Olga Merediz

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Olga Merediz
Olga Merediz 2021.jpg
Merediz in 2021
Born (1956-02-15) February 15, 1956 (age 69)
CitizenshipUnited States
Alma mater Tulane University
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1984–present
Known forAbuela Claudia in In the Heights
Awards Drama Desk Award
HOLA Tespis Award

Olga Merediz [1] [2] (born February 15, 1956) is an American actress and singer. Merediz originated the role of Claudia in the Broadway musical In the Heights , for which she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She played the role for the show's entire Broadway run, and reprised the role in the film adaptation. [3] [4] Her television credits include NBC's 2016 series Shades of Blue and Netflix's Orange Is the New Black .

Contents

Early life

Merediz was born in Guantánamo, Cuba on February 15, 1956. [1] [2] She left Cuba with her family when she was five years old to Miami, Florida. [5] Thereafter, she relocated with her family to Puerto Rico where she grew up. Olga attended and graduated from Commonwealth High School in San Juan where she performed and began developing her singing and acting skills in the high school theatrical plays. [5] Merediz graduated with a bachelor's degree from Newcomb College, the former women's college within Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. [5]

Career

Film and television

Having made her film debut in 1984's The Brother from Another Planet , Merediz has since appeared in a number of films, including The Milagro Beanfield War (1988), City of Hope (1991), Evita (1996), Music of the Heart (1999), K-Pax (2001), Remember Me (2010), Custody (2016), Humor Me (2017), and the reprise of her 2008 Tony Award nominated Broadway role as Abuela Claudia, in the film adaptation In the Heights (2021). She also provided the singing voice of Alma Madrigal in Encanto (2021).

Her television credits, in both dramas and comedies, include recurring and guest roles in Diary of a Future President , New Amsterdam , Brooklyn Nine-Nine , Orange Is the New Black and Madam Secretary . She has been a series regular in the UK television series Bounty Hunters and the comedy Saint George , has appeared in episodes of both Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU , and appeared as herself as a judge on Throwdown with Bobby Flay .

Theatre and stage

In addition to In the Heights, her Broadway credits include Reckless at the Manhattan Theatre Club, Man of La Mancha , and Les Misérables . She also appeared as Rosie in Mamma Mia! .

Before they went to Broadway, Merediz starred in the Off-Broadway versions of In the Heights, and The Human Comedy. Some of her other Off-Broadway credits include Women without Men, The Haggadah, Lullabye and Goodnight, and The Blessing.

Additionally, Merediz was directed by John Cassavetes in a play called Thornhill.

Voice-over credits

Merediz has an extensive voice-over and narration portfolio, including the PBS Nature documentaries: Bears, [6] Hotel Armadillo, [7] Jungle Animal Hospital, [8] Nature's Miracle Orphans, [9] and Cuba: The Accidental Eden. [10] Her voice can be heard in numerous TV/radio commercials, Dora the Explorer , Go, Diego, Go! , Elena of Avalor , and Encanto .

Earlier in her career, she served as spokesperson for the MTA, New York City Transit Authority. [11] [12]

Awards and nominations

At the 2008 Tony Awards, she received a nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for the Broadway incarnation of In the Heights. [13] In addition to her Tony Award nomination, Merediz won a 2007 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance for her role in the off-Broadway run of In the Heights, as well as a 2003 HOLA Tespis Award from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors. [14]

In 2013, Latina magazine named her as one of the 50 Best Latin Singers and Pop Stars of All Time. According to the magazine, "The Cuban Broadway star knows how to dominate a live stage and owns it!" [15]

