Rita Lee.

Rita Lee Jones

Rita Lee — Actor

Born 31 Dec 1947 São Paulo, Brazil

Died 8 May 2023 São Paulo, Brazil

Citizenship Brazil

Would Be 78 yr If Living

8 min read

Reading time

1,453

Words

Jun 1, 2026

Published

54

Film credits

1

Book

4

Awards

TL;DR

Rita Lee co-founded the Brazilian rock band Os Mutantes in 1966 with Arnaldo Baptista and Sérgio Dias. She later built a solo career and collaborated with her husband Roberto de Carvalho. Lee earned the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit. She died from lung cancer on May 8, 2023 in São Paulo.

Identity & family.

KIN · 3

Names, aliases, and relatives of Rita Lee — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Rita Lee Jones

Nicknames The Grandmother of Rock

Aliases Os Mutantes

SPOUSES: Roberto de Carvalho Arnaldo Baptista
CHILDREN: Beto Lee

At a glance.

STATS

Rita Lee by the numbers — life, work, and family.

75 Years lived

54 Film credits

1 Book

4 Awards

2 Marriages

1 Child

Who was Rita Lee?

BIOGRAPHY

Rita Lee — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

The youngest of three children, Rita Lee Jones was born on December 31, 1947 in São Paulo, Brazil. Her father was American and her mother Italian, and she grew up speaking Portuguese alongside her two sisters, Mary and Virginia Lee. She attended the French school Lycée Pasteur de São Paulo and then studied at the University of São Paulo, where she met actress Regina Duarte.

Career

In 1966, Rita Lee co-founded the band Os Mutantes with Arnaldo Baptista and Sérgio Dias, pioneering Brazilian psychedelic rock. She performed with them until 1972, after which she launched a solo career. Lee wrote and performed the Portuguese version of C’est si bon in 1988, titled Cecy Bom. She also acted in films and TV shows such as After the Sunset 2004 and Vamp 1991. She collaborated with her husband Roberto de Carvalho, whom she met through singer Ney Matogrosso. She received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and was named Commander of the Order of Rio Branco.

Personal life

Rita Lee was married twice: first to fellow Os Mutantes member Arnaldo Baptista from 1971 to 1977, and then to musician Roberto de Carvalho from 1996 until her death. She had one son, Beto Lee, with Carvalho; Beto’s daughter Isabela was born in 2005. Besides Portuguese, she spoke English, Italian, and French fluently. She advocated for animal rights.

Legacy

Rita Lee broke ground in Brazilian rock as the Grandmother of Rock. Caetano Veloso referenced her in Sampa 1978; she returned the gesture with Homem Vinho 1997. She received the Order of Cultural Merit and the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Filmography.

FILMS · 54

Browse the complete filmography of Rita Lee — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

The Trapalhões

1977
TV

Celebrity

2003
TV

Vamp

1991
TV

Sai De Baixo

1996
TV

Saia Justa

2002
TV

O Som Do Vinil

2007
TV

Conversa Com Bial

2017
TV

Criança Esperança

1986
TV

Grandes Nomes

1980
TV

Chico & Caetano

1986
Movie

Worms

2013
Movie

Ritas

2025
Movie

Mulher 80

1979
Movie

Better Days Ahead

1989

Could not load more credits.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 4

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Rita Lee — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Order of Cultural Merit Brazil
Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
Prêmio da Música Brasileira
Commander of the Order of Rio Branco

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 1

Rita Lee's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

Rita Lee

by Rita Lee

Did you know?

FACTS · 16

Little-known facts about Rita Lee — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

She co-founded Os Mutantes with Arnaldo Baptista and Sérgio Dias in 1966 and remained with the band until 1972.
In addition to Portuguese, she was fluent in English, Italian, and French, and spoke some Spanish.
She was a committed animal rights activist.
Her father was American and her mother Italian.
Caetano Veloso paid homage to her in his 1978 song Sampa; she returned the gesture with Homem Vinho in 1997.
She met her husband Roberto de Carvalho through singer Ney Matogrosso, who was then working with Carvalho in his band.
She frequently collaborated musically with her husband Roberto de Carvalho.
Her granddaughter Isabela, daughter of Beto Lee, was born on November 29, 2005.
She had two sisters, Mary and Virginia Lee.
Rita Lee was a singer, composer, writer, and actress.
She was the ex-sister-in-law of Sérgio Dias, as she was married to his brother Arnaldo Baptista.
In 1988, she wrote and recorded the Portuguese version of the French song C’est si bon, originally composed in 1947 by Henri Betti and André Hornez. Her version was titled Cecy Bom.
She attended college with actress Regina Duarte.
She was educated at the French school Lycée Pasteur de São Paulo.
She was the youngest of three children.
She played drums, guitar, piano, harmonica, and autoharp, and was among the first Brazilian musicians to adopt the electric guitar.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 30

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Rita Lee.

When was Rita Lee born?

Rita Lee was born on December 31, 1947. She arrived in São Paulo, Brazil, as the youngest of three children to an American father and Italian mother.
Where was Rita Lee born?

