The Mexican actress Ana Ofelia Murguía died this Sunday, December 31, at the age of 90 from unknown causes. The National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL) announced the death of the interpreter, who was known mainly for giving voice to the dear great-grandmother in the 2017 Pixar and Disney film, "Coco":
It is with deep sadness that we mourn the death of the first actress Ana Ofelia Murguía, who was a member of the stable cast of @CNTeatromx of #INBAL and whose artistic career was vital for the performing arts in Mexico. We send condolences and warm embraces to her family and friends.
Con profunda tristeza lamentamos el sensible deceso de la primera actriz Ana Ofelia Murguía, quien formaba parte del elenco estable de la @CNTeatromx del #INBAL y cuya trayectoria artística fue vital para las artes escénicas de México.
Enviamos condolencias y abrazamos con… pic.twitter.com/BnEkpxG4k2
— Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura (@bellasartesinba) December 31, 2023
Ana Ofelia Murguía entered the acting world in 1954. With more than 40 years of acting experience, the performer won the Ariel Award for Best Female Co-Acting three times for her roles in the feature films "Life Sentence" (1979), Los Motivos de Luz (1986) and "The Queen of the Night" (1996), plus 13 other nominations. In 2011, Variety reports, the actress was awarded the Golden Ariel for her extensive career.
Murguía's first role was in an episode of the Mexican telenovela "La Tormenta." However, she became recognized years later thanks to her roles in "Life Sentence" and "The Queen of the Night," two of the roles that earned her the most recognition. As well as in "My Dear Tom Mix," a 1992 feature film.
One of her last roles was Mama Coco, Miguel's great-grandmother who captivated audiences with her performance of the song "Remember Me" in the 2017 Disney and Pixar film, "Coco." A year later, in 2018, the actress performed what would be her last role in the series "José José: El Príncipe de la Canción," a series based on the life of the famous Mexican singer.
The Mexican government mourns the death of Ana Ofelia Murguía
The Mexican government soon responded to the death of Ana Ofelia Murguía. The federal Secretary of Culture, Alejandra Frausto Guerrero, mourned the death of the Mexican interpreter in a press release, sharing that "she leaves a huge void on the stages of our country."
She was not the only one. The general director of INBAL, Lucina Jiménez López, also expressed her condolences for the death of Ana Ofelia Murguía, whom she defined as a "soft-spoken woman":
The name of Ana Ofelia Murguía is written in golden letters in the history of performing arts and cinema in our country. She leaves us a legacy not only artistic, but also humanistic. A soft-spoken woman, she was always on the side of the best causes. The performing arts are in mourning, yes. And at the same time, we stand up and recognize her impeccable career that marks an entire era.
