Mexico

Alysha Burney (2000–2025), social media star

Alysha Burney was a star of YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, where millions of followers watched her comedy videos.

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.

Israel Vázquez (1977–2024), three-time world champion boxer

Israel Vázquez was a Mexican boxer nicknamed "El Magnifico" whose three world championships and rivalry with Rafael Márquez made him one of Mexico’s most beloved boxers.

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.” 

Fernando Valenzuela (1960–2024), L.A. Dodgers great

Fernando Valenzuela was a Mexican-born Major League Baseball pitcher best known for his time with the L.A. Dodgers, during which he won a Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in the same year, sparking “Fernandomania.”

Johnny Canales (1942–2024), Tejano singer and TV host

Johnny Canales was a Mexican Tejano singer and popular television show host who helped launch the career of singer Selena.

Helena Rojo (1944–2024), Mexican actress in telenovelas 

Helena Rojo was a Mexican actress who starred in several telenovelas and in such movies as Werner Herzog’s “Aguirre, the Wrath of God.”

Adan Canto (1981–2024), The Cleaning Lady star 

Adan Canto was a Mexican actor best known for playing Arman Morales on “The Cleaning Lady” for two seasons, as well his role as Aaron Shore on “Designated Survivor.” 

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.” 

María Martin (1952–2023), creator of Latino USA radio

María Martin was a longtime journalist who created the Latino USA radio program and broadened coverage of Latin American news and events in the United States.

Hurricane Otis (2023) 

At least 48 people have died, and dozens more are missing, after Hurricane Otis struck Mexico in Acapulco and surrounding areas.

Bill Richardson (1947–2023), former governor of New Mexico 

Bill Richardson was a two-term governor of New Mexico who later became a private diplomat advocating for Americans unjustly imprisoned while abroad. 

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.

Leon Ichaso (1948–2023), Cuban-born filmmaker known for urban realism 

Leon Ichaso was a Cuban-born filmmaker whose gritty, realistic portraits of urban living explored life as a Latino in North America.

Julián Figueroa (1995–2023), Mexican ballad singer 

Julián Figueroa was a Mexican ballad singer known for songs like “Yo sería,” “Ay amor,” and “Volaré.”

Andrés García (1941–2023), Mexican actor and telenovela star 

Andrés García was a Mexican actor who became a Latin American icon in the 1960s and ‘70s, with roles in over 50 films and many popular telenovelas.

Chabelo (1935–2023), longtime star of Mexican television

Born Xavier López Rodríguez but better known by his stage name, Chabelo was an actor, comedian, and TV show host beloved by generations of viewers. His best known work was “En Familia con Chabelo,” a family variety show that ran from 1967 to 2015. The show’s 48-year run made Chabelo a well-known personality to multiple generations of Latin American families and a mainstay of Sunday morning television.

Rebecca Jones (1957–2023), Mexican telenovela star

Rebecca Jones was a Mexican actress known for starring in telenovelas.

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

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

Polo Polo (1944–2023), Mexican comedian

Polo Polo was one of Mexico’s most popular comedians, with an international following.

Lupe Serrano (1930–2023), ballerina who danced with Nureyev

Lupe Serrano was a prima ballerina with the renowned American Ballet Theatre.

María Salud Ramírez Caballero (1913–2022), called the “Real Life Mamá Coco”

María Salud Ramírez Caballero was a Mexican matriarch who became well known late in life for her resemblance to the character Mamá Coco in the Pixar animated film “Coco.”

Diana Kennedy (1923–2022), chef who helped popularize Mexican cuisine

Diana Kennedy was an influential chef who was known as the “Julia Child of Mexican Cuisine” for promoting and popularizing its traditional recipes.

Vicente “Chente” Fernández (1940–2021), beloved Mexican singer and actor

Vicente “Chente” Fern ández was an iconic Mexican singer and actor called “The King of Ranchero Music.”

Carmen Salinas (1939–2021), iconic Mexican actress

Carmen Salinas was a Mexican actress beloved for starring in dozens of telenovelas and movies.

Famous Hispanic Americans

During Hispanic Heritage Month and throughout the year, we remember and celebrate the contributions of Latinx Americans in a broad range of fields, from the arts to science, education and politics. These Latino and Latina Americans were pioneers and trendsetters, and they remain inspirations to anyone who aspires to achieve greatness.

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.

Chuy Bravo (1956–2019), “Chelsea Lately” sidekick

Chuy Bravo was an actor best known as Chelsea Handler’s sidekick on the talk show “Chelsea Lately” from 2007 to 2014.

U.S.-Mexican Mormon family killed in Sonora (2019)

At least nine adults and children were killed in a mass shooting in Sonora, Mexico, near the U.S. border, on Monday.

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.

Celebrating Day of the Dead (video)

2017 may be remembered as the year that the Day of the Dead finally reached broad popular awareness as a holiday celebrated widely across the United States.

Sergio Pitol (1933 – 2018), celebrated Mexican author

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

John Gavin (1931 - 2018), Hollywood star became ambassador to Mexico

John Gavin, the actor who appeared in “Spartacus,” and “Psycho” before becoming President Ronald Reagan’s ambassador to Mexico, died Friday at age 86.

Cemetery Sights: Norton, Emperor of the United States

Loren Rhoads is the author of the fascinating new book “ . Loren Rhoads

Central Mexico Earthquake Victims

At least 225people have been killed in a major earthquakeeee

Mexico Earthquake 2017 Victims

At least 58 people have died as a result of an 8.2-magnitude earthquake off the Pacific coast of Mexico. The quake struck just minutes before midnight on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, according to multiple news sources.

Mexico Fireworks Market Explosion Victims

At least 33 people were killed and scores more injured Tuesday, Dec. 20, in an explosion at a fireworks market in Tultepec, Mexico, according to multiple news sources.

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.

Tonita Castro (1953–2016), sitcom co-star on Dads

Tonita Castro, a Mexican-born actress known best for her co-star roles on the TV sitcoms “Dads” and “Go On,” died May 8 of stomach cancer, according to multiple news sources. She was 63.

Funeral Music Across Cultures

The emotional power of music makes it a natural part of funeral ceremonies, no matter which culture you belong to.

Can Dia de los Muertos Help us Grieve?

Arturo Albin, Director of Método Grief Recovery México, shares insights on this special holiday.

Remembering Minnie Minoso

We remember the legendary Minnie Minoso, the first black baseball player in Chicago.