Saundra Santiago

Saundra Santiago (born April 13, 1957) is an American actress. She is known for her role as Det. Gina Calabrese in the NBC crime drama series Miami Vice (1984-1989).

Saundra Santiago
Born (1957-04-13) April 13, 1957
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1982–present
Spouse(s)
Roger Squitero
(m. 1999)

Early life

Santiago is the daughter of a Cuban father and a Puerto Rican mother. Raised in the South Bronx, New York City, where she attended Our Lady of Victory grammar school. When she was 13 years old her family moved to Homestead, Florida.[1]

Santiago graduated from South Dade Senior High School and attended the University of Miami on a scholarship, majoring in psychology. As a University of Miami student, she became interested in acting. After graduation, she went on to post-graduate study in theater and arts at Southern Methodist University, eventually earning a master's degree.[2] Santiago joined the company of regional summer stock theater, Timber Lake Playhouse, Mount Carroll, Illinois, performing many roles including Maria in West Side Story in the 1980 season.

Career

In 1984, Santiago made her big screen debut appearing in the dance drama film Beat Street, and later that year began starring in the NBC crime drama series Miami Vice playing the role of Detective Gina Calabrese opposite Don Johnson.[3] The series ran for five seasons to 1989. In 1990s, Santiago appeared in a number of made for television movies, including The Cosby Mysteries (1994) and To Sir, with Love II (1996) opposite Sidney Poitier.

In 1999, Santiago joined the cast of long-running CBS soap opera Guiding Light playing crime boss Carmen Santos. She received Daytime Emmy Award nomination for America's Favorite Villain in 2002.[4] She left the soap after three years. She appeared simultaneously in a recurring role on The Sopranos as Tony Soprano's next door neighbor, Jeannie Cusamano, and as her twin sister, Joan from 1999 to 2007. Additionally, on television, Santiago guest-starred on Law & Order in the 1992 episode "Prince of Darkness" (episode 3.8) and in the 2004 episode "Veteran's Day" (episode 14.15).

In 2004, Santiago joined the cast ABC soap opera One Life to Live in the role of Isabella Santi/Angelina Parades after leaving Guiding Light.[5] In 2007, she had a recurring role in the first season of FX legal thriller Damages. In 2009, she returned to One Life to Live again, this time taking over the role of Carlotta Vega from Patricia Mauceri.[6] She remained with the show until it ended in 2011. In 2014, she returned to prime time television playing the role of Marciela Acosta, the wife of gang leader Javier Acosta, in the short-lived Fox drama series Gang Related.[7] Santiago also guest-starred on Person of Interest, True Detective, Gotham, Blue Bloods and Madam Secretary.[8]

Filmography
Year Film Role Notes
1979 ¿Qué Pasa, USA? Lisa Episode: "Patria and Company"
1981 The End of August Mariequita
1984 Beat Street Carmen Cararro
1984-1989 Miami Vice Detective Gina Calabrese Series regular, 112 episodes
1992 Summer Stories: The Mall - Part 3 Jean Hodge Television film
1992 Law & Order Sandra Alvaro Episode: "Prince of Darkness"
1993 With Hostile Intent Sgt. Lucille Preston Television film
1993 Carlito's Way Cameo Uncredited
1994 The Cosby Mysteries Amy Flusser Television film
1995 New York Undercover Juanita Episode: "The Shooter"
1995 Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan Rosinha Zulueta Television film
1996 To Sir, with Love II Louisa Rodgriguez Television film
1997 Nick and Jane Stephanie
1998 Hi-Life Elena
1999-2001 Guiding Light Carmen Santos Series regular
ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama (2001)
Nominated — ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama (2000, 2002)
Nominated — Daytime Emmy Award for America's Favorite Villain (2002)
2002 Garmento Franca Fortuna
2004 Law & Order Mariela Silva Episode: "Veteran's Day"
1999-2007 The Sopranos Jean Cusamano 5 episodes
2007 Damages Karen Gonzales 5 episodes
2008 Cashmere Mafia Dr. Jane Episode: "Yours, Mine and Hers"
2009 The Unusuals Melanie Trumble Episode: "Crime Slut"
2009-2011 One Life to Live Carlotta Vega Recurring role
2011 Person of Interest Patti D'Agostino Episode: "Witness"
2013 Meddling Mom Valeria Television film
2013 The House That Jack Built Martha
2014 Gang Related Marciela Acosta 5 episodes
2015 The Following Mrs. Miller Episode: "New Blood"
2015 True Detective Irma Episode: "Other Lives"
2015 Gotham Janice Caulfield Episode: "Rise of the Villains: Strike Force"
2016 Blue Bloods Carmen Baez Episode: "Stomping Grounds"
2017 Snowfall Mariela Episode: "The Rubicon"
2017 Madam Secretary Margarita Garcia Episode: "Women Transform the World"

References
  1. Juan de la Maza (6 December 2011). "Saundra Santiago, an Actress of Cuban Origin on Miami Vice and The Sopranos". Cubanow.
  2. "Saundra Santiago". June 4, 2015.
  3. Rivas, Aby (March 10, 2020). "'Miami Vice' Star Saundra Santiago Looks Age-defying at 62 and Has Been Married for 20 Years". news.amomama.com.
  4. "Saundra Santiago". IMDb.
  5. "About the Actors | Saundra Santiago | One Life to Live on Soap Central". soapcentral.com.
  6. "One Life to Live: Patricia Mauceri Out, Saundra Santiago In!". Soaps.com. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
  7. "Fox's 'Gang Related' Recasts Role With 'Miami Vice' Grad (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  8. Santiago, Saundra (16 March 2012). "The Blog: A Working Actor's Life". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
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