Rita Moreno
2009 National Medal of Arts recipient and singer/dancer/actress Rita Moreno receives her medal from President Barack Obama at an East Room ceremony at the White House on February 25, 2010. The National Medal of Arts is a presidential initiative managed by the National Endowment for the Arts and is the nation's highest honor for artistic excellence. Photo by Richard Frasier
Bio
Rita Moreno is one of a select group of performers to have won all four of the most prestigious show business awards: an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony, and a Grammy. Her films include some of the most influential and popular musicals Hollywood ever produced, including West Side Story, Singin' in the Rain, and The King and I. As the first Hispanic actress to win an Academy Award, she opened doors for Latinos into the entertainment industry. Her contributions have served as inspiration to millions of Americans and were recognized with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004, our nation's highest civil award.