Alicia Moreda
Encyclopedia
Alicia Moreda Tuya was a soap opera
actress, a natural comedian
, and a pioneer in Puerto Rico's television
.
, Puerto Rico
, the one of three siblings born to Alberto Moreda Cifuentes and Celestina Tuya Lafuente. She had one sister; Adela Moreda Tuya and one brother; Alberto Moreda Tura. Her father was born in Asturias
, northern Spain, and had come with his brother to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
before the Spanish American War. In 1921, her mother died and she was raised by her father and sisters. Moreda received her primary and secondary education at the Catholic school
"Colegio La Milagrosa" in Mayagüez. At first she thought that she would like to become a nun
, however after participating in a school play she decided that she would prefer to become an actress.
. On March 28, 1954, Moreda participated in the first televised program in Puerto Rico, a comedy titled "El Caso de la Mujer Asesinadita" (The Case of the Assassinated Woman) alongside Mapy Cortés
and Fernando Cortés which was transmitted by WKAQ-TV Telemundo
Channel 2.
In 1960, she acted in "Casos y cosas de casa" (Cases and things of the house) with Braulio Castillo
and Lillian Hurst
. She also acted in the soap opera "La Gata" (The (female) Cat) and became very attached to the cat on the set. She then adopted many cats and dogs, and she named each one of the animals after a famous person.
Among the movies in which Moreda acted are the following: Romance en Puerto Rico (Romance in Puerto Rico) (1962), with Jose Miguel Agrelot
, Bobby Capo
and Luis Vigoreaux
; Jucio contra un Angel (Judgement against an Angel) (1964), alongside Braulio Castillo and Luis Vigoreaux and Díos los Cría
(God creates them) (1979) alongside Norma Candal
, Gladys Rodríguez
, Otilio Warrington
, Esther Sandoval
and director Jacobo Morales
.
and Puerto Rico
wherever she went. At times when she would be hospitalized for any reason, she would request that if she ever died she would like to be buried with both flags.
Alicia Moreda died on June 13, 1985 of natural causes and was buried with her two flags in the cemetery of Mayagüez
.
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
actress, a natural comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, and a pioneer in Puerto Rico's television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
.
Early years
Moreda was born in MayagüezMayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, the one of three siblings born to Alberto Moreda Cifuentes and Celestina Tuya Lafuente. She had one sister; Adela Moreda Tuya and one brother; Alberto Moreda Tura. Her father was born in Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
, northern Spain, and had come with his brother to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
before the Spanish American War. In 1921, her mother died and she was raised by her father and sisters. Moreda received her primary and secondary education at the Catholic school
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
"Colegio La Milagrosa" in Mayagüez. At first she thought that she would like to become a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
, however after participating in a school play she decided that she would prefer to become an actress.
Acting career
After she graduated from high school, Moreda auditioned for theatre roles and participated in many local productions. At first she would tell everyone that she was a Gallega (a person from Galicia, located in the north-western corner of Spain) and she was nicknamed "La Gallega". Besides theatre, she also made many presentations on radioRadio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
. On March 28, 1954, Moreda participated in the first televised program in Puerto Rico, a comedy titled "El Caso de la Mujer Asesinadita" (The Case of the Assassinated Woman) alongside Mapy Cortés
Mapy Cortés
Mapy Cortés , born Maria del Pilar Cordero in Santurce, Puerto Rico, was a famous actress that participated in many films during the Mexican film industry's golden era...
and Fernando Cortés which was transmitted by WKAQ-TV Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
Channel 2.
In 1960, she acted in "Casos y cosas de casa" (Cases and things of the house) with Braulio Castillo
Braulio Castillo
Braulio Castillo Cintrón was a telenovela actor in Latin America. His two sons, Braulio Castillo, Jr. and Jorge Castillo, are also actors....
and Lillian Hurst
Lillian Hurst
Lillian Hurst is a Puerto Rican actress and comedienne. Hurst made her debut as a television comedian in the early 1960s. She participated in various Off-Broadway and movie productions in the United States.-Early years:...
. She also acted in the soap opera "La Gata" (The (female) Cat) and became very attached to the cat on the set. She then adopted many cats and dogs, and she named each one of the animals after a famous person.
Among the movies in which Moreda acted are the following: Romance en Puerto Rico (Romance in Puerto Rico) (1962), with Jose Miguel Agrelot
José Miguel Agrelot
Giuseppe Michael Agrelot , better known as José Miguel Agrelot, was a comedian, radio and television host and media icon in Puerto Rico...
, Bobby Capo
Bobby Capó
Félix Manuel Rodríguez Capó , better known as Bobby Capó, was an internationally known singer and songwriter from Puerto Rico...
and Luis Vigoreaux
Luis Vigoreaux
Luis Vigoreaux Rivera was a Puerto Rican radio and television show host, announcer, comedian and producer. The son of a sugar worker, Vigoreaux became one of the most popular television entertainers in Puerto Rico's history....
; Jucio contra un Angel (Judgement against an Angel) (1964), alongside Braulio Castillo and Luis Vigoreaux and Díos los Cría
...And God Created Them
...And God Created Them is a 1979 Puerto Rican comedy film directed by Jacobo Morales. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival.- Synopsis :The film actually consists of five vignettes:...
(God creates them) (1979) alongside Norma Candal
Norma Candal
Norma Candal , was an actress and comedian who was best known for her role as "Petunia".-Early years:Candal was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico and lived with her family in the Fajardo Sugar Co. sugar plantation where her father was an accountant...
, Gladys Rodríguez
Gladys Rodríguez
Gladys Rodríguez born June 4, 1943 in Santurce, Puerto Rico, is an actress, comedian and television host.-Early years:Rodríguez was born in Santurce, a section of San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. Her parents moved to New York City when she was still a child. In New York, she received her...
, Otilio Warrington
Otilio Warrington
Otilio Warrington, known popularly as Bizcocho is a comedian, best known for his roles of "Bizcocho" and "Cuca Gómez".-Early years:...
, Esther Sandoval
Esther Sandoval
Esther Sandoval was an actress and a pioneer in Puerto Rico's television.-Early years:Sandoval was born Esther Maria Gonzalez in Ponce where she received her primary and secondary education...
and director Jacobo Morales
Jacobo Morales
Jacobo Morales is an auteur, whom many consider to be the most influential film director in Puerto Rico's history.-Life and career:...
.
Later years
She would always carry the flags of SpainFlag of Spain
The flag of Spain , as it is defined in the Spanish Constitution of 1978, consists of three horizontal stripes: red, yellow and red, the yellow stripe being twice the size of each red stripe...
and Puerto Rico
Flag of Puerto Rico
The flags of Puerto Rico represent and symbolize the island and people of Puerto Rico. The most commonly used flags of Puerto Rico are the current flag, which represents the people of the commonwealth of Puerto Rico; municipal flags, which represent the different regions of the island; political...
wherever she went. At times when she would be hospitalized for any reason, she would request that if she ever died she would like to be buried with both flags.
Alicia Moreda died on June 13, 1985 of natural causes and was buried with her two flags in the cemetery of Mayagüez
Cementerio Municipal de Mayagüez
The Cementerio Municipal de Mayagüez, also known as Cementerio Viejo, was constructed in 1876 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. It was designed by the municipal architect Félix Vidal de D’Ors following the master plan for the city from 1804. The outskirts of the cemetery are defined by brick walls and...
.