Maria Antonia Rey[2] (October 12, 1927[3] – February 21, 2019[2]) was a Cuban-born American actress.
Life and career
Born in Camajuaní and educated in Havana,[4] Rey was the only child of Emilia Rey and dentist Antonio Francesch. Due to her father's premature death, she was given her mother's surname at birth. Over the course of her adolescence, Rey acquired two stepbrothers following her mother's remarriage, to banker Rafael Rangel.[2]
Rey married theatre director Andres Castro in 1958 – during the intermission of a play. Despite offers of prominence in their fields, they chose to flee communist Cuba in 1961.[2]
Rey's Broadway credits include The Rose Tattoo (1995), The Ritz (1975), A Streetcar Named Desire (1973), 42 Seconds from Broadway (1973), The Engagement Baby (1970), Camino Real (1970), Mike Downstairs (1968), and Bajour (1964).[5]
Rey's final role was Assunta Bianchi, in the television series Happy!; her character dies in the second to last episode of the series, which aired three months after Rey's death, and featured a closing “In Memory” credit dedicated to Rey.
^Niurka, Norma (September 9, 2000). "Muere el Dramaturgo Cubano Andres Castro". El Nuevo Herald. p. 11A. ProQuest369166014. (Auto translate) In New York, [Andres Castro] taught acting at the Senior Dramatic Workshop and presented two seasons of theater in Spanish, until he founded, in 1969, together with his wife, the West Side Repertory Theater to make productions in English. In 1985, Castro retired. He recently suffered a relapse of the stroke he suffered five years ago.
"World Briefs: Today's Birthdays". The Salt Lake Tribune. October 12, 1999. p. A2. ProQuest288927886. Actress Antonia Rey is 72. Former Utah Sen. Jake Garn is 67.
"Almanac: Today's Birthdays". Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. October 12, 2018. p. A2. ProQuest2118591362. Actress Antonia Rey is 91. Former Sen. Jake Garn, R-Utah, is 86. Singer Sam Moore (formerly of Sam and Dave) is 83.
