Lupe Ontiveros Wiki Biography
Guadalupe “Lupe” Ontiveros was an American film and television actress of Mexican descendent, best known for playing Yolanda Saldívar in the film Selena. Ontiveros acted in numerous films and television shows, often playing a maid or, more recently, an all-knowing grandmoth…
| Full Name | Lupe Ontiveros |
| Net Worth | $250 Thousand |
| Date Of Birth | September 17, 1942, El Paso, Texas, United States |
| Died | July 26, 2012, Whittier, California, United States |
| Place Of Birth | El Paso |
| Height | 4 ft 10 in (1.49 m) |
| Profession | Actor, Voice Actor |
| Education | El Paso High School, Texas Woman’s University |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| Spouse | Elias Ontiveros (m. 1966–2012) |
| Children | Elias Ontiveros, Alejandro Ontiveros, Nicholas Ontiveros |
| Parents | Juan Moreno, Luz Castañón |
| Nicknames | Lupe M. Ontiveros , Guadalupe Moreno , Guadalupe Ontiveros |
| IMDB | http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0648913 |
| Awards | ALMA Award for In Memoriam Tribute, ALMA Award for Favorite TV Actress – Comedy, Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize: U.S. Dramatic |
| Nominations | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress – Comedy Series, Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female, ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film, ALMA Award for Outstanding Latino Cast in a Made-for-Television Movie or Mini-Series, ALMA Award for Outstanding Individual P… |
| Movies | The Goonies, Real Women Have Curves, Selena, As Good as It Gets, Our Family Wedding, Chuck & Buck, El Norte, This Christmas, Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2, Tortilla Heaven, Dolly Dearest, Passionada, Dark Mirror, Zoot Suit, Born in East L.A., California Suite, And the Earth Did Not Swallow Him, A Show o… |
| TV Shows | Greetings from Tucson, Maya & Miguel, Rob, Dudley, Jancis Robinson’s Wine Course |
| Trademark | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Frequently works with director ‘Gregory Nava’. |
| 2 | Playing Housekeepers/Maids |
| Quote | |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’ve made chicken salad out of chicken manure. I’m proud to represent those hands that labor in this country, I’ve given every maid I’ve portrayed soul and heart. |
| 2 | [on the Hispanic population in this country] They don’t know we’re very much a part of this country and that we make up every part of this country. When I go in there and speak perfect English, I don’t get the part. |
| Fact | |
|---|---|
| 1 | She is survived by her husband, Elias Ontiveros of Pico Rivera, California; her sons, Nicholas Ontiveros, Alejandro Ontiveros, and Elias Ontiveros; and two granddaughters. |
| 2 | She studied psychology and social work at Texas Women’s University in Texas. She was social worker until she started acting in the 1970s. |
| 3 | She was an advocate for the hearing impaired. She founded the Latino Theater Company in Los Angeles, California in 1985. |
| 4 | Ontiveros was a founding board member of the Latino Theater Company in downtown Los Angeles. |
| 5 | In 2005, Ontiveros was nominated for an Emmy Award for her guest star role as Juanita “Mama” Solis, the nosy mother-in-law of Eva Longoria’s character on “Desperate Housewives.”. |
| 6 | Her parents owned a tortilla factory and two restaurants. |
| 7 | Received a Lifetime Achievement Impact Award in 2002 from the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC). The NHMC Impact Awards recognize outstanding contributions to the positive portrayal of Latinos in media. |
| 8 | Two of Lupe’s three sons are hearing-impaired. Lupe, as a young woman, worked in her own mother’s small factory for a few months, with women not unlike those working in the sweatshop in Real Women Have Curves (2002). |
| 9 | She is best-known in the Latino community for her portrayal of Yolanda Saldivar in the movie, Selena (1997), and to Anglo audiences as the housekeeper on The Goonies (1985). |
| 10 | She estimates she has played a maid in at least 150 films or plays. She narrated a documentary, Maid in America (2005). |
| 11 | Mother, with Elias Ontiveros, of three sons. |
| 12 | Graduate of Texas Women’s University, with majors in psychology and social work. |
| 13 | Has worked part-time as a social worker. |
Actress
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline in the City | 1996 | TV Series | Rosa |
| Red Shoe Diaries | 1996 | TV Series | Miguel’s Mother |
| …And the Earth Did Not Swallow Him | 1995 | Doña Rosa | |
| My Family | 1995 | Irene | |
| The Tent Show | 1993 | La Vendedora | |
| Dudley | 1993 | TV Series | Marta |
| Rio Diablo | 1993 | TV Movie | Ducna |
| Blood In, Blood Out | 1993 | Carmen | |
| Universal Soldier | 1992 | Gregor’s Maid | |
| Tales from the Crypt | 1992 | TV Series | Madame Leona |
| How Else Am I Supposed to Know I’m Still Alive? | 1991 | Short | Lupe |
| Great Performances | 1991 | TV Series | Parranda (pastore) |
| Dolly Dearest | 1991 | Camilla | |
| A Show of Force | 1990 | Pepita | |
| Grand Slam | 1990 | TV Series | Grandma Gomez |
| Those She Left Behind | 1989 | TV Movie | Rosa |
| On the Fritz | 1988 | TV Movie | Property Master |
| Punky Brewster | 1988 | TV Series | Mrs. Aragon |
| CBS Schoolbreak Special | 1988 | TV Series | Mrs. Rojas |
| Who’s the Boss? | 1988 | TV Series | Margarita |
| Stones for Ibarra | 1988 | TV Movie | Remedios Acosta |
| I Married Dora | 1987 | TV Series | |
| Born in East L.A. | 1987 | Rudy’s Mother | |
| The Rosary Murders | 1987 | Sophie | |
| When the Bough Breaks | 1986 | TV Movie | Cruz |
| Fame | 1986 | TV Series | Mrs. Castillo |
| The Goonies | 1985 | Rosalita | |
| Little Treasure | 1985 | Market Voice #1 | |
| Jessie | 1984 | TV Movie | Mary Velasco |
| Jessie | 1984 | TV Series | Mary Velasco |
| a.k.a. Pablo | 1984 | TV Series | Mrs. Alvarez |
| Hill Street Blues | 1981-1984 | TV Series | Woman / Screaming Mother / Mrs. Uribe |
| El Norte | 1983 | Nacha | |
| ABC Afterschool Specials | 1983 | TV Series | Mrs. Nunez |
| The Border | 1982 | Madam in Whorehouse | |
| American Playhouse | 1982 | TV Series | |
| Zoot Suit | 1981 | Dolores | |
| Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie | 1980 | Old Lady (as Lupe M. Ontiveros) | |
| The White Shadow | 1978-1980 | TV Series | Mrs. Gomez |
| B.J. and the Bear | 1980 | TV Series | Mexican Maid |
| California Suite | 1978 | Maid | |
| The Big Fix | 1978 | Maid | |
| The Boss’ Son | 1978 | Maria | |
| Alice | 1977-1978 | TV Series | Maria Fernanadez / Mrs. Rivera |
| A Question of Guilt | 1978 | TV Movie | Helen |
| Soap | 1978 | TV Series | Lady in Airport |
| Police Story | 1978 | TV Series | Rita |
| The World’s Greatest Lover | 1977 | Whore #2 | |
| Eight Is Enough | 1977 | TV Series | Mariana |
| Charlie’s Angels | 1976 | TV Series | Maid |
| Cry Now | 2014 | Rosario | |
| Water & Power | 2013 | RHD Veteran | |
| Common Law | 2012 | TV Series | Margie Lopez |
| Desperate Housewives | 2004-2012 | TV Series | Juanita ‘Mama’ Solis |
| Rob | 2012 | TV Series | Abuelita |
| Guido | 2011 | ||
| Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 | 2011 | Video | Mrs. Cortez |
| Los Americans | 2011 | TV Series | Lucia Valenzuela / Lucia |
| Sparky | 2010 | Video short | |
| The Whole Truth | 2010 | TV Series | Maria |
| Lies in Plain Sight | 2010 | TV Movie | Doctor Stone |
| Party Down | 2010 | TV Series | Mrs. Gomez |
| Our Family Wedding | 2010 | Momma Cecilia | |
| Crawlspace | 2009 | Short | |
| Hacia la vida | 2009 | Short | Soledad |
| Reaper | 2009 | TV Series | Ben’s Grandmother |
| Southland | 2009 | TV Series | Marta Ruiz |
| Family Guy | 2009 | TV Series | |
| Days of Wrath | 2008 | Anita Terrazas | |
| Weeds | 2008 | TV Series | Nun |
| El Superstar: The Unlikely Rise of Juan Frances | 2008 | Nena | |
| Universal Signs | 2008 | Claire | |
| This Christmas | 2007 | Rosie | |
| Dark Mirror | 2007 | Grace | |
| Cory in the House | 2007 | TV Series | Mama Martinez |
| Tortilla Heaven | 2007 | Adelfa | |
| A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story | 2006 | TV Movie | Mami |
| Mind of Mencia | 2005 | TV Series | Carlos’s Mom |
| Testing Bob | 2005 | TV Movie | Secretary |
| Reba | 2005 | TV Series | Penny |
| Maya & Miguel | 2004 | TV Series | Abuela Elena |
| 30 Days Until I’m Famous | 2004 | TV Movie | Rosa Moreno |
| Greetings from Tucson | 2002-2003 | TV Series | Magdalena Tiant Magdalena |
| Mr. St. Nick | 2002 | TV Movie | Tia Sophia |
| Resurrection Blvd. | 2002 | TV Series | Lupe |
| Passionada | 2002 | Angelica Amonte | |
| Pasadena | 2001-2002 | TV Series | Pilar |
| The Brothers Garcia | 2000-2002 | TV Series | Abuelita / Abuelita Maria / Telenovella actress |
| Leap of Faith | 2002 | TV Series | Lupe |
| King of the Hill | 2002 | TV Series | Anne |
| Real Women Have Curves | 2002 | Carmen Garcia | |
| La olla | 2001 | ||
| Storytelling | 2001 | Consuelo (segment “Non-Fiction”) | |
| Gabriela | 2001 | Grandma Josie | |
| Strippers | 2000 | Credit Message | |
| Picking Up the Pieces | 2000 | Constancia | |
| Luminarias | 2000 | Tia Tonia | |
| Chuck & Buck | 2000 | Beverly Franco | |
| The Egg Plant Lady | 2000 | Connie | |
| Candyman: Day of the Dead | 1999 | Video | Abuela |
| Of Light and Darkness | 1998 | Video Game | The Beating Heart |
| As Good as It Gets | 1997 | Nora | |
| Veronica’s Closet | 1997 | TV Series | Louisa |
| The Brave | 1997 | Maria | |
| Dave’s World | 1997 | TV Series | Bingo Lady |
| Riot | 1997 | TV Movie | Mother (segment “Caught in the Fever”) |
| Selena | 1997 | Yolanda Saldivar |
Miscellaneous
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Of Love and Shadows | 1994 | ADR voice | |
| House of Cards | 1993 | ADR artist |
Producer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Signs | 2008 | producer |
Thanks
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards | 2012 | TV Special in memory of | |
| Edición Especial Coleccionista | 2012 | TV Series in memory of – 1 episode |
Self
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journey of a Female Comic | 2014 | Documentary | Herself |
| American Latino TV | 2012 | TV Series | Herself |
| 2011 ALMA Awards | 2011 | TV Special | Herself |
| The Making of a Cult Classic: The Unauthorized Story of ‘The Goonies’ | 2010 | Video documentary short | Herself |
| CNN Presents: Latino in America | 2009 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
| Celebrity Habla | 2009 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
| 2006 ALMA Awards | 2006 | TV Special | Herself |
| Only in LA | 2005 | TV Series | Herself |
| The Drop | 2005 | TV Series | Herself |
| Latin Music Awards | 2003 | TV Special | Herself |
| The Bronze Screen: 100 Years of the Latino Image in American Cinema | 2002 | Documentary | Herself |
| HBO First Look | 2002 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
Archive Footage
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards | 2013 | TV Special | Herself – In Memoriam |
Won Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | LA Femme Filmmaker Award | LA Femme International Film Festival | Image Award in Memoriam | |
| 2005 | Gold Derby TV Award | Gold Derby Awards | Comedy Guest Actress | Desperate Housewives (2004) |
| 2003 | Maverick Tribute Award | Cinequest San Jose Film Festival | ||
| 2003 | Imagen Award | Imagen Foundation Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Film | Real Women Have Curves (2002) |
| 2002 | Special Jury Prize | Sundance Film Festival | Dramatic | Real Women Have Curves (2002) |
| 2000 | NBR Award | National Board of Review, USA | Best Supporting Actress | Chuck & Buck (2000) |
| 1998 | ALMA Award | ALMA Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series | Veronica’s Closet (1997) |
Nominated Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | ISA | Indie Series Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Drama | Los Americans (2011) |
| 2009 | ALMA Award | ALMA Awards | Actress in Television – Comedy | Reaper (2007) |
| 2005 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Desperate Housewives (2004) |
| 2001 | Chlotrudis Award | Chlotrudis Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Chuck & Buck (2000) |
| 2001 | Independent Spirit Award | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Female | Chuck & Buck (2000) |
| 1998 | ALMA Award | ALMA Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film | As Good as It Gets (1997) |
| 1996 | NCLR Bravo Award | NCLR Bravo Awards | Outstanding Individual Performance in Made for Television Movie or Mini-Series | …And the Earth Did Not Swallow Him (1995) |