Renée Victor Dies at 86: ‘Coco’ Voice Star and ‘Weeds’ Fixture Remembered
Here comes the obligatory Hollywood send-off for Renée Victor, the veteran actress whose gravelly tones brought Pixar’s Coco to life and who kept Showtime’s Weeds simmering with her sharp-edged Lupita. Born in 1937, Victor slipped quietly away on December 24, 2023, after a private battle with lymphoma, her family confirmed to People Magazine. At 86, she’d already outlasted dozens of trends, outplayed younger peers and amassed credits that ranged from irreverent TV dramas to heartfelt animated blockbusters.
Don’t let the tears fool you: Victor was no frail ingénue. She racked up five decades of screen and stage work, including memorable turns in Coco—where she voiced the titular great-grandmother, Mama Coco—and a multi-season stint on Weeds as the tough-talking neighbor who had more bite than Wanda. Along the way, she collected multiple ALMA Award nominations and carved out a niche as a champion for Latinx representation in Hollywood. In 2014, the National Association of Latino Arts and the Latinx community honored her with a lifetime achievement award, citing her “unyielding spirit and magnetic presence” (LEO Weekly, 2014).
According to a statement shared exclusively with Dotdash Meredith’s feed, Victor’s family remembered her as “a beacon of warmth, creativity and resilience,” adding that she “loved by so many” and “inspired countless artists.” While some outlets have already begun canonizing her as a saint of left-field talent, let’s not gloss over the grit she brought to every audition. She dropped into Modern Family, How to Get Away with Murder and even The Bridge, each time reminding casting directors that experience trumps flash any day of the week.
Her lymphoma diagnosis wasn’t splashed across tabloids or turned into a tear-jerker fundraising event. Instead, Victor and her loved ones chose privacy until the end—an act of defiance in an industry that demands oversharing. Fans who admired her folksy wisdom and steely humor are left scavenging YouTube clips and old DVD menus for proof that she was more than just “that cool grandma” on screen. Social media tributes poured in from co-stars and protégés alike, with director Lee Unkrich praising her “nuanced vulnerability” on the Coco set (Twitter, Dec. 25).
If you were hoping for hidden scandals or posthumous ghostwriting disputes—you’ll be disappointed. Renée Victor’s legacy is stubbornly straightforward: a body of work that refused to be hustled by ageism or typecasting. And that’s today’s dose of reality. You’re welcome.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Dotdash Meredith RSS Feed
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
