Torres, Liz 1947–

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Torres, Liz 1947–

(Queen of house music)

PERSONAL

Full name, Elizabeth Larrieu Torres; born September 27, 1947, in the Bronx, New York, NY (some sources cite Puerto Rico); married Peter Locke (a producer, director, writer, and actor). Avocational Interests: Collecting.

Addresses:

Agent—Jerome Siegel & Associates, 1680 North Vine St., Hollywood, CA 90028.

Career:

Actress, comedienne, and singer. Performed as a singer and comedienne, first at nightclubs, bathhouses, and other venues in New York City, then throughout the United States and the world, including a command performance for King Hassan III of Morocco, 1972, and at the White House for National Hispanic Heritage Week, during the administration of president Jimmy Carter, 1977. Appeared in advertisements. Write Act Repertory, Hollywood, CA, member of the board of directors. Active in charitable causes, including public television, the education of minorities, and organizations fighting AIDS. Also known the queen of house music.

Member:

National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts.

Awards, Honors:

Emmy Award nomination, outstanding guest actress in a comedy series, 1990, for The Famous Teddy Z; Lifetime Achievement Award, National Hispanic Academy of Media Arts and Sciences, 1994; Emmy Award nominations, outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, 1994 and 1995, Golden Globe Award nomination, best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a series, miniseries, or motion picture made for television, 1995, NCLR Bravo Award, outstanding individual performance in a comedy series, National Council of La Raza, 1996, American Comedy Award nomination, funniest supporting female performer in a television series, 1996, NCLR Bravo Award, outstanding individual performance in a comedy series, 1997, and Nosotros Golden Eagle Award, outstanding actress in a television series, 1997, all for The John Larroquette Show; NCLR Bravo Award nomination, outstanding performance by a female in a variety or music series/special, 1996, for Latino Laugh Festival; El Angel Award, 1997, for contributions to Hispanic art in America; ALMA Award nomination, outstanding actress in a made-for-television movie or miniseries, American Latin Media Arts awards, 1999, for Storm Chasers: Revenge of the Twister; Alma Award nomination, outstanding actress in a new television series, 2001, and ALMA Award nomination, outstanding supporting actress in a television series, 2006, both for Gilmore Girls; DVD Premiere Award nomination, best supporting actress, DVD Exclusive awards, 2003, for King Rikki.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Regular performer, The Melba Moore-Clifton Davis Show, CBS, 1972.

Regular performer, Ben Vereen … Comin' at Ya, NBC, 1975.

Julie Erskine, Phyllis, CBS, 1975-76.

Teresa Betancourt, All in the Family (also known as Justice for All and Those Were the Days), CBS, 1976-77.

Miranda DeAngelo (Milt's wife), Stockard Channing in Just Friends (also known as Just Friends), CBS, 1979.

Elena Beltran, Checking In, CBS, 1981.

Maria, The New Odd Couple, ABC, 1982-83.

Gail, Days of Our Lives (also known as Cruise of Deception: Days of Our Lives, Days, DOOL, Des jours et des vies, Horton-sagaen, I gode og onde dager, Los dias de nuestras vidas, Meres agapis, Paeivien viemaeae, Vaara baesta aar, Zeit der Sehnsucht, and Zile din viata noastra), NBC, 1987.

Anna Maria Batista, City, CBS, 1990.

Mahalia Sanchez, The John Larroquette Show (also known as Larroquette), NBC, 1993-96.

Rosa, Over the Top, ABC, 1997.

Maria, Los Beltran, Telemundo, 1999-2001.

Miss Patty, Gilmore Girls (also known as Gilmore Girls: Beginnings and The Gilmore Way), The WB, 2000-2006, The CW, 2006-2007.

Rosa, American Family (also known as American Family: Journey of Dreams), PBS, 2002.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Juanita, More Wild Wild West, CBS, 1980.

Serafina Palumbo, Murder Can Hurt You (also known as Nojack & Co), 1980.

Susie, Her Life as a Man, NBC, 1984.

Miss Morales, Father of Hell Town (also known as Hell Town), NBC, 1985.

Laura, Kate's Secret, NBC, 1986.

Big Erma, Poker Alice, CBS, 1987.

