Carmen Zapata, born Carmen Margarita Zapata on July 15, 1927, in New York City, was a trailblazing actress often referred to as "The First Lady of the Hispanic Theater." She was the daughter of a Mexican immigrant father and an Argentine mother, and she began her career on Broadway in the chorus of "Oklahoma!" in 1946.

Over the years, she appeared in numerous productions, including "Bells Are Ringing," "Guys and Dolls," and "Carnival" with Liza Minnelli.

In the 1970s, Carmen Zapata became a familiar face on television, with roles in shows like "The Man and the City," "Viva Valdez," and "The New Dick Van Dyke Show." She was also known for her role as Doña Luz on the PBS bilingual children's program "Villa Alegre," which ran for nine years.

Carmen Zapata was a passionate advocate for Hispanic representation in the arts and co-founded the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts in Los Angeles in 1973 with Cuban-born actress Margarita Galban. The foundation aimed to promote Hispanic writers and produce plays in both English and Spanish.

She was also a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild Ethnic Minority Committee and the Hispanic actors organization "Nosotros."

Throughout her career, Carmen Zapata received numerous accolades, including Emmy nominations for her work in "Medical Center" and "Carola." She was honored with the Hispanic Heritage Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 and the Humanitarian Crystal Award from Women in Film in 1983.

Carmen Zapata passed away on January 5, 2014, at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy of dedication to the arts and advocacy for Hispanic representation.