Miluka Rivera
Miluka Rivera (Rabell) is a Puerto Rican author, actress-activist, journalist, writer, poet, filmmaker, cultural advocate, and Etiquette instructor. The CBS network selected her among the Best literary Latino writers in Los Angeles, CA. The New York City's Comité Noviembre, the Latin Press ACE, also awarded her. She won the Outstanding Woman of the Year 2010 award, jointly by the newspaper La Opinión/LA Times and the State Controller of California, for her contributions to the arts and Latino community. Rivera is a historian who offers talks to universities and Zoom, among others, and who has specialized in the Puerto Ricans and Latinos in the film industry and Broadway for many years. As a journalist, her articles have been published by: the LA Times newspaper, Hispanic Magazine, Writers Guild of America West (Journal), Screen Actor National Magazine, Valiente, El Nuevo Día, and El Vocero, among others. Rivera also served on the national board of directors of the Screen Actors Guild, which twice awarded her outstanding achievements. The activist has received dozens of awards for her exceptional and laudable work of excellence on behalf of Puerto Rican and Latino actors in Puerto Rico, New York, and Hollywood. As a female author, Miluka Rivera broke the record by writing seven books about the subject of Latinos and Puerto Rican actors in Hollywood and cinema; her books are also unique because they include exclusive interviews with several movie stars from the golden era and today. Some became friends with her. Rivera's acclaimed books are; Legado Puertorriqueño en Hollywood: Famosos y olvidados (Puerto Rican Legacy in Hollywood: Famous and Forgotten) Introduction by Emmy winner actor Henry Darrow (The High Chaparral), Hollywood Latinos Offspring (in both languages) with a preface by Emmy winner Ricardo Montalbán (Fantasy Island), and the poem book Alma Boricua, Alma Boreal (her 8th book), in honor of Puerto Rico. The first Spanish biography Juano Hernández de Vagabundo an Estrella de Hollywood (2016), Un Fenómeno llamado José Ferrer: Primer latino en ganar un Tony y un Oscar (2017), the first biography of Ferrer ever written in the world. The first English version of Magnificent Juano Hernández: from Vagabond to Hollywood Star was in celebration and marking Hernández' 50th anniversary of his departure, July 17, 2020. And most recently Inigualable Raúl Juliá: Artista-Activista Altruista (Unequaled Raúl Juliá), which was her friend, was published (on his 80th birthday). During her acting career in New York and Hollywood, the actress managed to act in more than 90 television commercials in both languages and dozens of television appearances in minor roles and feature films including: "Taxi Driver,' "All That Jazz," "Fort Apache the Bronx," "General Hospital" and more recent "Anger Management" which starred Adam Sandler, "Scandal" and "The Bold and the Beautiful" on CBS.
In Puerto Rico, where she was an awarded model, she debuted on WAPA TV as a principal model in the famous "Super Show Goya" alongside Enrique Maluenda and Lillian Hurst. She became established on TV, was a cover girl, and did fashion shows for top local designers. She was one of the busiest models at Barbizon School of Modeling, where she also taught personal improvement and modeling and was an awarded student adviser. Was the lead in the Puerto Rican film "Tiempos y Ritmos." She co-starred opposite Eddie Vélez (Traffic) in "Hollywood Latinos Offspring" docudrama. Her extensive Theater credits in Spanish plays include, "Tric Trac," (the award winner) "The Diary of Anne Frank," "Barefoot on the Park," the acclaimed "La Morena: The Dark One," as a lead and opposite actress Elizabeth Peña, at the Henry Street Settlement, New York City, and in "Pearl" in the leading role at the Ford Amphitheater in Los Angeles, California. Rivera wrote the Spanish version of the TV show The Extraordinary starring Ricardo Montalbán. Besides from co-hosting the show Chef Piero's y Amigos, the actress hosted a radio show with title Living Legends con Miluka Rivera on KIEV 870 AM; among some of her guests were (Oscar winner) Cliff Robertson, actor-activist John Randolph, actress-comedian Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Liz Torres and musician Tito Nieves. As a filmmaker, she co-produced, wrote, and directed the docudrama based on his acclaimed poem and book with the same title Hollywood Latinos Offspring (which embarks on a lovely poetic journey and deals with the triumphs and struggles of Latinos as co-founders of the USA Cinema predating the silent era) and starring legendary Puerto Rican legendary actor Henry Darrow (The High Chaparral) and Olga San Juan (Variety Girl-Blue Skies), as well as Roselyn Sánchez (Rush Hour), Eddie Vélez (Traffic). Rivera, who recently appeared on the cover of Escenario of El Vocero Newspaper of Puerto Rico, has conducted several virtual/Zoom book talks for the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture with special stars such as the legendary Boricua actor Jaime Sánchez (The Wild Bunch), Erik Estrada (CHIPs) and Jimmy Smits (NYPD Blue), all of them also featured on some of her books. As a cultural promoter, her initiatives with the Puerto Rico legislators were fruitful. Because of it, a street was named in honor and memory of Oscar winner José Ferrer in Miramar, Puerto Rico. Ferrer was and still is the only Latino to obtain a 'Best Actor" award by the AMPAS®. In addition, Rivera donated a marble plaque in honor of pioneer star Juano Hermández at the historic theater Tapia in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he performed "Othello" in 1950 and at the prime of his cinema career and right after his non-traditional role in the classic film "The Breaking Point." Her efforts to rescue the abandoned tomb of Juano Hernandez were successful and restored with the help and thanks of the former Olympic athlete and diplomat Amadeo Francis, Juano's son-in-law.
