Olga Merediz Explained

Olga Merediz
Birth Date:15 February 1956
Birth Place:Guantánamo, Cuba
Citizenship:United States
Alma Mater:Tulane University
Years Active:1984–present
Known For:Abuela 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.

Early life

Merediz was born in Guantánamo, Cuba on February 15, 1956. 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. Merediz graduated with a bachelor's degree from Newcomb College, the former female counterpart to Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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 portrayed 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.

She served as spokesperson for the MTA, New York City Transit Authority.[11]

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.[12] 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.[13]

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!"[14]

Filmography

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Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984The Brother from Another PlanetNoreen's Client
1988The Milagro Beanfield WarMilagro Townsperson
1990Q&AMrs. Valentin
1991City of HopeNidia
The SuperFemale #2
1992BoomerangGuard
1994AngieRoz
1995DrunksChairwoman
1996EvitaBianca Duarte
Marvin's RoomBeauty Shop Lady
1997States of ControlPurse-snatched Woman
White LiesWoman #1 in Window
1999Things I Forgot to RememberCarmela
Music of the HeartMs. Olivas
2000Isn't She GreatMrs. Ramirez
Center StageABA Receptionist
Requiem for a DreamMalin & Block Secretary
2001K-PAXTransit Officer
2002Changing LanesMrs. Miller
Apartment 5CJenny
2004Imaginary HeroesMariaUncredited
2006A Guide to Recognizing Your SaintsAunt Mary
2010Remember MeAidan's Professor
2011Mr. Popper's PenguinsNanny
Trouble in the HeightsGloria
2012One for the MoneyRosa Gomez
The Place Beyond the PinesMalena Gutierrez
2014The Angriest Man in BrooklynJane
Top FiveChelsea's Mom
Like Sunday, Like RainEsa
Fugly!Moms
2016CustodyJoyce
UrgeEsthetician
America AdriftSorida
2017The Light of the MoonMariana
Humor MeFortune Teller
2019Fair Market ValueMissy Goya
2020GodmotheredBeth
2021In the HeightsAbuela Claudia
EncantoAbuela Alma Madrigal (singing voice)
2023Somebody I Used to Know Joanne "Jojo"
TBAEternityKarenPost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985The Cosby ShowMrs. RodriguezEpisode: "Mr. Quiet"
1986Another WorldDolores1 episode
1987Leg WorkNuseEpisode: "Things That Go Bump in the Night"
1987–95ABC Afterschool SpecialMrs. Mathias / Dr. Montoya2 episodes
1988–89TattingersNanette2 episodes
1989Baby CakesCheck-out GirlTV movie
1991–2009Law & OrderVarious6 episodes
1995Central Park WestAnne2 episodes
1996The Sunshine BoysSueTV movie
2000The SopranosFranEpisode: "Bust Out"
2001The JobYolanda SommeribaEpisode: "Anger"
Third WatchJudgeEpisode: "He Said/She Said"
2002George LopezAunt CeciliaEpisode: "Who's Your Daddy?"
Mrs. MartinezEpisode: "Best Defense"
2003Hope & FaithGloria3 episodes
2003–19Dora the ExplorerMaestra Beatriz / Fairy Godmother (voice)2 episodes
2003–21Veronica Nash / Judge Roberta Martinez6 episodes
2004The JuryLeticia Schikert2 episodes
2005Go, Diego, Go!Mrs. Marquez (voice)Episode: "Diego Saves the Humpback Whale"
2009TeresaTV movie
Royal PainsEsperanzaEpisode: "If I Were a Sick Man"
2010Past LifeCarmen SantosEpisode: "Pilot"
2011Blue BloodsInezEpisode: "My Funny Valentine"
Pan AmMrs. RodriguezEpisode: "Unscheduled Departure"
2014Saint GeorgeAlma Lopez10 episodes
Emma's Grandma / Wagnerian Woman (voice)Episode: "Dora Saves Opera Land"
2014–19Orange Is the New BlackLourdes6 episodes
2015AlternatinoMotherEpisode: "Respect Your Mother"
2016Madam SecretaryRep. Elle VazquezEpisode: "Breakout Capacity"
2016–17Shades of BlueLorena Zepeda3 episodes
2017The BreaksEpisode: "Blind Alley"
Bounty HuntersMaria5 episodes
2017–18Stuck in the MiddleAbuela2 episodes
2017–19Brooklyn Nine-NineJulia Diaz2 episodes
2018–19New AmsterdamWarden Gloria Salazar2 episodes
2019Elena of AvalorFelicia (voice)Episode: "Flower of Light"
2019–20BullJudge Ollis2 episodes
2020–21Diary of a Future PresidentFrancisca2 episodes
2022BlockbusterConnie SerranoMain role; 10 episodes

