By Angela M. Ortíz
There is too much sadness in the world already. And now one of those rare and wonderful sources of joy, passion, and friendship has left us with impossible and unexpected speed:
Lupe Ontiveros–actress, activist, mother, friend–passed away shortly after 10:00 pm on Thursday, July 26, after a long and very private battle with liver cancer. She was surrounded by family and friends. Her seventieth birthday was just a few weeks away, and that is simply too soon–too soon.
Her work as an actress is well-known, and spans more than 35 years. She was the crazed fan who killed Selena in Selena, the housekeeper in Goonies. She was in Real Women Have Curves and The Brothers Garcia and Resurrection Boulevard and Desperate Housewives and Los Americans. She was the abuelita in ¡Rob! just last year, and as recently as a week ago–a week ago–there were stories about awards ceremonies and new projects and upcoming appearances.
I remember seeing Lupe on TV shows growing up, but the first time I really noticed her talent on screen was in Gregory Nava’s El Norte—such an intense film. I developed a new admiration even then, though I had no idea that years later, through my work and association with Latin Heat magazine, I would be photographing her at red carpet events.
At first, I would hear the non-Latino photographers at those events saying, “I kind of recognize the face, but don’t know the name,” or, “That’s the woman from The Goonies,” or, “She killed Selena.” Then, as time passed, it became, “She was Eva Longoria’s mother-in-law in Desperate Housewives,” and finally they knew her: “Hey, here comes Lupe Ontiveros.” And through all of this, I would get Lupe’s attention and get a shot of her, and that’s how our relationship developed. She would always say, “Make me look good!” and it wasn’t hard–not with that smile!
Over the years, I also got to know her off the red carpet. She called me ‘La Panameña’ or ‘mi Panameñita,’ and I always though of her as “Lalu – La Lupe.” And the more I got to know her, the more I realized how much there was to this woman. She could be serious; she was always full of passion; she had a wicked sense of humor; she spoke about four or five languages and she loved a good party. And all that barely touches on all that I came to know and love about her.
Lalu…For those of us who had the pleasure of hanging with you over the years, it’s a huge loss. I’ll always remember the moments with you, and how much fun I always had, even when the conversation was serious.
So today we join your family, your friends and colleagues in mourning the loss of a great actress, a wonderful mother, a passionate activist and a good, good friend who simply cannot be replaced. The world is full of enough sadness already, and now, forever, there is a little less joy; a little less light.
We’ll all miss you so much. Your talent, generosity, your amistad is a loss that is simply too immense to describe.
Rest in peace, Lupe.
All photos: ©2008-2012 Angela María Ortíz S.