Bernice, Addicted to His Love (also known as Sisterhood), ABC, 1988.

Isabella D'Agostino, Miracle at Beekman's Place, NBC, 1988.

Fortune teller, Opposites Attract, NBC, 1990.

Lucy, Maid for Each Other, NBC, 1992.

Lenora's mother, Attack of the 5'2" Women (also known as National Lampoon's "Attack of the 5 Ft 2 Woman," Donne all'attacco!, and Mujeres al ataque), Showtime, 1994.

Wallace Houston, Storm Chasers: Revenge of the Twister (also known as Tornado, A revanche do tornado, Cacadores de tempestades, Le souffle de l'enfer, Souffle d'enfer, Storm Chasers—Im Auge des Sturms, and Twister—La venganza), Family Channel, 1998.

Minerva's mother, The Princess and the Barrio Boy (also known as She's in Love), Showtime, 2000.

The Tooth Fairy, Once upon a Christmas, 2000.

The Tooth Fairy, Twice upon a Christmas (also known as Crazy Christmas, Rudolfa's Revenge, La fille du Pere Noel, and Natal em perigo), PAX TV, 2001.

Eugenie Underwood, McBride: Anybody Here Murder Marty?, The Hallmark Channel, 2005.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Cat, Pinocchio (musical), CBS, 1976.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NBC, 1994.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NBC, 1996.

The 107th Tournament of Roses Parade, NBC, 1996.

Latino Laugh Festival, Showtime, 1996.

The Second Annual Latino Laugh Festival (also known as Latino Laugh Festival), c. 1997.

Herself, Gilmore Girls Backstage Special, ABC Family Channel, 2004.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

Presenter, The VIDA Awards, NBC, 1995.

1995 NCLR Bravo Awards, Fox, 1995.

1996 NCLR Bravo Awards, Fox, 1996.

Presenter, The 12th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards, NBC, 1998.

Presenter, Fifth Annual ALMA Awards, ABC, 2000.

Presenter, Hispanic Heritage Awards, NBC, 2000.

Presenter, 2001 ALMA Awards, ABC, 2001.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Herself, The David Frost Show, syndicated, 1971.

Herself, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (also known as The Best of Carson), NBC, multiple episodes, 1971-76.

"Love and the Cryptic Gift/Love and Family Hour/Love and the Legend/Love and Sexpert," Love, American Style, ABC, 1972.

Herself, Bandstand (also known as AB, American Bandstand, American Bandstand 1965, New American Bandstand 1966, and VH1's Best of "American Bandstand"), ABC, 1976.

Herself, Break the Bank, ABC, 1976.

Herself, Easy Does It … Starring Frankie Avalon (also known as Easy Does It), CBS, 1976.

Herself, $20,000 Pyramid, ABC, 1976.

Anita, "The Game," Starsky and Hutch, ABC, 1978.

Anita, "Huggy Can't Go Home (a.k.a. Huggy Can't Go Back)," Starsky and Hutch, ABC, 1979.

Elena Beltran, "Florence's New Job: Parts 1 & 2," The Jeffersons, CBS, 1981, pilot for the series Checking In.

Secretary, "The Return of the Doo-Wop Girls," Gimme a Break!, NBC, 1983.

Second nurse, "Rodeo," Gimme a Break!, NBC, 1984.

Suprette owner, "Blues for Mr. Green," Hill Street Blues, NBC, 1984.

Suprette owner, "Mayo, Hold the Pickle," Hill Street Blues, NBC, 1984.

"The Long Flight," Blue Thunder, ABC, 1984.

Maria Fuentes, "Overnight Sensation," Hunter, NBC, 1986.

Susie, "Enid Quits," You Again?, NBC, 1986.

Judge Linda Ruiz-Quinones, "December Bribe," L.A. Law, NBC, 1987.

Mrs. Doyle, "I Never Played for My Father," Duet, Fox, 1987.

Mrs. Gambino, "Christmas," The Wonder Years, ABC, 1988.

Angie, "Teddy Gets a House Guest," The Famous Teddy Z, CBS, 1989.

Angie, "Teddy Goes to Malibu," The Famous Teddy Z, CBS, 1989.

Dr. Tamayo, "Fountain of Youth," Alien Nation (also known as Spacecop L.A., Alien nacion, and Alien nation—ciudadanos del espacio), Fox, 1989.

