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Rita Moreno Is a Proud Mom and Grandmother! Meet the EGOT Winner’s Daughter Fernanda Luisa Gordon
Rita Moreno’s tremendous acting career has spanned more than six decades. The Singin’ in the Rain star has worked with every top-name in Hollywood and created a huge legacy with her work in blockbuster musicals. But, nothing makes her prouder than being a mom to her daughter, Fernanda Luisa Gordon, and spending time with her grandkids.
The iconic West Side Story star married her late husband, Leonard Gordon, in 1965. Rita first met the cardiologist back when she was performing in The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window on Broadway in 1964. The couple welcomed Fernanda in 1967.
The One Day at a Time actress’ daughter followed in her famous mom’s footsteps, also pursuing a Hollywood career. Fernanda — who dabbles as a jewelry designer and freelance graphic designer on top of acting — is best known for her roles in 1991’s An Inconvenient Woman and The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. in 1993.
After her daughter married her husband, David Tyler Fisher, in 1996, Rita officially became a grandma following the birth of her first grandchild, Justin Gordon Fisher. Three years later, the couple welcomed their second son, Cameron David Fisher, making Rita a grandmother of two.
Before Leonard died, he and Rita moved from L.A. to Berkeley because they “fell in love with the area” — but most importantly, they relocated to be near their two grandsons. The Oscar Award-winning actress opened up about how much her “precious” grandchildren mean to her in a sweet February 2008 interview with Grand Magazine.
“Our grandchildren are the light of our lives. One of the best experiences of our lives, if not the best, next to our daughter’s birth, is helping birth our daughter’s baby,” Rita said. “We were at the hospital with them [Fernanda and David]. I held one of her legs. It was astonishing. It was the most moving experience you can possibly imagine. My baby is giving birth to a baby.”
In 2021, Fernanda joined her famous mother on the red carpet at the 93rd annual Academy Awards ceremony. The pair looked absolutely stunning as they posed for photos on the special night that held a big place in Rita’s heart. It was 59 years earlier that she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in West Side Story. Steven Spielberg directed his own rendition of the film in 2021, with Rita playing the role of Valentina. Fernanda could not be happier to call Rita her mom.
“We have so much fun together. She’s the coolest mom ever. I’m a lucky girl,” Fernanda told ABC at the star-studded affair.
