Rosie Perez

An Academy Award nominated actress and Emmy nominated choreographer, Rosie Perez continues to shine in her varied roles in front of the camera and behind.

Perez made her directorial debut with her documentary on New York City's annual Puerto Rican Day Parade this year, chronicling the ethnic pride the parade has provided American Puerto Ricans and exploring the political and cultural history between the United States and Puerto Rico. YO SOY BORIQUA, PA’ QUE TU LO SEPAS! was filmed on location in New York. The film aired exclusively on IFC in 2006 and was produced by Moxie Firecracker Films in association with TenInACar Productions. Perez, who also serves as executive producer on the project, heads TenInACar Productions.

Perez began her career as a choreographer for such artists as Bobby Brown, LL Cool J and Diana Ross. She also choreographed and directed the "Fly Girls" on Fox Television's In Living Color, for which she received an Emmy nomination.

In films, Perez has starred in comedic and dramatic roles with both ease and acclaim. She starred opposite Tim Robbins and Patricia Arquette in Human Nature. She also starred in Penny Marshall's Riding in Cars with Boys with Drew Barrymore, starred in and produced The 24-Hour Woman and lent her voice to Dreamworks' animated film, The Road to El Dorado with Kenneth Branagh and Kevin Kline. Her previous film credits include Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing, Night on Earth, White Men Can't Jump, Untamed Heart, It Could Happen to You, A Brother's Kiss, King of the Jungle and Somebody to Love. In addition, she starred in Fearless opposite Jeff Bridges receiving Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations.

As a producer, Perez's credits include 24 Hour Woman for The Shooting Gallery and HBO's Rosie Perez Presents Society's Ride which ran as three parts and Subway Stories, an anthology of short films that she created. Most recently, Perez entered into a unique deal with Art Television Group (ATG) to develop, star and executive produce a comedy series.

On stage, Perez recently starred in the hit revival of Terence McNally's “Frankie & Johnnie in the Clair de Lune.” She made her stage debut in Eve Ensler's critically acclaimed “The Vagina Monologues” in New York and went on to perform in the Los Angeles and Boston productions. She won a Theatre World Award for her portrayal of “Gabriella,” a woman struggling to heal her husband's Gulf War phantoms and discover her own true spirit. On stage, Perez has also performed in the LA Philharmonic's “A Midsummer Night's Dream” and a staged reading of “Borrowed Light.” In 2004 she appeared on Broadway in “Reckless” to critical acclaim and currently is starring on Broadway in “The Ritz.”

Throughout her career, Perez has been a vocal activist for a number of causes, especially those related to AIDS and inner city youth. She has spoken at several AIDS conferences (including Harvard AIDS Institute) and hosted numerous AIDS fund-raisers. Organizations such as AIDS Action Foundation, Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) and the Latino Commission on AIDS have honored her with awards. In 1999, Perez also received a special commendation from the New York City Comptroller for her advocacy and activism on behalf of the people with HIV and AIDS. Perez is also active with the Working Playground, which is an arts education organization that brings dance, theater, film, poetry, and fine arts to students in Harlem, the Bronx and the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Perez served as the National Spokesperson for Comite Noviembre Puerto Rican Heritage and was honored in New York during Puerto Rican and Hispanic Heritage Month. She joins the Women for Peace & Justice in Vieques, Puerto Rico in demanding the removal of the US Navy from Vieques and the end of the Navy's use of that island as a test bombing site. In addition, she was honored in the Puerto Rican Day Parade in June 2000 and at the 2002 San Juan Cinemafest, where she received the Raul Julia Award for her support to the Puerto Rican, Caribbean and international film communities.