Employee, "Down Came the Rain and Washed the Spider Out: Part 1," Knots Landing, CBS, 1989.

Madame Rita, "Psycho Pheno-Mama," Mama's Family, NBC, 1989.

Gloria Diaz, "Sweet 15," WonderWorks, PBS, 1990.

Judge, "The Neighborhood," Gabriel's Fire, ABC, 1990.

Mrs. Torres, "The Importance of Being Alex," Head of the Class, ABC, 1990.

Judge Trevino, "Belly of the Beast," Gabriel's Fire, ABC, 1991.

Angelita Carmen Guadalupe Cecelia Jiminez, "It's a Wonderful Leap—May 10, 1958," Quantum Leap, NBC, 1992.

Sixth nanny, "Midnight Plane to Paris," Murphy Brown, CBS, 1992.

"Brooklyn and the Beast," Tequila and Bonetti, CBS, 1992.

"Tale of the Dragon," Tequila and Bonetti, CBS, 1992.

Hazel, "Hazel's of Belmar," Down the Shore, Fox, 1993.

Madame LePard, "The All-American Boy—Not!," Empty Nest, NBC, 1993.

Various voices, Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (animated), HBO, multiple episodes, beginning c. 1995.

Angela, "The Whistle Blower," Moesha, UPN, 1996.

Principal Maldonado, "Below the Rim," Smart Guy, The WB, 1997.

Mayor White, "A Day at the Races," The Adventures of A.R.K. (also known as The Adventures of A.R.K. (Animal Rescue Kids)), The Discovery Channel, c. 1997.

Consuela, "Immaculate Concepcion," The Nanny, CBS, 1998.

Elizabeth, "Caroline and the Bullfighter: Part 2," Caroline in the City (also known as Caroline), NBC, 1998.

Hannah Goldstein, "Theme of Life," Ally McBeal, Fox, 1998.

Art's lawyer, "Life Insurance," Safe Harbor, The WB, 1999.

Liz, "Books," Tracey Takes On …, HBO, 1999.

Phyllis, "America," Tracey Takes On …, HBO, 1999.

Phyllis, "Lies," Tracey Takes On …, HBO, 1999.

Phyllis, "Scandal," Tracey Takes On …, HBO, 1999.

Rosa Vazquez, "The Parent Trap," Jesse, NBC, 1999.

Mama, "Thinking of You; Mama's Soup Pot; The Letter," Chicken Soup for the Soul, PAX TV, 2000.

Ramona Ramirez, "I'm Okay, You're Crazy," The Fighting Fitzgeralds, NBC, 2001.

Ramona Ramirez, "One Angry Man (a.k.a. The Angry Man)," The Fighting Fitzgeralds, NBC, 2001.

Tia Gaby, "Cold Turkey," The Brothers Garcia, Nickelodeon, 2001.

Laverne, TV411, PBS, multiple episodes, beginning c. 2001.

Janet Crowley, "Court Date," First Monday, CBS, 2002.

Janet Crowley, "Crime and Punishment," First Monday, CBS, 2002.

Janet Crowley, "The Price of Liberty," First Monday, CBS, 2002.

"The Big Show," Taina, Nickelodeon, 2002.

Sarah Wilson, "A Little Help from My Friends," ER (also known as Emergency Room), NBC, 2003.

Sarah Wilson, "A Saint in the City," ER (also known as Emergency Room), NBC, 2003.

Herself, "Character You Love to Hate," TV Land's Top Ten, TV Land, 2005.

Herself, "Greatest TV Romances," TV Land's Top Ten, TV Land, 2005.

Esperanza, "Teach Your Children Well," The New Adventures of Old Christine (also known as Old Christine), CBS, 2006.

Evelyn, "Brothers," Ugly Betty (also known as Betty in the USA, Betty the Ugly, Alles Betty!, Betty en los Estados Unidos, Cimlapsztori, Fula Betty, and Ruma Betty), ABC, 2007.

Appeared as Juanita, Good Advice, CBS. Appeared in other programs, including Almost Grown, CBS; Murder, She Wrote, CBS; Nurses, NBC; and Storytime, PBS.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Lupe (Abraham's friend), Popi, CBS, 1975.

