Louisa Moritz (born Luisa Cira Castro Netto; September 25, 1936 – January 4, 2019) was a Cuban-American actress and lawyer. After arriving in New York from Cuba, she became a film and television actress, then earned a law degree. She is best known for her roles in '' One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest'' and the television show ''

Love, American Style ''Love, American Style'' is an American anthology comedy television series that aired on ABC from September 29, 1969, to January 11, 1974. The series was produced by Paramount Television. During the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, it was a pa ...

''.

Early life

Moritz was born in Havana, where she worked as an accountant. Owing to the political upheaval of the late 1950s she left Cuba and moved to New York, arriving on July 15, 1960, aged 23. She later shaved 10 years off her true age, adopting 1946 as her year of birth. To avoid association with

Fidel Castro Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (13 August 1926 – 25 November 2016) was a Cuban politician and revolutionary who was the leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008, serving as the prime minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and President of Cuba, president ...

, to whom she was distantly related, she adopted the last name Moritz after seeing the Hotel St. Moritz in New York City.

Professional life

Unable to speak English when she first moved to the United States in 1960, Moritz started acting in commercials in the 1960s. Her first film was '' The Man from O.R.G.Y.'' in 1970. In 1982, Moritz had a role in '' The Last American Virgin'' as Carmela. Moritz generally played ditzy blondes, appearing in numerous films, of which the best known was '' One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' in 1975 as the prostitute Rose, and in TV shows, including ''

Happy Days ''Happy Days'' is an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marsha ...

'', ''

M*A*S*H ''M*A*S*H'' (an acronym for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) is an American media franchise consisting of a series of novels, a film, several television series, plays, and other properties, and based on the semi-autobiographical fiction of Richa ...

'', and ''

'', where she was a regular. Moritz later studied law at the University of West Los Angeles and Abraham Lincoln University. She was admitted to the California Bar in 2004. According to her publicist, she was at the top of her class and won the American Jurisprudence Bancroft Whitney Prize for Contracts. On June 25, 2015, Moritz was suspended from the State Bar of California for failing to provide certain quarterly reports. On October 1, 2017, she was disbarred for failure to comply with terms set out in her previous disciplinary actions and to respond to the California Bar. Moritz also invested in real estate, owning a hotel in Beverly Hills that she renamed the Beverly Hills St. Moritz, and produced self-defense programs for TV.

Death

After being injured in a fall during a visit to Washington, D.C., Moritz died in a hospital in Los Angeles, aged 82, on January 4, 2019, of natural causes.

Accusations against Bill Cosby

In November 2014, Moritz became one of the first women to accuse

Bill Cosby William Henry Cosby Jr. ( ; born July 12, 1937) is an American retired comedian, actor, and media personality. Often cited as a trailblazer for African Americans in the entertainment industry, Cosby was a film, television, and stand-up comedy ...

, claiming Cosby sexually assaulted her in the

green room In show business, the green room is the space in a theatre, or a similar venue, that functions as a waiting room and lounge for Performing arts, performers before, during, and after a performance or show when they are not engaged on Stage (thea ...

of ''

The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has been broadcast on NBC since 1954. The program has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2 ...

'' in 1971. After Cosby accused her of lying, she sued him for defamation. Her lawyer planned to continue the lawsuit after her death. Cosby's insurance company settled in April 2019.

Selected filmography

Film

* ''Assignment: Female'' (1966) as Miss Mousie * '' The Man from O.R.G.Y.'' (1970) as Gina Moretti * '' The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat'' (1974) as Chita (Juan's sister) (voice) * ''La disputa'' (1974) * '' Fore Play'' (1975) as Lt. Sylvia Arliss * '' Death Race 2000'' (1975) as Myra * '' One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (1975) as Rose * '' Six Pack Annie'' (1975) as Flora * ''

Cannonball A round shot (also called solid shot or simply ball) is a solid spherical projectile without explosive charge, launched from a gun. Its diameter is slightly less than the bore of the barrel from which it is shot. A round shot fired from a lar ...

'' (1976) as Louisa * '' The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington'' (1977) as Natalie Nussbaum * '' Charge of the Model T's'' (1977) as Hilda * '' Loose Shoes'' (1978) as Margie, Duddy's Date * ''

Up in Smoke ''Up in Smoke'' (also referred to as ''Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke'') is a 1978 American buddy stoner comedy film directed by Lou Adler and starring Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, Tom Skerritt, Edie Adams, Strother Martin, and Stacy Keach. It ...

'' (1978) as Officer Gloria Whitey * '' The North Avenue Irregulars'' (1979) as Mrs. Gossin * ''

Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...

'' (1979) as Miss Wonderly * '' New Year's Evil'' (1980) as Sally * '' Under the Rainbow'' (1981) as Telephone Operator * '' True Confessions'' (1981) as Whore * '' Lunch Wagon'' (1981) as Sunshine * '' The Last American Virgin'' (1982) as Carmela * '' Chained Heat'' (1983) as Bubbles * '' Jungle Warriors'' (1984) as Laura McCashin * '' Hot Chili'' (1985) as Chi Chi * '' Galaxis'' (1995) as Bar Lady at Sharkey's * ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

'' (2000) as Sally / Receptionist (final film role)

Television

* '' The Leslie Uggams Show'', episode dated 12 October 1969 as French Wife * '' The Joe Namath Show'', episode dated 21 October 1969 as Mail Girl * ''

'', segments of various episodes in 1971–72 as Candy Lee (segment "Love and the Alibi") / Dawn (segment "Love and the Vacation") / Dawn (segment "Love and the Detective") * '' Ironside'', episode "Man Named Arno" in 1972 as Bonnie * ''

'', episode "Richie's Cup Runneth Over" in 1974 as Verna LaVerne * '' Happy Anniversary and Goodbye'' (1974 TV movie) as Terry * ''

'', episode "Bombed" in 1975 as Nurse Sanchez * ''

Match Game ''Match Game'' is an American television panel game show that premiered on NBC in 1962 and has been revived several times over the course of the last six decades. The game features contestants trying to match answers given by celebrity paneli ...

'', panelist in 1974–75 * '' One Day at a Time'', episode "How to Succeed Without Trying" in 1976 as Receptionist * ''

Chico and the Man ''Chico and the Man'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on NBC for four seasons from September 13, 1974, to July 21, 1978. It stars Jack Albertson as Ed Brown (the Man), the cantankerous owner of a run-down garage in an East Los ...

'', episode "Chico Packs His Bags" in 1976 as Lorraine * ''

The Rockford Files ''The Rockford Files'' is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner, aired on NBC from September 13, 1974, to January 10, 1980. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investigator Jim Rockford, with Noah Beery Jr. in th ...

'', episode "The Dog and Pony Show" in 1977 as Helen * ''The Rockford Files'', episode "A Good Clean Bust with Sequel Rights" in 1978 as Debbi * '' The Incredible Hulk'', episode "Sideshow" in 1980 as Beth * '' The Associates'', episode "The Censors" in 1980 as Vera #1 * '' Enos'', episode "The Head Hunter" in 1981 * '' The Cartier Affair'' (1984 TV movie) as Wife of Fish Market/Restaurant Owner

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Moritz, Louisa 1936 births 2019 deaths Cuban emigrants to the United States Disbarred California lawyers American film actresses American television actresses American entertainers of Cuban descent 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American actresses Actresses from New York City Woodbury University alumni 20th-century American lawyers