She was born in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. This city remained her home throughout her life, and she died there in 2023.
When did Rita Lee die?

Rita Lee died on May 8, 2023. She lost her battle with lung cancer at the age of 75.
How did Rita Lee die?

Rita Lee died from lung cancer. She passed away at her home in São Paulo, Brazil, on May 8, 2023.
How old was Rita Lee when she died?

She was 75 years old at the time of her death. She had celebrated her 76th birthday would have been later that year.
Where did Rita Lee die?

She died in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. The city where she was born was also where she spent her final days.
What was Rita Lee's real name?

Her full birth name was Rita Lee Jones. She was known professionally as Rita Lee, but her family name was Jones.
What did Rita Lee do for a living?

Rita Lee was a recording artist, music crew member, and actress. She is best known as a singer-songwriter and co-founder of the band Os Mutantes.
What nationality was Rita Lee?

She was Brazilian. She held Brazilian citizenship and was born in São Paulo.
What languages did Rita Lee speak?

Besides her native Portuguese, Rita Lee fluently spoke English, Italian, and French. She also spoke some Spanish.
Who was Rita Lee married to?

She was married twice: first to Arnaldo Baptista from 1971 to 1977, and later to Roberto de Carvalho from 1996 until her death. Both were musicians.
Did Rita Lee have children?

Yes, she had one son, Beto Lee, with her second husband Roberto de Carvalho. Beto has a daughter named Isabela, born in 2005.
Where did Rita Lee go to school?

She attended Lycée Pasteur de São Paulo, a French school, and later studied at the University of São Paulo. She met actress Regina Duarte while in college.
What awards did Rita Lee win?

She received the Order of Cultural Merit Brazil, the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Prêmio da Música Brasileira, and was named Commander of the Order of Rio Branco.
How many major awards did Rita Lee win?

Rita Lee won four major awards, including the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Order of Cultural Merit. She was also honored as Commander of the Order of Rio Branco.
What was Rita Lee best known for?

She is best known as a co-founder of the Brazilian rock band Os Mutantes, formed in 1966. She also had a successful solo career and acted in films and TV shows.
What movies and TV shows did Rita Lee appear in?

She appeared in After the Sunset 2004, Wood & Stock: Sexo, Orégano e Rock’n’Roll 2006, and The Next Victim 1995. She also had roles in the TV series Vamp 1991 and Sai De Baixo 1996.
What is Rita Lee's Instagram?

Her Instagram handle was @litaree_real. It was used to connect with fans and share updates about her music and personal life.
How tall was Rita Lee?

Rita Lee was 5 feet 7 inches tall 1.70 m.
Why is Rita Lee called 'The Grandmother of Rock'?

She earned the nickname Grandmother of Rock as a female frontwoman and co-founder of Os Mutantes in 1966.
In what context did Rita Lee use the name Os Mutantes?

Os Mutantes was the band she co-founded in 1966 with Arnaldo Baptista and Sérgio Dias. The name became synonymous with the Brazilian psychedelic rock movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Who were Rita Lee's parents?

Her father was American and her mother Italian, but their names are not widely recorded. She grew up in São Paulo as the youngest of three sisters.
How many siblings did Rita Lee have?

She had two sisters, Mary Lee and Virginia Lee. She was the youngest of the three children.
What instruments did Rita Lee play?

She played drums, guitar, piano, harmonica, and autoharp. She was also one of the first Brazilian musicians to use an electric guitar.
Did Rita Lee write songs for other artists?

Yes, she wrote the Portuguese lyrics for the French song C’est si bon in 1988, which became Cecy Bom. She also collaborated extensively with her husband Roberto de Carvalho.
Was Rita Lee an animal rights activist?

Yes, she was a committed animal rights activist. This was a cause she supported throughout her life, though specific campaigns are not detailed in common biographies.
Who introduced Rita Lee to her second husband?

Singer Ney Matogrosso introduced her to Roberto de Carvalho. At the time, Carvalho was working as a musician in Matogrosso’s band.
Did Caetano Veloso write a song about Rita Lee?

Yes, Caetano Veloso homaged her in his 1978 song Sampa. Rita Lee returned the tribute with her 1997 song Homem Vinho.
What was Rita Lee's educational background?

She was educated at Lycée Pasteur de São Paulo, a French school, and later attended the University of São Paulo. She studied alongside actress Regina Duarte.
How many grandchildren did Rita Lee have?

She had one known granddaughter, Isabela, born on November 29, 2005. Isabela is the daughter of Beto Lee, Rita’s son from her marriage to Roberto de Carvalho.

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Audited & updated by

Sophia has 4 years of editorial experience and a habit of becoming the person any team leans on when they need to know where something stands. At Famousy, she manages the content pipeline, coordinates reviews, and handles the detail work that keeps a large editorial operation from falling apart. She reads a lot of profiles in the process and she's developed a sharp instinct for when something doesn't feel right. She flags it. It usually is.

Published on June 1, 2026

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