Trini Santos, Willow B: Women in Prison (also known as Cages), ABC, 1980.

Elena Beltran, "Florence's New Job: Parts 1 & 2," Checking In, CBS, 1981, broadcast as an episode of The Jeffersons.

Airport official, Not in Front of the Kids, ABC, 1984.

Lola, Taking It Home, NBC, 1986.

Miss Camez, "B Men," CBS Summer Playhouse, CBS, c. 1989.

Helena Hernandez, Greyhounds, CBS, 1994.

Miss Patty, Gilmore Girls (also known as Gilmore Girls: Beginnings and The Gilmore Way), The WB, 2000.

Janet Crowley, First Monday, CBS, 2002.

Appeared as Miss Patty in the unaired pilot of Gilmore Girls (also known as Gilmore Girls: Beginnings and The Gilmore Way), The WB.

Film Appearances:

Park prostitute, Utterly without Redeeming Social Value (also known as Baring It All), Private Screenings, 1969.

Singer, You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat, JER Pictures, 1971.

Lady Zero, Scavenger Hunt, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1979.

Dolores Frantico, America (also known as Moonbeam), ASA Communications, 1986.

Miss Cortez, Ordinary Heroes, Juniper Releasing, 1986.

Bea, Hot to Trot, Warner Bros., 1988.

Rosa, Sunset (also known as Catalina, Asesinato en Beverly Hills, Assassinato em Hollywood, Intrigo a hollywood, Meurtre a Hollywood, and Sunset—Daemmerung in Hollywood), TriStar, 1988.

Big Rosa, Thieves of Fortune (also known as Chameleon and May the Best Man Win), Skouras Pictures, 1990.

Cab driver's wife, Lena's Holiday, Crown International Pictures, 1991.

Lieutenant Garcia, Bloodfist IV: Die Trying (also known as Bloodfist 4—Deadly Dragon and Die Trying), 1992.

Carney, Rescue Me (also known as Street Hunter), Cannon, 1993.

Judge Fernandez, Body Shot, EDKO Film, 1993.

Girl Talk, Frameline, 1993.

Mrs. Delgado, A Million to Juan (also known as A Million to One), Samuel Goldwyn Company, 1994.

Delores Rodriguez, Just Cause, Warner Bros., 1995.

Dita, Permanent Midnight, Artisan Entertainment, 1998.

Maria, The Odd Couple II (also known as Neil Simon's "The Odd Couple II"), Paramount, 1998.

Ruby Escadrillo, The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, Buena Vista/Walt Disney Pictures, 1998.

Judge Sanchez, Luminarias, Artist View Entertainment, 1999.

Beauty college woman, Joe Dirt (also known as The Adventures of Joe Dirt and Joe Dreck), Columbia, 2001.

Julia, Gabriela, Power Point Films, 2001.

Mata Ortega, King Rikki (also known as Rikki the Pig and The Street King), Mistral Pictures/Dream Rock/Moonstone Entertainment, 2002.

Nonna BonGiovanni, Volare (short film), Sky King Productions/Kings View Productions, 2004.

Teri Richards, Taylor, AIC/York Entertainment, 2005.

Mother, West of Brooklyn, 68 Cent Features, 2007.

Juanita, Expecting Love, CrossCut Films, 2008.

Some sources cite an appearance in It Happened in Hollywood, Screw Film, c. 1972.

Film Song Performer:

"Kitty Can't Help It," The Carhops (also known as California Drive-In Girls and Kitty Can't Help It), N.M.D. Film Distributing Company, 1975, International Film Distributors, 1976.

"Loca," Dancin' thru the Dark, Miramax, 1990.

Perfomer of songs that have appeared in films and television programs.

Stage Appearances:

Bunny, House of Blue Leaves, Coconut Grove Playhouse, Miami, FL, 1988.

Divas: Simply Singing (benefit concert), Los Angeles, 1995.

Stella Deems, Follies (musical), "Broadway's Best" series, Reprise!, Wadsworth Theatre, Los Angeles, 2002.

