María Conchita Alonso

María Concepción Alonso Bustillo (born June 29, 1955), known professionally as María Conchita Alonso, is a Cuban-born Venezuelan-American actress and singer whose career spans film, television, music, and theater. She gained international recognition for her role as Amber Mendez in the 1987 film The Running Man, and was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in Caught. As a recording artist, she has received several gold and platinum albums and three Grammy Award nominations.

Alonso was one of the first Latin American entertainers to achieve mainstream success in both Spanish- and English-language media. In 1995, she became the first Latin American actress not born in the United States to star in a Broadway musical, playing Aurora in Kiss of the Spider Woman. Before her entertainment career, she was a beauty pageant titleholder who represented Venezuela at Miss World 1975, placing among the top seven finalists.

Born in Cuba and raised in Venezuela, Alonso has been active in both Latin American and U.S. entertainment industries since the 1970s. In later years, she became known for her outspoken political views and public support for conservative causes in the United States.

Early life María Conchita Alonso was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, on June 29, 1955, to Ricardo Alonso and Conchita Bustillo. Her family moved to Venezuela when she was five years old in 1962 after the Cuban Revolution. She was crowned Miss Teenager World in 1971. She was runner up for Miss Venezuela in 1975, and became a top seven runner-up in the Miss World pageant later that year, which was won by Puerto Rico's Wilnelia Merced.

Career Alonso in the stage production of Cuidado con el de los Cuernos in Venezuela. Circa 1981

Alonso's first gold album and number one song on the charts was Love Maniac, released in 1979 under the name Ámbar. After that followed her second number-one "The Witch" and soon after "Dangerous Rhythm". For what is considered her best known song, she was asked by Giorgio Moroder to write the lyrics in Spanish and sing "Vamos a Bailar" which he had written for the soundtrack of the film Scarface. The song instantly became a classic among Spanish speakers, despite failing to garner major attention outside of Cuba where it was recorded. Her two albums with Ámbar and her solo debut were recorded in English. Her second album, María Conchita, in 1984, made her an international singing star in the Spanish-speaking market, and garnered her first of three Grammy Award nominations (1985, 1988, 1994).

Alonso sang the United States national anthem at the FIFA UNICEF charity match on July 27, 1986, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, in front of a crowd of 57,539. The game was between the “Rest of the World” and “The Americas” which featured Diego Maradona only one month after his successful 1986 World Cup win.

Alonso made her Hollywood film debut in Moscow on the Hudson (1984) with Robin Williams, and also starred in Touch and Go (1986), Extreme Prejudice (1987), The Running Man (1987), Colors (1988) with Sean Penn, Vampire's Kiss (1989), Predator 2 (1990) and The House of the Spirits (1993).

In 1995, she became the first Latin-born actresses to star in a Broadway show, playing Aurora in Kiss of the Spider Woman. She later acted in the romantic comedies Chasing Papi (2003) and The Last Guy on Earth (2006).

Alonso was cast to play Lucía, the mother of Gabrielle Solis, on the ABC series Desperate Housewives. The episode aired on February 19, 2006. She was in the Latin version, Amas de Casa Desesperadas, for Univision Network. She was a guest star in the live-action film of the comic book El Muerto and appeared in the film Material Girls (2006).

Alonso hosted VH1's ¡Viva Hollywood! on April 13, 2008, with Carlos Ponce. She portrayed Sam in the werewolf horror film Wolf Moon, directed by Dana Mennie.

Alonso appeared in Rob Zombie's The Lords of Salem, released in 2013. Her latest film, a fantasy short titled The Secret of Joy, features her alongside fellow Venezuelan actor Carlos Antonio León, Spanish actress Laura Bayonas, and Brazilian actress Ana Carolina Da Fonseca in a story that aims to bring awareness about pediatric cancer.

