Saundra Santiago
| Saundra Santiago | |
|---|---|
| Born |
April 13, 1957 The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Spouse(s) | Roger Squitero (1999-present) |
Saundra Santiago (born April 13, 1957) is an American actress. She portrayed Det. Gina Calabrese on 1980s television series Miami Vice.
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.
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. 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.
Santiago is best known for her role as Detective Gina Calabrese on the hit 1980s television show Miami Vice. She spent three years playing the role of crime boss Carmen Santos on the long-running CBS soap opera Guiding Light. Coincidentally, 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.
Saundra also had a role in the movie Beat Street (1984) as Carmen Carraro, the girlfriend of Ramo the graffiti artist, and appeared as teacher Louisa Rodriguez in the made-for-TV film sequel To Sir, with Love II (1996), opposite Sidney Poitier.
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