Saundra Santiago (born April 13, 1957) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Det. Gina Calabrese in the NBC original crime drama series Miami Vice (1984–1990). She also played Carmen Santos on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light and the second Carlotta Vega on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live.
Saundra Santiago | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 13, 1957 |
| Education | University of Miami (BA) Southern Methodist University (MFA) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouse | Roger Squitero (m. 1999) |
Early life edit
Santiago is the daughter of a Cuban father and a Puerto Rican mother. Raised in the South Bronx, New York City, she attended Our Lady of Victory Grammar School. When she was 13 years old, her family moved to Homestead, Florida.[1]
Santiago graduated from South Dade Senior High School and attended the University of Miami on a scholarship, majoring in psychology. As a University of Miami student, she became interested in acting. After graduation, she went on to post-graduate study in theater and arts at Southern Methodist University, eventually earning a Master of Fine Arts degree.[1] Santiago joined the company of regional summer stock theater, Timber Lake Playhouse, Mount Carroll, Illinois, performing many roles including Maria in West Side Story in the 1980 season.[2]
Career edit
In 1984, Santiago made her big screen debut appearing in the dance drama film Beat Street,[3] and later that year began starring in the NBC crime drama series Miami Vice playing the role of Detective Gina Calabrese opposite Don Johnson.[4] The series ran for five seasons. In the 1990s, Santiago appeared in a number of made-for-television movies, including The Cosby Mysteries (1994) and To Sir, with Love II (1996) opposite Sidney Poitier.[5]
In 1999, Santiago joined the cast of the long-running CBS soap opera Guiding Light playing crime boss Carmen Santos.[6] She received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for America's Favorite Villain in 2002.[7] She left the soap after three years. She appeared simultaneously in a recurring role on The Sopranos as Tony Soprano's next-door neighbor Jeannie Cusamano, and as her twin sister Joan, from 1999 to 2007.[8] Additionally, on television, Santiago guest-starred on Law & Order in the 1992 episode "Prince of Darkness" (episode 3.8) and in the 2004 episode "Veteran's Day" (episode 14.15).
In 2004, Santiago joined the cast of the ABC soap opera One Life to Live in the role of Isabella Santi/Angelina Parades after leaving Guiding Light.[9] In 2007, she played a recurring role in the first season of the FX legal thriller Damages. In 2009, she returned to One Life to Live, this time taking over the role of Carlotta Vega from Patricia Mauceri.[10] She remained with the show until 2011. In 2014, she returned to prime-time television playing the role of Marciela Acosta, the wife of gang leader Javier Acosta, in the short-lived Fox drama series Gang Related.[11] Santiago also guest-starred on Person of Interest, True Detective, Gotham, Blue Bloods,[12] and Madam Secretary.[13]
Personal life edit
Santiago met jazz musician Roger Squitero in 1994 whom she married in 1999.[14]
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | The End of August | Mariequita | |
| 1984 | Beat Street | Carmen Cararro | |
| 1993 | With Hostile Intent | Sgt. Lucille Preston | TV movie |
| Carlito's Way | Club Patron Dancing with Carlito | ||
| 1994 | The Cosby Mysteries | Amy Flusser | TV movie |
| 1995 | Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan | Rosinha Zulueta | TV movie |
| 1996 | To Sir, with Love II | Louisa Rodgriguez | TV movie |
| 1997 | Nick and Jane | Stephanie | |
| 1998 | Hi-Life | Elena | |
| 2002 | Garmento | Franca Fortuna | |
| 2006 | The Promise | Lourdes | Short |
| 2009 | Bruja | Lorraine | Short |
| 2013 | Meddling Mom | Valeria | TV movie |
| The House That Jack Built | Martha | ||
| 2021 | Sand Dollar Cove | Anna Walters | TV movie |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | ¿Qué Pasa, USA? | Lisa | Episode: "Patria and Company" |
| 1984–90 | Miami Vice | Detective Gina Calabrese | Main cast |
| 1992 | ABC Afterschool Special | Jean Hodge | Episode: "Summer Stories: The Mall - Part 3" |
| Law & Order | Sandra Alvaro | Episode: "Prince of Darkness" | |
| 1995 | New York Undercover | Juanita | Episode: "The Shooter" |
| 1999–02 | Guiding Light | Carmen Santos | 25 episodes ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama (2001) Nominated – ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama (2000, 2002) Nominated – Daytime Emmy Award for America's Favorite Villain (2002) |
| 1999–07 | The Sopranos | Jean & Joan Cusamano | 5 episodes |
| 2004 | Law & Order | Mariela Silva | Episode: "Veteran's Day" |
| 2007 | Damages | Karen Gonzales | Recurring cast, season 1 |
| 2008 | Cashmere Mafia | Dr. Jane | Episode: "Yours, Mine and Hers" |
| 2009 | The Unusuals | Melanie Trumble | Episode: "Crime Slut" |
| 2009–11 | One Life to Live | Carlotta Vega | 13 episodes |
| 2011 | Person of Interest | Patti D'Agostino | Episode: "Witness" |
| 2014 | Gang Related | Marciela Acosta | Recurring cast |
| 2015 | The Following | Mrs. Miller | Episode: "New Blood" |
| True Detective | Irma | Episode: "Other Lives" | |
| Gotham | Janice Caulfield | Episode: "Rise of the Villains: Strike Force" | |
| 2016 | Blue Bloods | Carmen Baez | Episode: "Stomping Grounds" |
| 2017 | Snowfall | Mariela | Episode: "The Rubicon" |
| Madam Secretary | Margarita Garcia | Episode: "Women Transform the World" | |
| 2020 | Hightown | Beatriz | Episode: "B.F.O." |
References edit
- ^ a b Robertson, Nan (March 11, 1983). "NEW FACE: SAUNDRA SANTIAGO; ONE ACTRESS'S VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE". The New York Times. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ^ Pidde, Samantha (June 8, 2016). "Actress enjoys return to TLP". Carroll County Mirror-Democrat. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (June 8, 1984). "MOVIE: 'BEAT STREET'". The New York Times. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ^ Aitchison, Diana (October 14, 1988). "'MIAMI VICE' STAR WARMS UP FOR ROLE IN MUSICAL". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ^ McCarthy, John P. (April 3, 1996). "Cbs Sunday Movie to Sir with Love II". Variety. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ^ Goldstein, Toby (December 8, 2002). "'AMC' FINDS A LUCKY PENNY". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ^ "Saundra Santiago". IMDb.
- ^ "MANIPULATION Begins Previews Tonight at Cherry Lane". BroadwayWorld. June 21, 2011. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ^ Gore, Scotty (July 20, 2009). "Saundra Santiago Discusses 'Life' as Carlotta Vega". Soap Opera Network. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ^ "One Life to Live: Patricia Mauceri Out, Saundra Santiago In!". Soaps.com. June 29, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (September 20, 2013). "Fox's 'Gang Related' Recasts Role With 'Miami Vice' Grad (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ^ Tecson, Karla (January 22, 2016). "'Blue Bloods' season 6 spoilers: 'Stomping Grounds' centres on two complicated murder cases". International Business Times. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
- ^ Santiago, Saundra (March 16, 2012). "The Blog: A Working Actor's Life". The Huffington Post. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
- ^ Rivas, Aby (March 10, 2020). "'Miami Vice' Star Saundra Santiago Looks Age-defying at 62 and Has Been Married for 20 Years". news.amomama.com. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
External links edit
- Saundra Santiago at IMDb
- Saundra Santiago on Twitter
- Saundra Santiago on Huffington Post