Maria Conchita signed with management firm All Parts Move in 2023. She is currently (2025) touring extensively as part of the 'Despechadas' tour in Mexico, with solo performances and a cabaret style show called 'Sin Verguenza', which goes into her life and her ups and downs. A new 'Tropical' - a first for her - album is scheduled for release in the fall of 2025, produced by Latin Grammy winning producer Fabian Rincon, with a first single 'Acariciame Salsa' out June 27, 2025.

Political views Alonso has often spoken in support of LGBT rights and in appreciation of her LGBT fans, stating, "I was very much supported by the community when I first came out with my music". In a 2004 article, she compared herself to Cher in terms of her connection to LGBT culture.

Alonso was an outspoken critic of Cuba's Fidel Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, whom she described as a "dictator"-like "Hitler" and whose voters and supporters she described as "terrorists." She appeared on Sean Hannity's Hannity's America on May 6, 2007, Hannity & Colmes on June 1, 2007 In December 2011, she got into a heated exchange with Penn at a Los Angeles airport during which Penn called her a pig and she responded by calling Penn a communist.

In 2008, Alonso endorsed the US presidential campaign of Republican nominee John McCain, writing:

In an August 2012 Spreecast interview, Alonso stated her opposition to Obama's re-election, saying that if reelected, he would take steps to make the United States become more like Venezuela under the Chávez government.

In January 2014, Alonso resigned from a San Francisco production of The Vagina Monologues after appearing in an advertisement for Republican candidate for Governor Tim Donnelly.

Alonso is a supporter of Donald Trump and endorsed him in the 2020 presidential election.