"It is essential to contribute and rescue the history and contributions of Puerto Ricans and Latinos in Hollywood cinema, which continues to influence the world. One of my favorite historians, Joseph Campbell, once said: "Each culture's behavior is greatly shaped by their myth makers and storytellers," concluded Miluka Rivera, who is listed for her outstanding credits and merits in the prestigious Marquis - Who's Who in the World.
In Puerto Rico, where she was an awarded model, she debuted on WAPA TV as a principal model in the famous "Super Show Goya" alongside Enrique Maluenda and Lillian Hurst. She became established on TV, was a cover girl, and did fashion shows for top local designers. She was one of the busiest models at Barbizon School of Modeling, where she also taught personal improvement and modeling and was an awarded student adviser. Was the lead in the Puerto Rican film "Tiempos y Ritmos." She co-starred opposite Eddie Vélez (Traffic) in "Hollywood Latinos Offspring" docudrama. Her extensive Theater credits in Spanish plays include, "Tric Trac," (the award winner) "The Diary of Anne Frank," "Barefoot on the Park," the acclaimed "La Morena: The Dark One," as a lead and opposite actress Elizabeth Peña, at the Henry Street Settlement, New York City, and in "Pearl" in the leading role at the Ford Amphitheater in Los Angeles, California. Rivera wrote the Spanish version of the TV show The Extraordinary starring Ricardo Montalbán. Besides from co-hosting the show Chef Piero's y Amigos, the actress hosted a radio show with title Living Legends con Miluka Rivera on KIEV 870 AM; among some of her guests were (Oscar winner) Cliff Robertson, actor-activist John Randolph, actress-comedian Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Liz Torres and musician Tito Nieves. As a filmmaker, she co-produced, wrote, and directed the docudrama based on his acclaimed poem and book with the same title Hollywood Latinos Offspring (which embarks on a lovely poetic journey and deals with the triumphs and struggles of Latinos as co-founders of the USA Cinema predating the silent era) and starring legendary Puerto Rican legendary actor Henry Darrow (The High Chaparral) and Olga San Juan (Variety Girl-Blue Skies), as well as Roselyn Sánchez (Rush Hour), Eddie Vélez (Traffic). Rivera, who recently appeared on the cover of Escenario of El Vocero Newspaper of Puerto Rico, has conducted several virtual/Zoom book talks for the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture with special stars such as the legendary Boricua actor Jaime Sánchez (The Wild Bunch), Erik Estrada (CHIPs) and Jimmy Smits (NYPD Blue), all of them also featured on some of her books. As a cultural promoter, her initiatives with the Puerto Rico legislators were fruitful. Because of it, a street was named in honor and memory of Oscar winner José Ferrer in Miramar, Puerto Rico. Ferrer was and still is the only Latino to obtain a 'Best Actor" award by the AMPAS®. In addition, Rivera donated a marble plaque in honor of pioneer star Juano Hermández at the historic theater Tapia in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he performed "Othello" in 1950 and at the prime of his cinema career and right after his non-traditional role in the classic film "The Breaking Point." Her efforts to rescue the abandoned tomb of Juano Hernandez were successful and restored with the help and thanks of the former Olympic athlete and diplomat Amadeo Francis, Juano's son-in-law.
"It is essential to contribute and rescue the history and contributions of Puerto Ricans and Latinos in Hollywood cinema, which continues to influence the world. One of my favorite historians, Joseph Campbell, once said: "Each culture's behavior is greatly shaped by their myth makers and storytellers," concluded Miluka Rivera, who is listed for her outstanding credits and merits in the prestigious Marquis - Who's Who in the World.