Appeared as Aldonza, Man of La Mancha (musical), Burt Reynolds Dinner Theater, Jupiter, FL; and as Googie Gomez, The Ritz. Appeared in The Beautiful Mariposa, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (musical), A Girl Could Get Lucky, Kiss Me Kate (musical), Ladies, Murder at the Howard Johnson, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, She That One He the Other, and 3 Broads 3. Also appeared in a solo show and in other productions, including a tribute to Rita Moreno.

Major Tours:

Toured as Rosie in Bye Bye, Birdie (musical), and as Gittel Mosca in Seesaw (musical).

RECORDINGS

Albums:

Can't Get Enough (featuring Master C & J), Jack Trax, 1987.

The Queen Is in the House, Jive and Zomba Records, 1990.

Albums; with Others:

Master C & J, Can't Get Enough (The Classics and More) (featuring Liz Torres), Trax/RSK/Arvato Services, 2005.

Also appeared in recordings by other artists and in compilations.

Singles:

"What You Make Me Feel" (featuring Kenny "Jammin" Jason), Underground, 1986 and 1988.

"Can't Get Enough" (featuring Edward Crosby), State Street Records and ZYX Records, 1987.

"Can't Get Enough" (featuring Master C & J), Jack Trax, 1987.

"Mama's Boy," State Street Records and ZYX Records, 1987.

"No More Mind Games"/"Can't Get Enough," Jack Trax, 1987.

"Out of My Life"/"Don't Fuck with Me," Streetside Records, 1987.

"Out of My Life," Streetside Records, 1988.

"Touch of Love," BCM Records and Black Market, 1988.

(With the Crosby and the Get Down Gang) "You Belong to Me" (You Belong to Me bitch mix), c. 1988.

"I Don't Want You to Stop," Streetside Records, 1989.

"Payback Is a Bitch (What Goes Around Comes Around)," Jive, 1989.

"Queen B****," Streetside Records, 1989.

"If U Keep It Up," Jive, Mercury, Torso, and Black Market International, 1990.

"Set Urself Free," Radikal, 1995.

"Set Urself Free" (remix), Radikal, 1995.

"Set Yourself Free" (remix), Underground Music Department, 1996.

Performer in other recordings, including "Don't Let Love Pass U By," Streetside Records; and "Face It"/"Can't Get Enough" and "What You Make Me Feel"/"No More Mind Games," both Jack Trax.

Music Videos:

"If U Keep It Up," 1990.

WRITINGS

Writings for the Stage:

Affiliated with a solo show.

Albums:

(With Jessie Jones) Can't Get Enough (featuring Master C & J), Jack Trax, 1987.

The Queen Is in the House, Jive and Zomba Records, 1990.

Albums; with Others:

Master C & J, Can't Get Enough (The Classics and More) (featuring Liz Torres), Trax/RSK/Arvato Services, 2005.

Also contributed to recordings by other artists and to compilations.

Singles:

(Lyrics) "What You Make Me Feel" (featuring Kenny "Jammin" Jason), Underground, 1986 and 1988.

(With Edward Crosby and Jessie Jones) "Can't Get Enough" (featuring Crosby), State Street Records and ZYX Records, 1987.

"Can't Get Enough" (featuring Master C & J), Jack Trax, 1987.

"Mama's Boy," State Street Records and ZYX Records, 1987.

"No More Mind Games"/"Can't Get Enough," Jack Trax, 1987.

"Out of My Life"/"Don't Fuck with Me," Streetside Records, 1987.

"Out of My Life," Streetside Records, 1988.

(With Jones) "Touch of Love," BCM Records and Black Market, 1988.

(With the Crosby and the Get Down Gang) "You Belong to Me" (You Belong to Me bitch mix), c. 1988.

(With Jones) "I Don't Want You to Stop," Streetside Records, 1989.

"Payback Is a Bitch (What Goes Around Comes Around)," Jive, 1989.

"Queen B****," Streetside Records, 1989.

"If U Keep It Up," Jive, Mercury, Torso, and Black Market International, 1990.

"Set Urself Free," Radikal, 1995.

"Set Urself Free" (remix), Radikal, 1995.

"Set Yourself Free" (remix), Underground Music Department, 1996.

Wrote other recordings, including "Don't Let Love Pass U By," Streetside Records; and "Face It"/"Can't Get Enough" and "What You Make Me Feel"/"No More Mind Games," both Jack Trax.