Edith Díaz
Puerto Rican actress
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Edith Diaz (October 23, 1939 – November 19, 2009) was a Puerto Rican actress known for the roles in film, television, and stage. She co-founded the Screen Actors Guild's Ethnic Minorities Committee in 1972.[1] In Hollywood, Díaz appeared in Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Sister Act (1992), Sister Act 2: Back in the habit (1993), Nick of Time (1995), Theodore Rex (1996), Scenes from a Class Struggle in Beverly Hills (1989), First Watch (2003) and Oh Baby! (2008). [2] She also starred in Popi, the first Latin situation comedy in English-language television.[2]
Edith Diaz | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | October 23, 1939 |
| Died | November 19, 2009 (aged 70) |
Life and career
Early life and education
Diaz was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.[1] She had a sister and a brother, Arcadio, who later became a professor at Princeton University.[2] Díaz studied within the University of Puerto Rico's (UPR) drama department and participated in plays such as La Espera.[2] After leaving for New York, she studied under noted acting teacher Stella Adler and at the Actors Studio in the New York City.[1] There, Díaz joined the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater.[2] During this time, she began her participation in television roles. In 1973, Díaz joined the New York Shakespeare Festival, with whom she acted in Two gentlemen of Verona.[2]
Film
Her film credits included Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Sister Act (1992), Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), Nick of Time (1995), and her final appearance, Oh Baby! (2008). Convinced that she could land a role in one of Federico Fellini's films, Díaz travelled to Italy. [2] There she succeeded in landing a role in La città delle donne (1980). There, she also aided Irene de Bari by arranging an interview with Fellini for her brother.[2]
Television
On television, Diaz appeared in the short-lived 1975-76 CBS television series, Popi, which starred Hector Elizondo. Popi, which aired on CBS for eleven episodes, was one of the first television series on American network television to feature a Hispanic theme and cast.[1] Her other television credits included guest roles on Emergency!,Quincy, M.E., Police Woman, St. Elsewhere, All in the Family, The F.B.I., Barney Miller and The Twilight Zone.[1] In 1991, she played Desi Arnaz's mother, Dolores, in the television movie Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter, on CBS.[1] In the 1973 episode "A Bullet for El Diablo", on Hawaii Five-O, Diaz appeared in a dual role as half-sisters Rita Salazar and Maria Ramos.[1]
Activism
Diaz co-founded the Screen Actors Guild Ethnic Minorities Committee in 1972 with Henry Darrow, Carmen Zapata and Ricardo Montalbán.[1]
Death
Edith Diaz died of heart failure on November 19, 2009, at a nursing home in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, at the age of 70.[3] Actress Miluka Rivera, who had served with her on the SAG Ethnic Minorities Committee, called Diaz a "gifted performer, a union Latino rights activist and a loving friend."[1]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Brute Corps | Lupe | |
| 1975 | Cage Without a Key | Angel Perez | |
| 1989 | Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills | Rosa | |
| 1989 | Born on the Fourth of July | Madame - Villa Dulce | |
| 1992 | Sister Act | Choir Nun #11 | |
| 1993 | Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit | ||
| 1995 | Nick of Time | Irene | |
| 1995 | Theodore Rex | Ella | |
| 1996 | The Fan | Elvira | |
| 1998 | Archibald the Rainbow Painter | ||
| 2003 | First Watch | Linda | Video |
| 2008 | Oh Baby! | Yolanda at party |