This pretty but tough Latina player began performing as a dancer before turning to acting on stage. In films and on TV, Ticotin (pronounced "tick-oh-tin") has often proven effective playing cops, soldiers, officials and other women with demanding jobs. She made her film acting debut playing a drug-addicted nurse involved with policeman Paul Newman in "Fort Apache, the Bronx" (1981). Ticotin received her widest big screen exposure as Melina, the enigmatic woman of Arnold Schwarzenegger's dreams in the lavish sci-fi thriller "Total Recall" (1990). TV-movies have offered her more centrality and a
Began dance lessons at age eight (date approximate)
1968
First stage appearance, played a princess in a production of "The King and I" at NYC's City Center Theatre
At age twelve, joined Ballet Hispanico of New York, headed by Tina Ramirez; worked with such choreographers as Alvin Ailey, Geoffrey Holder and Anna Sokolow
Made stage acting debut in Baltimore run of "The Me Nobody Knows"
1978
Feature debut (as a dancer), played a Gypsy dancer in "King of the Gypsies"
