‘Coco’ Voice Actress Ana Ofelia Murguía Dies at 90

When Pixar’s Coco was released in 2017, it was a major moment of representation for Mexican culture and traditions unlike anything Disney had done before. The film was praised for its authentic storytelling as a result of Latinx talent in front and behind the camera. This week, Mexico’s National Fine Arts Institute announced that Ana Ofelia Murguía, the beloved actress known for voicing Mamá Coco in the film, passed away at 90 years old on December 31, 2023 according to Mexican officials, though they didn’t share the cause of death. In one of the most poignant moments in the film, the young Miguel (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez) sings “Remember Me” with Mamá Coco as she recalls her deceased dad. Though best known for Coco in the U.S., she left behind a legacy in the film industry in Mexico that spanned decades.

“With deep sadness we regret the sensitive death of the first actress Ana Ofelia Murguía, who was part of the stable cast of the @CNTeatromx del #INBAL and whose artistic career was vital for the performing arts of Mexico. We send condolences and warm hugs to her family and friends,” the Institute said in a statement on X.

Born in Mexico City, Murguía rose to prominence during the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema, appearing in more than 70 plays and 90 movies throughout her decades-long career. Her first film appearance was in a 1968 film called Pax? and is also known for her films Life Sentence (1979), Mi Querido Tom Mix (1992) and The Queen of the Night (1994). For this last film, she earned a Best Supporting Actress Ariel Award (Mexico’s equivalent to the Oscar) and was nominated a record four more times throughout her career. She received a special lifetime achievement Golden Ariel Award for her lasting legacy on Mexican media and entertainment. Her last film appearance was a year after Coco in an episode of the Mexican TV series José José: El Príncipe de la Canción, a fictionalized version of the famed Mexican singer’s life story.

“Acting has been the passion of my life, I have never worked to collect an award,” she said when she received the prestigious 2022 Ingmar Bergman Chair Medal for her contributions to cinema. “I have always loved this career, which I found by pure fluke. I’m happy. I feel like a very lucky woman.”