Filmography

Key
Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984 The Brother from Another Planet Noreen's Client
1988 The Milagro Beanfield War Milagro Townsperson
1990 Q&A Mrs. Valentin
1991 City of Hope Nidia
The Super Female #2
1992 Boomerang Guard
1994 Angie Roz
1995 Drunks Chairwoman
1996 Evita Bianca Duarte
Marvin's Room Beauty Shop Lady
1997States of ControlPurse-snatched Woman
White Lies Woman #1 in Window
1999Things I Forgot to RememberCarmela
Music of the Heart Ms. Olivas
2000 Isn't She Great Mrs. Ramirez
Center Stage ABA Receptionist
Requiem for a Dream Malin & Block Secretary
2001 K-PAX Transit Officer
2002 Changing Lanes Mrs. Miller
Apartment 5CJenny
2004 Imaginary Heroes MariaUncredited
2006 A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints Aunt Mary
2010 Remember Me Aidan's Professor
2011 Mr. Popper's Penguins Nanny
Trouble in the HeightsGloria
2012 One for the Money Rosa Gomez
The Place Beyond the Pines Malena Gutierrez
2014 The Angriest Man in Brooklyn Jane
Top Five Chelsea's Mom
Like Sunday, Like Rain Esa
Fugly! Moms
2016 Custody Joyce
Urge Esthetician
America AdriftSorida
2017 The Light of the Moon Mariana
Humor Me Fortune Teller
2019Fair Market ValueMissy Goya
2020 Godmothered Beth
2021 In the Heights Abuela Claudia
Encanto Abuela Alma Madrigal (singing voice)
2023 Somebody I Used to Know Joanne "Jojo"
2024 Spellbound General Cardona (voice)
2025 Eternity KarenPost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985 The Cosby Show Mrs. RodriguezEpisode: "Mr. Quiet"
1986 Another World Dolores1 episode
1987 Leg Work NuseEpisode: "Things That Go Bump in the Night"
1987–95 ABC Afterschool Special Mrs. Mathias / Dr. Montoya2 episodes
1988–89 Tattingers Nanette2 episodes
1989 Baby Cakes Check-out GirlTV movie
1991–2009 Law & Order Various6 episodes
1995 Central Park West Anne2 episodes
1996 The Sunshine Boys SueTV movie
2000 The Sopranos FranEpisode: "Bust Out"
2001 The Job Yolanda SommeribaEpisode: "Anger"
Third Watch JudgeEpisode: "He Said/She Said"
2002 George Lopez Aunt CeciliaEpisode: "Who's Your Daddy?"
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Mrs. MartinezEpisode: "Best Defense"
2003 Hope & Faith Gloria3 episodes
2003–19 Dora the Explorer Maestra Beatriz / Fairy Godmother (voice)2 episodes
2003–25 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Veronica Nash / Judge Roberta Martinez7 episodes
2004 The Jury Leticia Schikert2 episodes
2005 Go, Diego, Go! Mrs. Marquez (voice)Episode: "Diego Saves the Humpback Whale"
2009 Au Pair 3: Adventure in Paradise TeresaTV movie
Royal Pains EsperanzaEpisode: "If I Were a Sick Man"
2010 Past Life Carmen SantosEpisode: "Pilot"
2011 Blue Bloods InezEpisode: "My Funny Valentine"
Pan Am Mrs. RodriguezEpisode: "Unscheduled Departure"
2014 Saint George Alma Lopez10 episodes
Dora and Friends: Into the City! Emma's Grandma / Wagnerian Woman (voice)Episode: "Dora Saves Opera Land"
2014–19 Orange Is the New Black Lourdes6 episodes
2015 Alternatino MotherEpisode: "Respect Your Mother"
2016 Madam Secretary Rep. Elle VazquezEpisode: "Breakout Capacity"
2016–17 Shades of Blue Lorena Zepeda3 episodes
2017 The Breaks Episode: "Blind Alley"
Bounty Hunters Maria5 episodes
2017–18 Stuck in the Middle Abuela2 episodes
2017–19 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Julia Diaz2 episodes
2018–19 New Amsterdam Warden Gloria Salazar2 episodes
2019 Elena of Avalor Felicia (voice)Episode: "Flower of Light"
2019–20 Bull Judge Ollis2 episodes
2020–21 Diary of a Future President Francisca2 episodes
2022 Blockbuster Connie SerranoMain role; 10 episodes

Stage

YearShowRoleNotes
1982Lullabye and GoodnightSaintOff-Broadway
1984 The Human Comedy Mexican WomanBroadway
1987 Les Misérables Female Ensemble/Madame Thénardier UnderstudyBroadway (Replacement)
2001 Mamma Mia! RosieBroadway (Replacement)
2002 Man of La Mancha The HousekeeperBroadway Revival
2004RecklessTrish/Woman PatientBroadway
2008 In the Heights Abuela ClaudiaBroadway
Nominated—Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical

Discography

Charted songs

List of charted songs, with year released, selected chart positions, and album name shown
TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
[16]
AUS
[17]
CAN
[18]
IRE
[19]
NZ
Hot

[20]
UK
[21]
WW
[22]
"The Family Madrigal"
(with Stephanie Beatriz and Encanto cast)
2021204031187720 Encanto
"All of You"
(with Stephanie Beatriz, John Leguizamo, Adassa, Maluma, and Encanto cast)
7183111
"—" denotes songs which were not released in that country or did not chart.

References

  1. 1 2 Willis, John (1995). Theatre World 1992-1993. p. 207. ISBN   9781557832030.
  2. 1 2 "Olga Merediz | Biography and Filmography | 1956". Hollywood.com. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  3. Gans, Andrew (October 27, 2010). "In the Heights to Close on Broadway in January; Miranda to Return to Cast". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2010-12-01. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  4. Jones, Kenneth (January 9, 2011). "Lights Out: In the Heights Ends Broadway Run Jan. 9; Tour Continues and Film Is in the Wings". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2011-01-11. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 Freshley, Catherine. "Tulane University - Balance and Ambition". Tulane University. Archived from the original on 29 April 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  6. Toner, Heather (2019-11-05). "Bears ~ About | Nature". Nature. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  7. Olson, Eric R. (2017-04-05). "Hotel Armadillo ~ About | Nature". Nature. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  8. Olson, Eric R. (2016-05-04). "Jungle Animal Hospital ~ About | Nature". Nature. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  9. Olson, Eric R. (2015-09-09). "Nature's Miracle Orphans ~ About | Nature". Nature. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  10. vea, tanner (2010-09-05). "Cuba: The Accidental Eden ~ About | Nature". Nature. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  11. Steinhauer, Jennifer (20 March 1994). "F.Y.I." The New York Times. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  12. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0580646/trivia/?ref_=nm_dyk_trv". Olga Merediz - Trivia - IMDB.
  13. Soltes, John. "Growing old with Olga Merediz in the new musical, ‘In the Heights’" [ permanent dead link ]. The Leader. June 19, 2008.
  14. The Broadway League. "Olga Merediz | Awards and Nominations". IBDB.
  15. "Music". LATINA. Retrieved 2017-08-12.
  16. Song peaks in the US (Billboard Hot 100):
  17. "Discography Olga Merediz". australian-charts.com. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  18. Discography - singles peaks in Canada:
  19. "Discography Olga Merediz". irishcharts.com. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  20. Peaks on the NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart:
    • "The Family Madrigal": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  21. Discography - singles peaks in the UK (Official Charts):
  22. "Billboard Global 200: Week of February 12, 2022". Billboard. February 12, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  23. "American certifications – Olga Merediz – The Family Madrigal". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  24. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2022 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  25. 1 2 "British certifications – Merediz". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved October 31, 2024.Type Merediz in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.