In celebration of my recent interview with the iconic Latina actress, singer, and dancer Liz Torres — known for her unforgettable performances in classic TV series like “All in the Family,” “Phyllis,” “The John Larroquette Show,” and “Gilmore Girls”—I have curated an engaging list of facts and trivia that highlight this trailblazing star's remarkable life and career.
From her captivating performances at the infamous NY Continental Baths to her unforgettable exchanges with Archie Bunker on “All in the Family,” and her endearing portrayal of Miss Patty on “Gilmore Girls,” this trivia list is packed with insights that showcase her incredible journey in the entertainment industry.
Prepare to challenge your knowledge of Liz’s extraordinary career and rediscover what makes her contributions to television so timeless and entertaining for over 50 years. Enjoy the journey!
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Torres was born in the Bronx borough of New York City, where her parents had settled after moving from Puerto Rico. There she received her primary and secondary education. Liz got a full scholarship to NYU.
She made her film debut in 1969 playing a prostitute in a low-budget movie titled “Utterly Without Redeeming Social Value.”
Decades ago in New York, Liz and Bette Midler shared Barry Manilow as their musical conductor at the infamous Continental Baths. The Continental Baths was a gay bathhouse located in the basement of The Ansonia Hotel in New York City. It was operated by Steve Ostrow from 1968 to 1976.
She shot into fame when Johnny Carson attended one of her club circuit shows and invited her to perform on his television series.
She married movie producer Pete Locke, who founded the Kushner-Locke Company.
On Broadway, Torres replaced Tony-winning Rita Moreno as men's bathhouse entertainer Googie Gomez in the wacky comedy "The Ritz" written by Terrence McNally and portrayed the bizarre character of Bunny in "House of Blue Leaves."
In 1973, Torres played Morticia in “The Addams Family Fun House”, which was a musical version of the original series.
In 1975, she recorded a disco music single called "Hustle Latino" on RCA Records (RCA 10519) arranged, conducted, and produced by Michael Zager and appeared on Dick Clark's American Bandstand to perform the number.
In addition to regular roles on 70s TV variety shows for Melba Moore, Clifton Davis and Ben Vereen, she replaced the late Barbara Colby in the “Mary Tyler Moore Show” spinoff “Phyllis“ starring Cloris Leachman following Colby's tragic murder in a drive-by shooting while walking out of an acting class. The character was written out of the series after the first season.
Liz Torres appeared as Teresa Betancourt, a Puerto Rican hospital worker who the Bunkers took in as a temporary boarder/tenant during Season 7 of the CBS-TV sitcom “All in the Family”.
In early 1981, she co-starred opposite Marla Gibbs in “Checking In”, a short-lived spin-off of “The Jeffersons”.
Liz Torres appeared as Angelita Carmen Guadalupe Cecelia Jimenez, a guardian angel assigned to Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula), and Max Greenman (Ross Partridge), a NYC cab driver he leaps into, in the Season 4 episode of the Donald P. Bellisario drama series “Quantum Leap” titled “It’s A Wonderful Leap".
Torres had a recurring role on another Bellisario show, “Tequila, and Bonetti”, as a psychic who hears the dog Tequila's thoughts.
Some of Liz’s movies include: “Scavenger Hunt”, “Hot to Trot”, “Thieves of Fortune”, and “The Odd Couple II”.
In 1990, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance as Angie in the 1989 television comedy series “The Famous Teddy Z,” and received a Bravo Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Comedy Series.
Liz Torres, was nominated in 1994 for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for “The John Larroquette Show”, she won the NCLR/ALMA Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Comedy Series in 1996 for her role in the series. She would also win a Nosotros Golden Eagle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Series in 1997.
Liz starred on “The John Larroquette Show” from 1993-1996. The show was unusual for occasionally addressing issues of race through a multiracial cast, unlike most American sitcoms in the 1990s
Liz appeared in "The Nanny" during the 19th episode of Season 5, titled "Immaculate Concepcion," which aired on April 1, 1998. She played the role of Consuela, a woman who has an affair with Maxwell's father. In this episode, Maxwell’s father dies, leaving his entire estate to a secret love child, Concepcion Sheffield, portrayed by Maria Conchita Alonso.
From 2000 until the series' end in 2007, she was a semi-regular cast member of “Gilmore Girls”, on which she played Stars Hollow's resident dance teacher, Patty LaCosta.
After casting Liz Torres as Miss Patty, the producers of “Gilmore Girls” were convinced they had to cast Sally Struthers due to their presence together in “All in the Family”.
Both Liz Torres (Miss Patty) and Sally Struthers (Babette) are theatre trained and have performed on Broadway. Probably why they are so often seen singing on the series “Gilmore Girls”.
In 2007, Liz became a recurring cast member on the ABC series “Ugly Betty,” in which she played Evelyn, Wilhelmina Slater's longtime housekeeper, whom Wilhelmina just met for the first time after having hired her in 1994
As a champion of numerous worthwhile causes, Torres has strongly focused her talent and attention on AIDS, higher educational for minorities, and funding for public television.
She also achieved success as an RCA recording artist, gave a command performance for Morocco's King Hassan II and was invited to the White House by President Jimmy Carter for America's First National Hispanic Week Celebration.
Liz portrayed Daisy, who is Rosie’s (Selenis Leyva) sister, in the episode titled "Lopez Vs. Birthdays," which is the fourth episode of the first season of the NBC sitcom “Lopez Vs. Lopez.”
Some facts are taken from IMDB & Wikipedia.
Don’t miss listening to my captivating interview with the hilarious Liz Torres in the latest two episodes of the Hollywood Obsessed podcast! Where you get exclusive insights and stories you won’t find anywhere else!
Click the links below to listen now and be inspired!
Episode 107 - HERE
Episode 108 - HERE
