Louisa Moritz was a talented and multifaceted individual, born Luisa Cira Castro Netto on September 25, 1936, in Havana, Cuba. She was the daughter of Luis Castro, and her family was deeply rooted in the law profession, with her sister Aurora and older brother Rafael also pursuing careers in this field.
As a young woman, Louisa left Cuba and made her way to New York City during the tumultuous 1950s. It was here that she would eventually change her last name from Castro to Moritz, inspired by the St. Moritz Hotel in New York City. Arriving in the city at the age of 23, in July 1960, Louisa was determined to make a name for herself in the entertainment industry.
Moritz began her acting career in the late 1960s, appearing in a series of television commercials. Her breakthrough role came in 1970, when she starred as Carmela, a young prostitute, in the film The Man from O.R.G.Y. This role was followed by a string of memorable performances in films such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Death Race 2000, Sixpack Annie, Up in Smoke, The Last American Virgin, and Chained Heat.
In addition to her work in film, Moritz also appeared in a number of television shows, including The Leslie Uggams Show, The Joe Namath Show, Love, American Style, Ironside, Happy Days, M*A*S*H, Chico and the Man, The Rockford Files, The Incredible Hulk, and The Associates.
Outside of her acting career, Moritz was a successful real estate agent and a talented singer. She even wrote and performed a song about Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show." In addition, Moritz was a shrewd businesswoman, purchasing a hotel in Beverly Hills and renaming it the Beverly Hills St. Moritz.
Despite her on-screen persona as a bubbly blonde, Moritz was a highly intelligent and accomplished individual. She attended the University of West Los Angeles, where she made the Deans List and won the American Jurisprudence Bancroft Whitney Prize for Contracts. Moritz went on to become a lawyer in southern California, but was eventually disbarred for failing to provide certain quarterly reports.
Louisa Moritz passed away on January 4, 2019, at the age of 82, due to complications from cardiovascular disease. Despite her passing, her legacy lives on through her impressive body of work and her many memorable performances on screen.
