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Actress Renee Victor, that Played Abuelita in Coco, has Passed Away
Renée Victor, the accomplished actress celebrated for her memorable voice work as Abuelita Elena in Disney and Pixar’s Coco and her compelling portrayal of Lupita in Showtime’s Weeds, passed away peacefully at her Sherman Oaks, California, home Friday night. She was surrounded by her loving family.
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Victor, 86, passed away from lymphoma. Her daughters, Raquel and Margo Victor, shared in a statement, “Renee is perhaps best known as the voice of ‘Abuelita’ in Disney’s 2017 blockbuster Coco. Renee was loved by so many and had fans all over the world. Her memory will be cherished by all who knew her.”
Born on July 25, 1938, in San Antonio, Texas, Renée Victor was the eldest of three sisters. She relocated to Los Angeles in the 1960s, embarking on an entertainment career as a singer for prominent bandleaders like Xavier Cugat and Perez Prado, who were instrumental in popularizing Latin music in the U.S. During this time, she also taught salsa and tango as a dance instructor. It was in these vibrant circles that she met her husband. From 1963 to 1973, the couple performed together globally as “Ray & Renée,” earning them the nickname the “Latin Sonny & Cher.”
In the 1970s, Victor hosted KTLA’s Pacesetters, a program that shed light on the Chicano Power movement. After joining the Screen Actors Guild in 1973, she successfully transitioned to television and film work in the 1980s, landing roles in series such as Scarecrow and Mrs. King and Matlock. Her film credits include The Doctor, starring William Hurt, and both The Apostle and A Night in Old Mexico, where she appeared alongside her close friend Robert Duvall.
Victor’s extensive career also included a recurring role as Florina Lopez on ER, voice acting for the 1992 animated series The Addams Family, and recent appearances in popular shows such as Vida, Gentefied, All Rise, Snowpiercer, Mayans M.C., Dead to Me, A Million Little Things, and With Love.
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