Rosario Salazar
Encyclopedia
Rosario Inés Consuelo Yolanda Salazar McFarland (also known as "Rosie" and "Ro-Ro") is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Will & Grace
. She is played by actress Shelley Morrison
. She was originally considered to have only one appearance, but her popularity caused her to be a semi-regular character.
, Rosario was a school teacher who received a bachelor's degree in clinical psychology
from the University of Texas
and who almost got a master's degree
(three credits short); she, at some point, also attended business school
. At some point, she moved to the Bronx, presumably while studying business, however, Karen makes a comment, that she bought Rosario from Rosario's parents, and another comment made by Jack is that she smuggles staff from Latin America, namely Mexico and probably El Salvador as well. While there, she also performed with a then-unknown Jennifer Lopez
, including a production of "Tea for Two
" at the Shalom Retirement Center. At one point, she was also paid to tape pornographic videos for Tommy Lee
.
One of Rosario's brothers is a political prisoner, and remarks made by Karen suggests she has children, but they are possibly still in El Salvador
.
Karen: "Why you ingrate - when I met you, you were boxing donkeys for money"
Rosario: (indignant) "You pulled me out of business school, you tipsy witch!"
Rosario: (sneaks up from behind and taps shoulder) "Miss Karen?"
Karen: *screams* "You scared the hell outta me! I thought you were the chupacabra
! What are you doing here anyway?"
Rosario: (politely with anticipation) "Don't you remember what today is?"
Karen: "Yeah. It's National Scrub Your Toilet Day, and I think you should get home and start celebratin'!!"
However, many of those fights ended with an emotional embrace or light-hearted exchange between the two, which makes it clear that, deep down, they really do care about each other. Examples of this include the season 3 episode "My Uncle, The Car," where Karen becomes sad at almost losing Rosario in a bet to her rival Beverley Leslie, and the season 7 episode "Partners," where Karen ignores the plight of a very sick Rosario because she is afraid of losing her. Rosario also mentions in season 4's "The Third Wheel Gets The Grace" that, for their 15 year anniversary, all she wanted to do was spend time with Karen.
. To keep her in the country, Karen has her marry Jack McFarland
, her gay
friend, to get her green card
. The marriage was later terminated at the end of season two, when Rosario asked for a divorce to pursue other romantic interests. However, she maintained a close relationship with Jack after (often echoing hers with Karen) and claimed to still think of him as family.
Rosario was one of few people with whom Stan remained in contact after he faked his death (at the end of season five). When Karen learned that Rosario had kept this news from her (in season eight), she fired her. Rosario worked as a bar attendant until Karen ultimately took her back.
During a live episode, it is revealed by Karen that Rosario earns $350,000 per year.
In the show's series finale
, Rosario was shown to have lived with Karen and Jack in the years after the show ended, growing older with them and possibly still working for them despite being in a wheelchair (though she states that she is only in the wheelchair due to a sprained ankle).
Rosario typically is seen wearing a Members Only
jacket on top of her maid's uniform. She has a particular fondness for sandwiches from Subway.
Morrison was a guest star in the first two seasons, but from season three until the show's end she was listed as a main cast member in the episodes she appeared.
Will & Grace
Will & Grace was an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 21, 1998 to May 18, 2006 for a total of eight seasons. Will & Grace remains the most successful television series with gay principal characters...
. She is played by actress Shelley Morrison
Shelley Morrison
Shelley Morrison is an American actress. Early in her career, she was sometimes credited as Rachel Domínguez. Morrison has been a theater and television actress since the early 1960s, predominantly as a character actress in ethnic roles...
. She was originally considered to have only one appearance, but her popularity caused her to be a semi-regular character.
Early life
A native of El SalvadorEl Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, Rosario was a school teacher who received a bachelor's degree in clinical psychology
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is an integration of science, theory and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development...
from the University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
and who almost got a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
(three credits short); she, at some point, also attended business school
Business school
A business school is a university-level institution that confers degrees in Business Administration. It teaches topics such as accounting, administration, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems, marketing, organizational behavior, public relations, strategy, human resource...
. At some point, she moved to the Bronx, presumably while studying business, however, Karen makes a comment, that she bought Rosario from Rosario's parents, and another comment made by Jack is that she smuggles staff from Latin America, namely Mexico and probably El Salvador as well. While there, she also performed with a then-unknown Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
, including a production of "Tea for Two
Tea for Two (song)
"Tea for Two" is a song from the 1925 musical No, No, Nanette with music by Vincent Youmans and lyrics by Irving Caesar. It is a duet sung by Nanette and Tom in Act II as they imagine their future.-Analysis:...
