Rita Moreno Played Role Of A Happy Wife In Her 48-Year Marriage And Found Freedom Only After Her Husband’s Demise

February 10, 2020 10:21

Actress Rita Moreno was happily married for 48 years. Well, at least people used to think so. But it appeared that Moreno only played the role of a happy wife in her almost 5-decade marriage.

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Rita Moreno: early life

Puerto Rican actress Rita Moreno made her name for herself as a singer and actress of multiple films, TV series, and musicals. Among her most prominent roles are:

The King and I
Oz
The Golden Girls
The Electric Company

Throughout her lasting career, the 88-year-old star won four major awards: Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, and Tony. Beautiful Rita Moreno dated the most desired heartthrobs in Hollywood, including Marlon Brando and Elvis Presley.

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Moreno had a lasting affair with Marlon Brando through the actor’s two marriages. After Rita’s reported suicide attempt in 1961, the actress finally found strength to break up with Marlon.

During her guest appearance on The Wendy Williams Show, Rita Moreno was asked what if felt like to date Marlon Brando. The star replied:

He was the king of everything!

When Wendy asked Rita whether she wanted to marry Marlon, the actress said:

Of course, I did! Better ask whether he wanted to marry me. Of course, not! I found out years later that there were a lot of ladies in his life.

Rita Moreno’s husband

Rita Moreno was married to one person in her life for long 48 years. Her husband Leonard Gordon was a cardiologist and also her manager. Leonard died in 2010.

Only after her spouse’s death, Rita Moreno opened up about the behind-the-scenes drama of her almost 5-decade and seemed-to-be-perfect marriage. The actress revealed that Leonard was “increasingly tyrannical.” He was also very jealous and monitored her every step.

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Rita Moreno confessed that she played the role of a happy wife for long 48 years of her marriage:

I played a role for a very, very long time.

Only after Leonard’s demise, Rita finally could be herself. She added:

After all the years of supervision, I can do whatever I want. It was a very long time to be that unhappy.

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Rita Moreno’s children

Rita Moreno and her husband Leonard have one daughter Fernanda. Actually, she was the reason why Rita didn’t file for divorce from her husband-tyrant. She didn’t want to ruin their family.

Fernanda Luisa Gordon is an actress too. She is best-known for her role in An Inconvenient Woman. Besides, Fernanda is a very beautiful and attractive lady. Good genes run in this family, that’s for sure!

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Fernanda has two wonderful sons. Rita Moreno and her late husband were over the moon when found out they would become grandparents soon.

Rita said about her grandsons:

These little boys are our hearts and souls. They are the air we breathe.

Rita Moreno now

In an interview with People in 2019, Rita Moreno explained why she never remarried again after her husband’s demise.

The star replied:

I would rather eat glass. I don’t want to get married.

Moreno explained her position simply: she had to pretend being happy in her first marriage and she doesn’t want to do this again with a new husband.

Rita Moreno is, indeed, a very strong woman. She pretended to live in a happy marriage for 48 years for the sake of her daughter. On the other hand, maybe Rita shouldn’t wait for so long to get freedom and live the way she wanted to?! Actually, multiple women around the globe experience a similar situation in their own marriages.

So, what’s better – to play the role of a silent wife or to enjoy your freedom as a single woman? We really want to hear your thoughts on this matter.