Luna Lauren Vélez
Biography
Luna Lauren Vélez is an American actress born on November 2, 1964, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. She is known for her work in television and film. Vélez's notable roles include María LaGuerta on Showtime's Dexter, Detective Nina Moreno on Fox's New York Undercover, Dr. Gloria Nathan on HBO's Oz, and Elena on ABC's Ugly Betty. She also starred as Rio Morales in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Vélez has a career spanning multiple genres and platforms, with a total of 48 known credits.
Career overview
Luna Lauren Vélez is an American actress born on November 2, 1964, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. She has appeared in various television roles throughout her career. One of her notable television roles is as María LaGuerta on Showtime's series. She also played Detective Nina Moreno on Fox's New York Undercover, Dr. Gloria Nathan on HBO's prison drama Oz, and Elena on ABC's comedy-drama Ugly Betty.
In addition to her television work, Vélez has also appeared in film roles. She is known for her voice acting in animated movies. Specifically, she has starred as Rio Morales in two animated films, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. These films were released in 2018 and 2023, respectively.
Throughout her career, Vélez has accumulated a significant number of acting credits. She has appeared in a total of 48 known credits, primarily in the acting category. Her work spans various genres, including drama and comedy, and she has worked with several notable networks and studios.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse (2027) as Rio Morales (voice)
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) as Rio Morales (voice)
- Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023) as Breanna Diaz
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - Creating the Ultimate Spider-Man Movie (2023) as Self
- East New York (2022) as Tamika Martin
- Rogue Hostage (2021) as Sunshine
- Power Book II: Ghost (2020) as Evelyn Castillo
- Swallow (2020) as Lucy
- Ana (2020) as Camila
- Shaft (2019) as Bennie Rodriguez
- Windows on the World (2019) as Eva
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) as Rio Morales (voice)
- The First Purge (2018) as Luisa
- MacGyver (2016) as Cassandra Glover
- Officer Downe (2016) as Police Chief Berringer
- America Adrift (2016) as Cecilia Fernandez
- America Adrift (2016) Producer
- South of Hell (2015) as Tetra
- How to Get Away with Murder (2014) as Soraya Hargrove
- Madam Secretary (2014) as Natalia Moreno
- Elementary (2012) as Zoe Mercado
- Unforgettable (2011) as Aisha Conway
- Rosewood Lane (2011) as Paula Crenshaw
- Blue Bloods (2010) as Special agent Veronica Molina
- Sugar Pathways (2009) as Narrator
- Dexter (2006) as Maria LaGuerta
- Ugly Betty (2006) as Elena
- Medium (2005) as Elena Cabrera
- Numb3rs (2005) as Claudia Gomez
- Wanted (2005) as Faye Templeton
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) as Lois Melago
- Love and Treason (2001) as Agent Susan Mestre (as Lauren Vélez)
- Prison Song (2001) as Prison Counselor (uncredited)
- Starwater (2001)
- Strong Medicine (2000) as Dr. Vanessa Burke
- Prince of Central Park (2000) as Rosa Sanchez
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Defense Attorney Shamal
- Thicker Than Blood (1998) as Camilla Lopez
- The LaMastas (1998)
- Oz (1997) as Dr. Gloria Nathan
- Oz (1997)
- I Think I Do (1997) as Carol
- The Pretender (1996) as Emily Sadler
- Profiler (1996) as Emily Sadler
- City Hall (1996) as Elaine Santos
- New York Undercover (1994) as Nina Moreno
- I Like It Like That (1994) as Lisette Linares
- Law & Order (1990) as Ms. Torres