Rosanna Desoto is an actress who has appeared in numerous television shows and movies. Some of her most memorable roles include Connie Valenzuela in La Bamba and Azetbur in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.


Rosanna Desoto: Age & Height

Born on September 2, 1950, Rosanna Desoto is currently 69 years old. Moreover, she is cited to be 5 feet and 8 inches (1.72m) tall.

Read More: Kim Manners Bio, Age, Wife

Short Biography of Rosanna Desoto

Rosanna Desoto was born and raised in San Jose, California, with nine siblings: four brothers and four sisters. Her parents were Mexican immigrants from Curimeo, Michoacán. Growing up in a large immigrant family, she handpicked fruits in summer to assist her relatives in getting through the pay period.

Her penchant for performing arts started when she played an animated daisy at the age of seven. However, putting behind the dream of chasing an acting profession, she instead enrolled in San Jose State University, double majoring in Spanish literature and drama. Nonetheless, during her spare time, she kept herself busy, performing with the Light Opera Company and starring in various plays. At the age of 22, DeSoto moved to Hollywood and started working at Improvisational Theatre at the Los Angeles Music Center as a professional actress.

DeSoto’s nephew, Ken DeSoto Ramoz, is an actor and writer. Ramoz is also the owner and president of the DeSoto Film Productions Company.

Rosanna Desoto: Movies and TV Shows

DeSoto made her big-screen debut with 1979 movie The In-Law. By this time, she had already appeared in a handful of television shows as Cannon, The Mod Squad, Kung Fu, Barney Miller, Harry O, McMillan & Wife, Rhoda, The White Shadow, and Angie. While most of her role in these TV shows were only limited to 1 or 4 episodes, she appeared as a series regular in ABC’s A.E.S. Hudson Street as Nurse Rosa Santiago. The 69 years old actress also co-starred in ABC’s sitcom The Redd Foxx Show.

Further, for her performance in 1982 movie The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, Desoto earned the best actress award at Golden Eagle. She appeared opposite Academy-nominated actors Nick Nolte and Debra Winger in 1982 film Cannery Row. And, alongside Rob Lowe and Demi Moore in 1986 hit About Last Night.

Rosanna garnered acclaim with her performance in the biographic film La Bamba. Interestingly, she played as the mother of the lead character, Ritchie Valens, portrayed by Lou Diamond Phillips, while both were only 12 years apart. Following year, DeSoto collaborated with Phillips for yet another biopic, Stand and Deliver. Rosanna won Independent Spirit Award for best supporting actress for her role as Fabiola Escalante in the biopic.

Related: Child actress Missy Gold Career

Married Life & Children

Rosanna DeSoto is married to film director and screenwriter, David S. Ward, since September 20, 1980. The couple has two children together: daughter, Sylvana Ward Durrett, born on 1981, and son, Joaquin Atwood.

Sylvana is the co-founder and CEO of Maisonette and special events director at Vogue. Moreover, she is the chief planner of Met Gala. Sylvana married Adam Ballard Durrett, an investor, in 2009. They both met at Princeton University as a graduate student. Currently, Sylvana resides in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, with her husband, and three children: Henry Durett, Grace Durett, and Camilla Durett.

Previously, Rosanna was married to writer and film producer Jonathan Taplin. They tied the knot on May 3, 1975. They have a daughter, Daniela Taplin Lundberg, born on June 1976. DeSoto and Taplin divorced on May 30, 1979.

Rosanna Desoto Net Worth

Rosanna Desoto’s net worth is estimated to be around $100,000 as of now. Her professional career as an actress can be credited to the estimated amount.

Also Read: Bodybuilder Ron Fisico Net Worth

Besides, she also worked as a screenwriter in “A Woman in Progress/Canto de Oro, Cuento de Mujer,” produced by the Intar Theater group in New York in 2005. Since early 2000, however, Desoto has appeared in a limited number of films and shows.