Latest news with #Lupita
New York Times
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Renée Victor, Actress Who Voiced Abuelita in ‘Coco,' Dies at 86
Renée Victor, best known for voicing the strict but loving grandmother in the Pixar film 'Coco,' died Friday night at her home in Sherman Oaks, Calif. She was 86. The cause was lymphoma, a representative for Ms. Victor confirmed on Sunday. Ms. Victor appeared in a number of television series through her decades-long career, including as Lupita on the comedy series 'Weeds.' But her most well-known role came in 2017 as the grandmother in 'Coco,' which follows a 12-year-old boy in Mexico who is transported to the land of the dead. In a post on social media, Pixar said it was 'heartbroken' about Ms. Victor's death. 'We will always remember you,' the company added, possibly referring to the signature song in 'Coco.' Renée Victor was born on July 25, 1938, in San Antonio. She was raised in a traditional Catholic family and went to an all-girls school. When she was 10, Ms. Victor danced in a production of the opera 'Carmen,' according to the entertainment database IMDb. Ms. Victor's early career included a run as a singer and dancer at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas, according to IMDb. She went on to do more stage work internationally, including in Australia, Europe and Latin America. Ms. Victor later returned to Los Angeles and hosted the local talk show 'Pacesetters,' a public affairs program. She also worked as a translator and interpreter at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, as well as for the BBC. In 1996, Ms. Victor starred in the short film 'Libertad,' portraying a family matriarch fighting to keep her fractured family together. The next year, she played the Hispanic translator in Robert Duvall's 'The Apostle.' She had roles in two other films with Mr. Duvall: 'Assassination Tango' and 'A Night in Old Mexico.' The director Frank Aragon said Ms. Victor was deft at balancing humor and drama in a way that 'unleashes colorful, quirky personas that tickle the funny bone.' She also played the grandmother in the 2014 horror film 'Paranormal Activity 5: The Marked Ones.' Her character was originally meant to die midway through the movie, according to Ms. Victor's IMDb biography, but studio executives decided against that fate because 'she's too lovable and the audience won't accept it.' She also had recurring roles on the shows 'ER,' 'Dead to Me' and 'Snowpiercer.' In an interview in 2017 about her role in 'Coco,' Ms. Victor said that the film would bring a broader awareness of Mexican culture to those who 'don't know enough' about it. Of doing voice-over work, she said, 'I love it, because a microphone doesn't care what you look like.' She added, 'It's what you're projecting into that microphone that's important.' She is survived by her two daughters, Raquel and Margo Victor.
San Francisco Chronicle
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Panda wins the 2025 Palm Dog award at Cannes — and a look-alike accepts
CANNES, France (AP) — It's called the Palm Dog contest, but Friday's winner of the annual Cannes Film Festival tradition was a Panda. Panda, though, is an Icelandic sheepdog who stars in 'The Love That Remains,' from Icelandic director Hlynur Pálmason. Always positioned at the tail end of the festival, the beachside Palm Dog ceremony comes a day before the winner of the festival's Palme d'Or is announced. Pálmason's tragicomic film, which premiered at Cannes not in competition, follows five characters — Panda included — over the course of a year after the breakdown of a marriage. Panda is ever-present and very much part of the on-screen family and at the heart of the movie. Panda, who retains her name in the film, is Pálmason's dog and stars alongside his real-life children in the movie, which may explain the award-winning performance. While Panda sadly could not be there to collect the award, a look-alike local pooch was on hand to collect the coveted dog collar along with one of the film's human producers. Panda did make a virtual appearance with an acceptance video, on a car journey through Iceland. She succeeds last year's winner, Kodi, from 'Dog on Trial.' This year's awards marked the 25th anniversary of the much-loved event. Palm Dog founder Toby Rose explained that it has had more impact that he could imagine, becoming a fixture at Cannes. 'We honor the four-legged here just so they get a bit of their moment before the big dresses and the tuxedos take over,' Rose said. Other prizes included the 'Mutt Moment' Award, for stealing the scene. This went to a long-haired dachshund and a rottweiler, for their roles in raunchy BDSM biker drama 'Pillion,' starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling. The scene in question involves the film's two lovers bringing their respective dogs to a nighttime tryst. In a thank-you statement, director Harry Lighton described Hippo the dachshund's 'raw sex appeal' and said she's the true domme in 'Pillion.' Finally the grand jury prize was awarded to mystical Spanish odyssey 'Sirât,' for Jack Russell terrier Pipa and Lupita, a Podenco cross. The story follows a father searching for his daughter across the desert, accompanied by his son — and Pipa and Lupita. Lead actor Jade Oukid was there in person to collect the award alongside director Oliver Laxe. She told the gathered audience that Lupita was her own dog, who had sadly died soon after filming. After the show, Rose added that Lupita would be immortalized with this prize: 'We were so happy that we could celebrate a short life.' The Palm Dog has seen many a famous guest come down to pick up their awards in person. Quentin Tarantino came in person to collect the award in 2019 when Brandy the pit bull in 'Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood' won. And, in 2021, Tilda Swinton attended the ceremony to pick up the prize when her own three dogs, Rose, Dora and Snowbear, won the award for their roles in Joanna Hogg's 'The Souvenir II.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Panda wins the 2025 Palm Dog award at Cannes — and a look-alike accepts
CANNES, France (AP) — It's called the Palm Dog contest, but Friday's winner of the annual Cannes Film Festival tradition was a Panda. Panda, though, is an Icelandic sheepdog who stars in 'The Love That Remains,' from Icelandic director Hlynur Pálmason. Always positioned at the tail end of the festival, the beachside Palm Dog ceremony comes a day before the winner of the festival's Palme d'Or is announced. Pálmason's tragicomic film, which premiered at Cannes not in competition, follows five characters — Panda included — over the course of a year after the breakdown of a marriage. Panda is ever-present and very much part of the on-screen family and at the heart of the movie. Panda, who retains her name in the film, is Pálmason's dog and stars alongside his real-life children in the movie, which may explain the award-winning performance. While Panda sadly could not be there to collect the award, a look-alike local pooch was on hand to collect the coveted dog collar along with one of the film's human producers. Panda did make a virtual appearance with an acceptance video, on a car journey through Iceland. She succeeds last year's winner, Kodi, from 'Dog on Trial.' This year's awards marked the 25th anniversary of the much-loved event. Palm Dog founder Toby Rose explained that it has had more impact that he could imagine, becoming a fixture at Cannes. 'We honor the four-legged here just so they get a bit of their moment before the big dresses and the tuxedos take over,' Rose said. Other prizes included the 'Mutt Moment' Award, for stealing the scene. This went to a long-haired dachshund and a rottweiler, for their roles in raunchy BDSM biker drama 'Pillion,' starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling. The scene in question involves the film's two lovers bringing their respective dogs to a nighttime tryst. In a thank-you statement, director Harry Lighton described Hippo the dachshund's 'raw sex appeal' and said she's the true domme in 'Pillion.' Finally the grand jury prize was awarded to mystical Spanish odyssey 'Sirât,' for Jack Russell terrier Pipa and Lupita, a Podenco cross. The story follows a father searching for his daughter across the desert, accompanied by his son — and Pipa and Lupita. Lead actor Jade Oukid was there in person to collect the award alongside director Oliver Laxe. She told the gathered audience that Lupita was her own dog, who had sadly died soon after filming. After the show, Rose added that Lupita would be immortalized with this prize: 'We were so happy that we could celebrate a short life.' The Palm Dog has seen many a famous guest come down to pick up their awards in person. Quentin Tarantino came in person to collect the award in 2019 when Brandy the pit bull in 'Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood' won. And, in 2021, Tilda Swinton attended the ceremony to pick up the prize when her own three dogs, Rose, Dora and Snowbear, won the award for their roles in Joanna Hogg's 'The Souvenir II.' Some dogs have become mini-celebrities in their own right, including Messi from 'Anatomy of a Fall.' ___ For more coverage of 2025 Cannes Film Festival, visit
Winnipeg Free Press
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Panda wins the 2025 Palm Dog award at Cannes – and a look-alike accepts
CANNES, France (AP) — It's called the Palm Dog contest, but Friday's winner of the annual Cannes Film Festival tradition was a Panda. Panda, though, is an Icelandic sheepdog who stars in 'The Love That Remains,' from Icelandic director Hlynur Pálmason. Always positioned at the tail end of the festival, the beachside Palm Dog ceremony comes a day before the winner of the festival's Palme d'Or is announced. Pálmason's tragicomic film, which premiered at Cannes not in competition, follows five characters — Panda included — over the course of a year after the breakdown of a marriage. Panda is ever-present and very much part of the on-screen family and at the heart of the movie. Panda, who retains her name in the film, is Pálmason's dog and stars alongside his real-life children in the movie, which may explain the award-winning performance. While Panda sadly could not be there to collect the award, a look-alike local pooch was on hand to collect the coveted dog collar along with one of the film's human producers. Panda did make a virtual appearance with an acceptance video, on a car journey through Iceland. She succeeds last year's winner, Kodi, from 'Dog on Trial.' This year's awards marked the 25th anniversary of the much-loved event. Palm Dog founder Toby Rose explained that it has had more impact that he could imagine, becoming a fixture at Cannes. 'We honor the four-legged here just so they get a bit of their moment before the big dresses and the tuxedos take over,' Rose said. Other prizes included the 'Mutt Moment' Award, for stealing the scene. This went to a long-haired dachshund and a rottweiler, for their roles in raunchy BDSM biker drama 'Pillion,' starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling. The scene in question involves the film's two lovers bringing their respective dogs to a nighttime tryst. In a thank-you statement, director Harry Lighton described Hippo the dachshund's 'raw sex appeal' and said she's the true domme in 'Pillion.' Finally the grand jury prize was awarded to mystical Spanish odyssey 'Sirât,' for Jack Russell terrier Pipa and Lupita, a Podenco cross. The story follows a father searching for his daughter across the desert, accompanied by his son — and Pipa and Lupita. Lead actor Jade Oukid was there in person to collect the award alongside director Oliver Laxe. She told the gathered audience that Lupita was her own dog, who had sadly died soon after filming. After the show, Rose added that Lupita would be immortalized with this prize: 'We were so happy that we could celebrate a short life.' The Palm Dog has seen many a famous guest come down to pick up their awards in person. Quentin Tarantino came in person to collect the award in 2019 when Brandy the pit bull in 'Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood' won. And, in 2021, Tilda Swinton attended the ceremony to pick up the prize when her own three dogs, Rose, Dora and Snowbear, won the award for their roles in Joanna Hogg's 'The Souvenir II.' Some dogs have become mini-celebrities in their own right, including Messi from 'Anatomy of a Fall.' ___ For more coverage of 2025 Cannes Film Festival, visit
