with a standout performance in the 1992 comedy White Men Can't Jump. Throughout her career, she has garnered numerous accolades, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 1993 film Fearless, as well as three Emmy nominations for her choreography work on the television show In Living Color, which aired from 1990 to 1994.
In addition to her film work, Pérez has an impressive stage presence, having appeared in several Broadway productions like The Ritz, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, and Fish in the Dark. She also took on the role of co-host for the 18th season of ABC's talk show, The View. At the young age of 19, she began her career as a dancer on Soul Train in the early 1980s. While attending Los Angeles City College to study biochemistry, she found a release from her academic pressures by visiting nightclubs. It was during one of these outings that a talent scout from Soul Train noticed her, leading to her decision to pursue dancing professionally and subsequently leave school.
In 1988, at the age of 24, Pérez was discovered by Spike Lee at the Funky Reggae dance club, which paved the way for her breakthrough role in Do the Right Thing. She also choreographed music videos for artists like Janet Jackson, Bobby Brown, Diana Ross, and LL Cool J and worked as a segment producer on In Living Color, where she led the Fly Girls dance troupe. Her Broadway debut came with Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune. Pérez further solidified her acting career with her role in the popular comedy White Men Can't Jump, alongside Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson.
Her Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress came for her performance in Peter Weir’s 1993 film Fearless, which she attended with her father. In 1997, she starred alongside Javier Bardem in Perdita Durango, a film that faced substantial editing for its U.S. release due to its graphic content, while the Latin American version retained its original scenes. In 1999, Pérez featured in Nancy Savoca's The 24 Hour Woman. She also lent her voice to characters such as Click, the camera, on the Nick Jr. show Go, Diego, Go! and Chel, a striking native character in the animated film The Road to El Dorado. More recently, she took on the role of the crooked police officer Carol Brazier in the film Pine
In addition to her film work, Pérez has an impressive stage presence, having appeared in several Broadway productions like The Ritz, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, and Fish in the Dark. She also took on the role of co-host for the 18th season of ABC's talk show, The View. At the young age of 19, she began her career as a dancer on Soul Train in the early 1980s. While attending Los Angeles City College to study biochemistry, she found a release from her academic pressures by visiting nightclubs. It was during one of these outings that a talent scout from Soul Train noticed her, leading to her decision to pursue dancing professionally and subsequently leave school.
In 1988, at the age of 24, Pérez was discovered by Spike Lee at the Funky Reggae dance club, which paved the way for her breakthrough role in Do the Right Thing. She also choreographed music videos for artists like Janet Jackson, Bobby Brown, Diana Ross, and LL Cool J and worked as a segment producer on In Living Color, where she led the Fly Girls dance troupe. Her Broadway debut came with Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune. Pérez further solidified her acting career with her role in the popular comedy White Men Can't Jump, alongside Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson.
Her Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress came for her performance in Peter Weir’s 1993 film Fearless, which she attended with her father. In 1997, she starred alongside Javier Bardem in Perdita Durango, a film that faced substantial editing for its U.S. release due to its graphic content, while the Latin American version retained its original scenes. In 1999, Pérez featured in Nancy Savoca's The 24 Hour Woman. She also lent her voice to characters such as Click, the camera, on the Nick Jr. show Go, Diego, Go! and Chel, a striking native character in the animated film The Road to El Dorado. More recently, she took on the role of the crooked police officer Carol Brazier in the film Pine