" at the Shalom Retirement Center. At one point, she was also paid to tape pornographic videos for Tommy Lee
Tommy Lee
Thomas Lee Bass , best known as Tommy Lee, is an American musician and founding member of glam metal band Mötley Crüe. As well as being the band's long-term drummer, Lee founded rap-metal band Methods of Mayhem, and has pursued solo musical projects...
.
One of Rosario's brothers is a political prisoner, and remarks made by Karen suggests she has children, but they are possibly still in El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
.
Rosario and Karen
In 1985, Rosario met Karen Walker at a club, while working as a cigarette lady, and went to work for her as a maid, which was where she was working when the series began in 1998. Rosario and Karen are very close, but their relationship is love-hate. They are notorious for swapping insults back and forth. Rosario is just as feisty as Karen, and is one of the few people that manages to go toe-to-toe with her. In earlier episodes, they would often yell and argue at each other at the same time. For example:Karen: "Why you ingrate - when I met you, you were boxing donkeys for money"
Rosario: (indignant) "You pulled me out of business school, you tipsy witch!"
Rosario: (sneaks up from behind and taps shoulder) "Miss Karen?"
Karen: *screams* "You scared the hell outta me! I thought you were the chupacabra
Chupacabra
The chupacabras is a legendary cryptid rumored to inhabit parts of the Americas. It is associated more recently with sightings of an allegedly unknown animal in Puerto Rico , Mexico, and the United States, especially in the latter's Latin American communities...
! What are you doing here anyway?"
Rosario: (politely with anticipation) "Don't you remember what today is?"
Karen: "Yeah. It's National Scrub Your Toilet Day, and I think you should get home and start celebratin'!!"
However, many of those fights ended with an emotional embrace or light-hearted exchange between the two, which makes it clear that, deep down, they really do care about each other. Examples of this include the season 3 episode "My Uncle, The Car," where Karen becomes sad at almost losing Rosario in a bet to her rival Beverley Leslie, and the season 7 episode "Partners," where Karen ignores the plight of a very sick Rosario because she is afraid of losing her. Rosario also mentions in season 4's "The Third Wheel Gets The Grace" that, for their 15 year anniversary, all she wanted to do was spend time with Karen.
During the series
Although she had been mentioned by Karen since the pilot episode, Rosario's first appearance was in the season-one finale, "Object Of My Rejection." Due to Karen's patronizing tone, we're made to think she doesn't speak English well. Rosario actually speaks English fluently albeit with a thick accent, but is an illegal alienIllegal immigration
Illegal immigration is the migration into a nation in violation of the immigration laws of that jurisdiction. Illegal immigration raises many political, economical and social issues and has become a source of major controversy in developed countries and the more successful developing countries.In...
. To keep her in the country, Karen has her marry Jack McFarland
Jack McFarland
John Philip "Jack" McFarland was a fictional character on the American television sitcom Will & Grace, played by Sean Hayes.-Character personality:...
, her gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
friend, to get her green card
United States Permanent Resident Card
United States lawful permanent residency refers to a person's immigration status: the person is authorized to live and work in the United States of America on a permanent basis....
. The marriage was later terminated at the end of season two, when Rosario asked for a divorce to pursue other romantic interests. However, she maintained a close relationship with Jack after (often echoing hers with Karen) and claimed to still think of him as family.
Rosario was one of few people with whom Stan remained in contact after he faked his death (at the end of season five). When Karen learned that Rosario had kept this news from her (in season eight), she fired her. Rosario worked as a bar attendant until Karen ultimately took her back.
During a live episode, it is revealed by Karen that Rosario earns $350,000 per year.
In the show's series finale
Series finale
A series finale refers to the last installment of a series with a narrative presented through mediums such as television, film and literature. In many Commonwealth countries, the term final episode is commonly used in regards to a television series...
, Rosario was shown to have lived with Karen and Jack in the years after the show ended, growing older with them and possibly still working for them despite being in a wheelchair (though she states that she is only in the wheelchair due to a sprained ankle).
Rosario typically is seen wearing a Members Only
Members Only
Members Only is a brand of clothing that became popular in the 1980s with the Members Only jacket. The brand was created in 1975 and introduced to American markets in 1979 by Europe Craft Imports .Members Only was renowned for their brand of jackets, which were first introduced in 1981 and...
jacket on top of her maid's uniform. She has a particular fondness for sandwiches from Subway.
Morrison was a guest star in the first two seasons, but from season three until the show's end she was listed as a main cast member in the episodes she appeared.