Renée Victor, who voiced Abuelita in the Disney film “Coco” and starred in the Showtime series “Weeds,” has died at age 86.
Victor passed away after a battle with lymphoma on Friday. She was surrounded by her family at her Sherman Oaks, Calif. home, her agent confirmed to Deadline.
Her daughters, Raquel Victor and Margo Victor, said in a statement: “Renee was loved by so many & had fans all over the world. Her memory will be cherished by all who knew her.”
Victor was born in San Antonio, Texas on July 25, 1938. She moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s and became a singer.
After meeting her husband through dance classes, they began performing as the duo “Ray & Renée” — nicknamed the Latin Sonny and Cher — from 1963 to 1973.
Victor began working in television after she hosted the KTLA program “Pacesetters,” which highlighted the Chicano Power movement, and then joined the Screen Actors Guild Award.
She made her acting debut in the soap opera “Hotel” in 1983, followed by roles in “Masquerade,” “Scarecrow and Mrs. King” and “Matlock.”
On the big screen, she appeared in “Salsa,” “The Doctor,” “Steal Big Steal Little,” “The Apostle,” and “The Prophecy II” early in her career.
Victor’s other notable acting credits included recurring roles in “ER,” “Vida,” “Snowpiercer,” “Dead to Me,” “With Love,” “Mayans M.C.” and “A Million Little Things.” She also voice acted in “The Addams Family” animated series.
In 2005, she joined the cast of “Weeds” as Lupita, Nancy Botwin’s (Mary-Louise Parker) housekeeper.
The Showtime series, which also starred Elizabeth Perkins, Justin Kirk, Tonye Patano, Romany Malco, Hunter Parrish and Alexander Gould, aired from 2005 to 2012.
In 2017, Victor voiced Abuelita in the beloved Disney animated flick “Coco,” which grossed over $800 million at the worldwide box office and won two Oscars: Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for “Remember Me.”
Pixar shared a tribute to Victor on Instagram following the news of her death.
“We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Renée Victor, the voice Abuelita in Coco and an incredible part of the Pixar family. We will always remember you🧡,” the post read.
In a previous interview with Clover Health, Victor gushed over her career and said that acting “keeps everything sharp.”
“Memorization, blocking, wardrobe, hair, makeup, and the process of getting into your character requires constant investigation and imagination,” she said, “because the more you do with your character, the more you discover.”
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