- Saundra Santiago
Saundra Santiago (born
April 13 ,1957 inThe Bronx ,New York ) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Detective Gina Calabrese on the hit 1980s television show "Miami Vice ". She spent 3 years playing the role of crime boss Carmen Santos on the long-running soap opera, "Guiding Light ". Coincidentally, she appeared simultaneously in a recurring role on "The Sopranos " asTony Soprano 's next door neighbor,Jeannie Cusamano , and as her twin sister, Joan. Saundra also did a short-term role on the ABC soap opera, "One Life to Live" after leaving "Guiding Light." She was a guest star on "Law and Order " in 2004 in an episode called Veteran's Day and in 1992 in Prince of Darkness.Early life
The daughter of
Cuba n and Puerto Rican parents, Santiago's family moved from the Bronx to Homestead,Florida when she was 13.University of Miami
She attended the
University of Miami on ascholarship , majoring inpsychology . As a University of Miami student, she became enamoured with acting. After graduation, she went on to post-graduate study in theater and arts atSouthern Methodist University , eventually earning a master's degree.Trivia
Santiago's soap opera connections pre-date her role on "Guiding Light". At the height of "Miami Vice's" popularity in 1985, she reprised her role on an episode of NBC's "
Days of Our Lives ", which was airing a storyline set in Miami at the time.External links
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