Belita Moreno

Biography: Belita Moreno plays George's overbearing mother, Benny, in the ABC series "George Lopez."

Moreno is pure Texas all the way, born and raised in Dallas and a graduate of the prestigious theatre department of Southern Methodist University. Remembered by television audiences for her five seasons as "Lydia Markham" on ABC's "Perfect Strangers," Moreno's career spans three decades and consists of scores of roles in television, features and stage.

Moreno began professionally at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Santa Maria, California. One of the musicals in which she starred, "Once Upon A Mattress," was chosen by the USO to tour Southeast Asia. Soon after arriving in Los Angeles to pursue acting, she met director Robert Altman and appeared in three of his classic films: "A Wedding," "Three Sisters" and "A Perfect Couple." She also performed memorable roles in "Mommy Dearest," "Oh, God! You Devil," "Swing Shift," "Nobody's Fool" and "Men Don't Leave." Other feature film credits include "Grosse Pointe Blank" and "Clear and Present Danger."

In theatre, Moreno had roles in Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Beth Henley's "The Miss Firecracker Contest" and "The Lucky Spot," both Off-Broadway, as well as in the Broadway premiere of "The Wake of Jamey Foster."

Some of Moreno's appearances in made-for-television movies and miniseries include "Here Comes The Sun," "Tales of the City," "Crazy From the Heart," Do You Remember Love?" and "Robert Kennedy & His Times."

For years Belita Moreno has been known as one of the entertainment industry's most prominent acting coaches. She has coached many top stars and consulted with some of the major filmmakers in the movie business, working on such films as "Jerry Maguire," "Almost Famous," "Crossroads," "Blade II," "Rush Hour 2," "Family Man," "A Time to Kill" and "The Client."

Moreno lives in Santa Monica, California, with her husband, two children and two very large golden retrievers.


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