Paquita la del Barrio (1947–2025), acclaimed Mexican singer 

Paquita la del Barrio was a Mexican singer, songwriter, and actress whose songs often confronted women’s issues and butted heads with “macho” culture.

Silvia Pinal (1931–2024), Mexican film star

Silvia Pinal was a Mexican star of film and television best known for her work with movie maker Luis Buñuel, including “Viridiana,” “The Exterminating Angel,” and “Simon of the Desert.” 

Ana Ofelia Murguía (1933–2023), Disney’s voice of Mamá Coco

Ana Ofelia Murguía was a Mexican actress who provided the voice of Mamá Coco in the 2017 Disney-Pixar feature “Coco.” 

Talina Fernández (1944–2023), television host and presenter

Talina Fernández was an actress and television presenter best known for hosting a wide array of shows on Mexican TV, including awards shows, telethons, and reality TV productions.

Irma Serrano (1933–2023), Mexico’s La Tigresa singer and actress

Irma Serrano was a Mexican singer, actress, and politician known as La Tigresa.

Manuel Ojeda (1940–2022), Mexican actor starred in “Romancing the Stone”

Manuel Ojeda was one of the most popular actors in Mexico who is known to U.S. audiences for his role as the villain Colonel Zolo in “Romancing the Stone.

Manuel “El Loco” Valdes (1931–2020), Mexican comedy legend

Manuel “El Loco” Valdes was an actor and comedian who was a Mexican pop culture legend.

Oscar Chavez (1935–2020), popular Mexican protest singer

Oscar Chavez was one of the most well-known protest singers in Mexico. He was known for his folk style songs such as “La Casita” which took on Mexico’s political corruption.  

Andrea Arruti (1998–2020), voice of Elsa in Spanish-language “Frozen”

Andrea Arruti was a Mexican voice actress who provided the voice of Elsa in the Spanish-language version of Disney’s “Frozen.” Her other voiceover credits include the Spanish-language versions of Diamond Tiara in “My Little Pony,” Neeko in “League of Legends,” Brigitte in “Phineas and Ferb,” Makini in “The Lion Guard,” and others.

Chamin Correa (1929–2020), renowned Mexican guitarist

Chamin Correa was a Mexican guitarist known for playing romantic songs on the requinto, a smaller, higher-pitched cousin to the guitar. Performing solo and with the group Los Tres Caballeros, Correa had a decades-long career beginning with his first fame in the 1950s. He recorded with superstars including José José, Dave Brubeck, Gloria Estefan, and Joan Baez. Correa was particularly known for playing boleros, a type of love song.

Enriqueta Basilio (1948–2019), first woman to light the Olympic flame

Mexican sprinter lit the flame to open the 1968 games in Mexico City.

José José (1948–2019), Mexico’s “Prince of Song”

José José was a Mexican singer known as “The Prince of Song” and beloved for romantic ballads including “El Triste” and “Amar y Querer.”

Celso Pina (1953–2019), legendary Mexican accordionist

Celso Pina was a legendary Mexican accordionist and singer known as “The Accordion Rebel.” He taught himself to play the accordion with no formal training. Pina was a very important musician in the genre of Cumbia music. He was a pioneer in combining tropical music with modern music such as hip-hop, reggae, ska, and other music styles. He released more than 20 albums in his career and toured around the world, including the United States.

Edith Gonzalez (1964–2019), Mexican telenovela star

Edith Gonzalez was a telenovela star best known for her starring role on the Mexican program "Salome." She had leading roles in more than a dozen other telenovelas, including "Cielo Rojo," "Doña Barbara," "La Academia," and "Camaleones." Most recently, she was a judge on the Mexican reality program "This Is My Style."

Silver King (1968–2019), popular Lucha Libre wrestler dies during a match

Silver King (Cesar Cuauhtemoc Gonzalez Barron) was a popular Lucha Libre wrestler who co-starred in the Jack Black moviee2809cNacho Libre.e2949d He played a champion wrestler and funny villain named Ramses in the 2006 movie. At the match in London, Silver King was wrestling against Juventud Guerrerawhen he was knocked down to the ground. He was pinned and did not get up but most of the fans thought that was a staged part of the match. It is believed that he passed away from a cardiac arrest. Silver King comes from a wrestling family, both his father and brother were wrestlers.

Sergio Pitol (1933 – 2018), celebrated Mexican author

Known for "The Magician of Vienna" and "Mephisto's Waltz"…

Juan Gabriel (1950 - 2016), legendary Mexican singer

Juan Gabriel, a legendary Mexican singer, died Aug. 28, 2016, according to multiple news sources. He was 66.

The Afterlife of Roberto Bolaño

Roberto Bolaño died in 2003, but in the years since has become the biggest writer to emerge from Latin America in decades. On his birthday, we look back at his life and work.

Juan Garcia Esquivel: Music for the Space Age

Juan Garcia Esquivel, who would have celebrated his 93rd birthday today, took lounge music to its space-age extreme. We look back on his life and the unique sounds he created...