Edith Díaz

Edith Diaz (October 23, 1939 – November 19, 2009) was a Puerto Rican actress known for the roles in film, television, and stage. She co-founded the Screen Actors Guild's Ethnic Minorities Committee in 1972.^[1]

Diaz was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.^[1] She studied under noted acting teacher, Stella Adler, and at the Actors Studio in the New York City.^[1]

Her film credits included Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Sister Act (1992), Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), Nick of Time (1995), and her final appearance, Oh Baby! (2008).

On television, Diaz appeared in the short-lived 1975-76 CBS television series, Popi, which starred Hector Elizondo. Popi, which aired on CBS for eleven episodes, was one of the first television series on American network television to feature a Hispanic theme and cast.^[1] Her other television credits included guest roles on Quincy, M.E., Police Woman, St. Elsewhere, All in the Family, The F.B.I., Barney Miller and The Twilight Zone.^[1] In 1991, she played Desi Arnaz's mother, Dolores, in the television movie, Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter, on CBS.^[1] In the 1973 episode "A Bullet for El Diablo", on Hawaii Five-O, Diaz appeared in a dual role as half-sisters Rita Salazar and Maria Ramos.^[1]

Diaz co-founded the Screen Actors Guild Ethnic Minorities Committee in 1972 with Henry Darrow, Carmen Zapata and Ricardo Montalbán.^[1]

Edith Diaz died of heart failure on November 19, 2009, at a nursing home in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, at the age of 70.^[2] Actress Miluka Rivera, who had served with her on the SAG Ethnic Minorities Committee, called Diaz a "gifted performer, a union Latino rights activist and a loving friend."^[1]

• Edith Diaz at IMDb