Filmography

1978 Savana – Sesso e diamanti Margaret Johnson Italian B movie

Solon Estefanía Silvana Cataldo

Mabel Valdez, periodista 1980 Natalia de 8 a 9 Mariana Brito 1980 Mi hijo Gabriel 1980 El Esposo de Anaís 1980 Claudia Claudia 1981 Marielena Marielena 1981 Angelito 1981 Luz Marina Luz Marina 1982 Fantasy Island French Girl 1 episode 1982 Knight Rider Marie Elena Casafranca 1 episode; credited as Maria Conchita 1983 Nacho Herself TV series 1984 Moscow on the Hudson Lucia Lombardo 1984 Fear City "Silver" Chavez as Maria Conchita 1986 A Fine Mess Claudia Pazzo a.k.a. Blake Edwards A Fine Mess (USA: complete title) 1986 Touch and Go Denise DeLeon 1987 Il cugino americano Caterina Ammirati a.k.a. Blood Ties (USA: TV title) 1987 Extreme Prejudice Sarita Cisneros 1987 The Running Man Amber Mendez 1988 Con el Corazón en la Mano 1988 Colors Louisa Gomez 1989 One of the Boys Maria Conchita Navarro 6 episodes 1989 Vampire's Kiss Alva Restrepo 1990 Predator 2 LAPD Detective Leona Cantrell 1991 Sesame Street Herself 1 episode 1991 Cuerpos clandestinos (TV) Claudia 1991 McBain Christina Santos 1992 Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story (TV) Carmen De La Portilla-Presser a.k.a. Power Play: The Jackie Presser Story (UK: video title) 1993 Roosters Chata 1993 The House of the Spirits Tránsito Soto 1994 Alejandra Alejandra Martínez TV series 1994 Texas (TV) Lucia a.k.a. James A. Michener's Texas 1994 MacShayne: The Final Roll of the Dice (TV) Cindy Evans 1996 Caught Betty a.k.a. Atrapados (USA: Spanish title) 1996 For Which He Stands Theresa Rochetti 1996 Sudden Terror: The Hijacking of School Bus #17 Marta Caldwell 1997 Women: Stories of Passion Sophia 1 episode 1997 Chicago Hope Emma Scull 2 episodes 1997 Robert Altman's Gun Marti 1 episode 1997 Catherine's Grove Charley Vasquez 1997 F/X: The Series Elena Serrano 2 episodes 1997 Acts of Betrayal Eva Ramirez 1998 Exposé Nancy Drake a.k.a. Footsteps (Philippines: English title) (USA: working title) 1998 Blackheart Annette 1998 The Nanny Concepcion Sheffield 1 episode 1998 The Outer Limits Marie Alexander Episode: "The Vaccine" 1998 El Grito en el cielo Miranda Vega a.k.a. Shout Out (USA: festival title) 1998 My Husband's Secret Life (TV) Toni Diaz 1999 Touched by an Angel Dr. Sandra Pena 1 episode 1999 Dillinger in Paradise Lola 2000 Chain of Command Vice President Gloria Valdez 2000 Amantes de luna llena 2000 Knockout Carmen Alvarado 2000 A Vision of Murder: The Story of Donielle (TV) Gloria 2000 Best Actress (TV) Maria Katarina Caldone 2000 High Noon (TV) Helen Ramirez 2000 Twice in a Lifetime Kat Lopez 1 episode 2000 The Princess & the Barrio Boy (TV) Minerva Rojas a.k.a. She's in Love (UK) 2001 The Code conspiracy Rachel 2001 Resurrection Blvd. Julia Hernandez 3 episodes 2001 Birth of Babylon Lupe Velez 2002 Blind Heat Adrianna Scott 2002 Robbery Homicide Division Claudia 1 episode 2003 The Company You Keep Vera 2003 Kingpin Ariela TV series 2003 Heart of America Mrs. Jones a.k.a. Home Room (Australia) 2003 Chasing Papi Maria 2003 Newton's Law 2004 CSI: Miami Marisela Gonzalez 1 episode: Blood Moon 2005 English as a Second Language Consuelo Sara 2005 La Academia USA Judge 2005 Smoke Aurora Avila 2006 Desperate Housewives Lucía Márquez 1 episode 2006 Material Girls Inez 2007 The Dead One Sister Rosa 2007 The Condor (V) Mrs. Valdez (voice) a.k.a. Stan Lee Presents: The Condor (USA: DVD box title) 2007 Saints & Sinners Diana Martin 62 episodes 2008 Richard III Queen Elizabeth 2008 Tranced Libra 2008 The Art of Travel Mrs. Layne 2008 The Red Canvas Maria Sanchez 2008 Two Minutes Of Hate Dos minutos de odio 2008 Unauthorized Clifford Des-Autorizado (Venezuela: wide-release title) 2009 Maneater (miniseries) Alejandra Alpert Two episodes 2009 Dark Moon Rising Sheriff Samantha "Sam" Pantoja 2009 Spread Ingrid 2011 Without Men Lucrecia 2012 Lords of Salem Alice Matthias 2014 Return to Babylon Lupe Vélez 2016 November Rule Ms. Luisa 2017 Kill 'Em All FBI Agent Sanders 2018 Off the Menu Cordelia Torres 2018 El señor de los cielos Nora Requena 2019 ¡He matado a mi marido! Remedios 2019 The I-Land Mrs. Chase Miniseries 2019 Into the Dark Bea 1 episode ("Good Boy") 2021 Take Me to Tarzana Juanita 2024 Kill 'Em All 2 FBI Agent Sanders

Discography Studio albums Love Maniac (1979) The Witch (1980) Dangerous Rhythm (1982) Te Amo/I Love You (1983) María Conchita (1984) O Ella, o Yo (1985) Mírame (1987) Hazme Sentir (1990) Imagíname (1992) Boleros (Alejandra) (1994) Amor De Madrugada (2016) Lléname de Ti (2020)Live albums En Vivo en México (1992)Compilation albums''' Lo mejor de (1986) Grandes éxitos (1989) Súper hits (1991) De colección (1994) Hoy y siempre (1997) Lo mejor de María Conchita Alonso (2000) La más completa colección (2005) Grandes éxitos/Greatest hits (2006) 16 Éxitos de oro (2012) Reina Eterna '' (2017)

Singles