Stage

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

Discography

Charted songs

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
[15]
AUS
[16]
CAN
[17]
IRE
[18]
NZ
Hot

[19]
UK
[20]
WW
[21]
"The Family Madrigal"
(with Stephanie Beatriz and Encanto cast)
202120 40 31 18 7 7 20 Encanto
"All of You"
(with Stephanie Beatriz, John Leguizamo, Adassa, Maluma, and Encanto cast)
71 83 111
  • BPI: Silver
"—" denotes songs which were not released in that country or did not chart.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Willis. John. Theatre World 1992-1993. 1995. 9781557832030. 207.
  2. Web site: Olga Merediz Biography and Filmography 1956. Hollywood.com. 12 August 2017. 6 February 2015.
  3. Web site: Gans . Andrew . In the Heights to Close on Broadway in January; Miranda to Return to Cast . Playbill . June 26, 2022 . October 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101201060620/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/144382-In-the-Heights-to-Close-on-Broadway-in-January-Miranda-to-Return-to-Cast . 2010-12-01 .
  4. Web site: Jones . Kenneth . Lights Out: In the Heights Ends Broadway Run Jan. 9; Tour Continues and Film Is in the Wings . Playbill . June 26, 2022 . January 9, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110111022641/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/146256-Lights-Out-In-the-Heights-Ends-Broadway-Run-Jan-9-Tour-Continues-and-Film-Is-in-the-Wings . 2011-01-11.
  5. Web site: Freshley. Catherine. Tulane University - Balance and Ambition. Tulane University. 12 August 2017. en. 29 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130429195748/http://tulane.edu/news/newwave/032613_merediz.cfm. dead.
  6. Web site: Toner . Heather . 2019-11-05 . Bears ~ About Nature PBS . 2023-12-26 . Nature . en-US.
  7. Web site: Olson . Eric R. . 2017-04-05 . Hotel Armadillo ~ About Nature PBS . 2023-12-26 . Nature . en-US.
  8. Web site: Olson . Eric R. . 2016-05-04 . Jungle Animal Hospital ~ About Nature PBS . 2023-12-26 . Nature . en-US.
  9. Web site: Olson . Eric R. . 2015-09-09 . Nature's Miracle Orphans ~ About Nature PBS . 2023-12-26 . Nature . en-US.
  10. Web site: vea . tanner . 2010-09-05 . Cuba: The Accidental Eden ~ About Nature PBS . 2023-12-26 . Nature . en-US.
  11. News: Steinhauer. Jennifer. F.Y.I.. The New York Times. 12 August 2017. 20 March 1994.
  12. Soltes, John. "Growing old with Olga Merediz in the new musical, ‘In the Heights’". The Leader. June 19, 2008.
  13. The Broadway League. "Olga Merediz | Awards and Nominations". IBDB.
  14. Web site: Music . LATINA . 2017-08-12.
  15. Song peaks in the US (Billboard Hot 100):
  16. Web site: Discography Olga Merediz. australian-charts.com. February 1, 2022.
  17. Discography - singles peaks in Canada:
  18. Web site: Discography Olga Merediz. irishcharts.com. February 11, 2022.
  19. Peaks on the NZ Heatseeker Singles Chart:
    • "The Family Madrigal": Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. January 10, 2022. January 22, 2022.
  20. Discography - singles peaks in the UK (Official Charts):
  21. Billboard Global 200: Week of February 12, 2022. Billboard. February 12, 2022. February 8, 2022.
  22. United States. Olga Merediz. The Family Madrigal. February 9, 2022.
  23. Australia. single. 2022. April 4, 2022.
  24. United Kingdom. Merediz. April 16, 2023.