Miriam Colon (born August 20, 1936 in Ponce, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican actress and the founder and director of the "Puerto Rican Traveling Theater " in New York City.

In the late 1940.s, when Miriam was just a young girl, her divorced mother moved the family to a public housing project called "Residencial Las Casas" located in Barrio Obrero, San Juan. She attended the "Ramon Baldorioty de Castro" High School located in Old San Juan, where she was always an active participant in the school's plays. Her first drama teacher, Marcos Colon (no relation to Mairiam) believed that Miriam was very talented. With his help she was able to observe the students in the "Drama Department of the University of Puerto Rico". With her good grades and with the scholarships she won, Miriam was able to enroll in the "Dramatic Workshop and Technical Institude " and also in "The Lee Strasburg Acting Studio" in New York.

In 1953, Miriam debuted in her first movie which was locally produced, called "Peloteros" (Baseball Players), starring Ramón (Diplo) Rivero.

In 1954, Miriam moved to New York, where she worked in theater and where she landed a role in the American soap opera "Guiding Light". She attended a presentation of Rene Marques "La Carreta" (The Oxcart) which was very successful. This motivated her to form the first Hispanic theater group, with the help of "La Carreta"'s producer, Roberto Rodriguez. It was called "El Circulo Dramatico" (The Drama Circuit).

From 1954 to 1974, Miriam made over 250 guest appearances in television shows. She appeared mostly in westerns such as "Gunsmoke", "Bonanza", "The High Chaparral " and "Have Gun, Will Travel" where she would usually played a Mexican woman.

In 1961, Miriam participated in the movie "One-eyed Jack " starring Marlon Brando and in 1979, Miriam starred alongside Jose Ferrer, Raul Julia and Henry Darrow in the movie "Life of Sin", where she palyed the role of the infamous Puerto Rican female gangster "Isabel la Negra". In 1983 she played "Tony Montana's" (Al Pacino) mother in "Scarface". According to Miriam, her inspiration for the role of "Montatna's" mother came from her own mother. She was also cast in "Gloria" with Sharon Stone. Some of the other movies in which she's participated are: "Lone Star", "Sabrina", "The House of Spirits", "City of Hope " "The Profession of Joel Delany " and "The Appaloosa ". In all Miriam has acted in over 34 movies.

In Broadway, Miriam has acted in the following productions: Rene Marques "The Oxcart ", "The Wrong Way Lightbulb ", "In the Summer House " and "The Innkeepers ".

In the late 1980s, Miriam founded the "Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre", which is located at 24th street in Manhattan, New York. This company presents Off-Broadway productions on the location and also goes on tour. Miriam is also the director of the company and she has appeared in the following of its productions: "The Boiler Room ", "Julius Caesar ", "The Oxcart ", "Simpson Street " and "Senora Carrar's Rifles ".

In 1993, Miriam Colon received an "Obie Award" for "Lifetime Achievement in the Theater". A book about Miriam Colon, titled "Miriam Colon Actor and Theater" was written by the author Mayra Fernandez .

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans