Rachel Ticotin


Rachel Ticotin is an American film and television actress. She has appeared in films such as Fort Apache, The Bronx; Total Recall, Falling Down, and Con Air. She has appeared in the NBC legal drama as Lt. Arleen Gonzales, and guest starred in the "Warriors" episode of Blue Bloods in 2013, appearing as "Carmen Castillo".

Early life

Ticotin was born in the Bronx, New York City, the daughter of Iris Torres, a Puerto Rican educator, and Abe Ticotin, a Russian-Jewish used-car salesman. Her sister, Nancy Ticotin, is also an actress. She also has three brothers, Marcus, Daniel, and David A. Ticotin, a first assistant director who lives in Calabasas, California, with his wife Alexis and their children. Her brother Daniel, now known as Sahaj, is a musician and lead singer for the rock group Ra. Ticotin grew up, and received her primary and secondary education, in the Bronx, which has a large Puerto Rican community. Her parents enrolled her in the Ballet Hispanico of New York, where she took ballet lessons.

Career

In 1978, Ticotin made her film debut as a dancer in the film King of the Gypsies. She also acted in the off-Broadway production of Miguel Piñero's The Sun Always Shines for the Cool. During this period, she received an onscreen credit as a production assistant on Brian De Palma's Dressed to Kill. Her first big break came when, working as a production assistant alongside her brother David in 1981, she was given a significant role as Isabella, Paul Newman's love interest in the movie Fort Apache, The Bronx. That same year, she was listed as one of 12 promising new actors in John Willis' Screen World Vol. 33.
In 1983, she landed a regular role on NBC's television drama Love and Honor. Other television series in which she has appeared include: Ohara, Women on the Inside, Crime & Punishment, and Disney's Gargoyles.
Ticotin's film work includes: Critical Condition as Rachel Atwood, Where the Day Takes You as Officer Landers, Falling Down as Detective Sandra Torres, Total Recall as Melina alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone, First Time Felon as Mcbride alongside Omar Epps, and Con Air alongside Nicolas Cage, in which she earned an ALMA Award for her role as prison guard Sally Bishop. In 1995, she played the role of Doña Inez, the Mexican mother of Don Juan in the tongue-in-cheek romantic comedy Don Juan DeMarco, with Johnny Depp playing the title role.
Ticotin has participated in over 40 films and television series, appearing in Man on Fire as Mariana and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Ticotin was cast as Vangie Gonzalez Taylor in the second season of PBS's television series American Family alongside Edward James Olmos, Esai Morales, Raquel Welch, and Kate del Castillo. Ticotin also appeared on television in season two of the ABC series Lost as Captain Teresa Cortez, mother of Michelle Rodriguez's character Ana Lucia Cortez.
In September 2010, she joined the cast of the NBC legal drama as Lt. Arleen Gonzales in place of Wanda De Jesus, who originally played the role. Ticotin reshot the scenes originally performed by De Jesus.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978King of the GypsiesGypsy Dancer
1981Fort Apache, The BronxIsabella
1987Critical ConditionRachel Atwood
1990Total RecallMelina
1991One Good CopGrace
1991F/X2Kim Brandon
1992Where the Day Takes YouOfficer Landers
1993Falling DownDet. Sandra Torres
1994Natural Born KillersWanda Bisbing
1994Criminal PassionTracy Perry
1994Don Juan DeMarcoDoña Inez
1995Steal Big Steal LittleLaura Martinez
1997TurbulenceRachel Taper
1997Con AirGuard Sally Bishop
1998Gargoyles: Brothers BetrayedCaptain Maria Chavez Video short
2000CivilityRebecca Russo
2000Can't Be HeavenMaggie
2001Full DisclosureArmiti KhalqVideo
2001Warden of Red RockMaria McValeVideo
2002Desert SaintsDora
2003Something's Gotta GiveDr. Martinez
2004Man on FireMariana Garcia Guerrero
2005'Carmen's Mom
2008'Rosa Martinez
2008'Carmen's Mom
2008'Ana
2011AmericaEsther

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983For Love and HonorCpl. Grace PavlikTV film
1983–1984For Love and HonorCpl. Grace Pavlik12 episodes
1985Love, MaryRachel MartinTV film
1985Our Family HonorKaren PellagrinoEpisode "Crimes of Passion: Part 1"
1986Our Family HonorKaren PellagrinoEpisode: "Crimes of Passion: Part 2"
1986RockabyeVictoria GarciaTV film
1986StingrayElena BallesterosEpisode: "Ancient Eyes"
1986When the Bough BreaksRaquel SantosTV film
1987–1988OharaAsst. U.S. Atty. Teresa Storm14 episodes
1988Spies, Lies & Naked ThighsSoniaTV film
1991'IrisTV film
1992Keep the ChangeAstridTV film
1992From the Files of Joseph Wambaugh: A Jury of OneChristine AvilaTV film
1993Crime & PunishmentDet. Annette ReyEpisode: "Our Denial"
Episode: "Fire with Fire"
1994'DianeTV film
1994Deconstructing SarahElizabeth DavisTV film
1994Tales from the CryptCharbonnet / LilianEpisode: "Staired in Horror"
1994–1996GargoylesCapt. Maria Chavez 12 episodes
1995'Dexter IrelandTV film
1996Gargoyles: The Goliath ChroniclesCapt. Maria Chavez 3 episodes
1997First Time FelonMcBrideTV film
1999'Elizabeth PerezTV film
2001'Theodora 'Teddi' MaddenEpisode: "Mona Lisa"
2002American FamilyVangie Gonzalez6 episodes
2003–2004SkinLaura Roam6 episodes
2005–2006LostCapt. Teresa CortezEpisode: "Collision"
Episode: "Two for the Road"
2007John from CincinnatiWoman in Jail CellEpisode: "His Visit: Day One"
2009WeedsCandelaEpisode: "All About My Mom"
2010–2011'Main role
2012UnforgettableSharon VegaEpisode: "Allegiances"
2012Monica TenezEpisode: "Dead Body Politic"
2017HomelandMercedesEpisode: "The Return"
2018Grey's AnatomyDr. Marie Cerone3 episodes

Awards and nominations

ALMA Awards
Saturn Award
Blockbuster Entertainment Award