Rita Moreno is going from EGOT to “PEGOT.â€
The 87-year-old actress, singer and dancer is adding a Peabody Award to her long list of accolades. She’s this year’s recipient of the storytelling group’s career achievement award, which is “reserved for individuals whose work and commitment to electronic media has left an indelible mark on the field,†the Board of Jurors said Thursday.
That makes the “West Side Story†actress — who has already won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony — the third person to achieve lofty PEGOT status. She joins legendary performer Barbra Streisand and late director Mike Nichols in the rarefied class.
“Rita Moreno is a unique talent who has not only broken barriers, but whose career continues to thrive six-plus decades after her acting debut,†said Jeffrey P. Jones, executive director of Peabody. “We are delighted to celebrate her many contributions to entertainment and media, as well as her passion for children’s programming and important social issues.â€
PHOTOS: EGOT winners »
1/9
Emmy: Supporting actress in variety or musical for “The Muppet Show†in 1977 | Grammy: Recording for children for 1972’s “The Electric Company†| Oscar: Supporting actress for 1961’s “West Side Story†| Tony: Featured or supporting actress in a play for 1975’s “The Ritzâ€
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) 2/9
From left: Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, singer-songwriter John Legend and lyricist Tim Rice became EGOT members at the same time when they shared the Emmy for variety special for “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,†at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sept. 9, 2018.
(Nina Prommer / EPA-EFE / REX / Shutterstock) 3/9
Emmy: Outstanding talk show host for “The View†(2009) | Grammy: Best comedy recording for 1985’s “Whoopi Goldberg: Direct from Broadway†| Oscar: Supporting actress for 1990’s “Ghost†| Tony: Musical (as a producer of) 2002’s “Thoroughly Modern Millieâ€
(Jennifer S. Altman / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 4/9
Emmy: Writing achievement in variety for 1967’s “The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special†| Grammy: Spoken comedy album for 1998’s “The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000†| Oscar: Original screenplay for 1968’s “The Producers†| Tony: Book of a musical for 2001’s “The Producersâ€
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 5/9
Emmy: Music direction and composition for 2008’s “Wonder Pets†| Grammy: Musical Theater Album Grammy for “The Book of Mormon: Original Broadway Cast Recording†| Oscar: Original song for “Let It Go†from 2014’s “Frozen†(with Kristen Anderson-Lopez) | Tony: Score for 2004’s “Avenue Qâ€
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times) 6/9
Emmy: Lead actor in a miniseries or special for 1991’s “Summer’s Lease†| Grammy: Spoken word, documentary or drama recording for 1979’s “Ages of Man†| Oscar: Supporting actor for 1981’s “Arthur†| Tony: Outsanding foreign company in 1948’s “The Importance of Being Earnestâ€
(Georges Gobet / AFP) 7/9
Emmy: Children’s program for 1984’s “He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin’†| Grammy: Musical theater album for 2012’s “The Book of Mormon: Original Broadway Cast Recording†| Oscar: Picture for 2007’s “No Country for Old Men†| Tony: Musical for 1994’s “Passionâ€
(Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times) 8/9
Emmy: Music direction Emmy for 1995’s “Barbra: The Concert†| Grammy: Song of the year for 1973’s “The Way We Were†and others | Oscar: Music, original dramatic score for the 1973 film “The Way We Were†| Tony: Music score for 1976’s “A Chorus Lineâ€
(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) 9/9
Emmy: Music direction for 1982’s “Night of 100 Stars†| Grammy: Instrumental arrangement for 1988’s “No One Is Alone,†performed by Cleo Laine | Oscar: Original song for 1977’s “A Little Night Music†| Tony: Orchestrations for 1997’s “Titanic†(pictured)
(Gino Domenico / Associated Press) Moreno’s most recent credits include Netflix’s “Carmen Sandiego†and recently canceled “One Day at a Time†and a new role in Steven Spielberg’s remake of “West Side Story,†which she’s executive producing.
She’ll be honored at the 78th Peabody Awards in New York City on May 18. The TV, radio and digital media nominees for the annual event will be announced on April 9.
The Peabody Awards are based at the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
