Renée Victor (July 25, 1938 – May 30, 2025) was an American actress, dance instructor and singer. She was best known for her role as Lupita on Weeds and providing the voice of female Argonians in Bethesda Softworks' 2011 video game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Life and career

Victor was born in San Antonio, Texas on July 25, 1938. She moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s, where she sang for prominent bandleaders who spearheaded the popularity of Latin music in the U.S., including Xavier Cugat and Perez Prado. She was also as a dance instructor, teaching salsa and tango. She met her husband through dance classes. She and her husband traveled globally to perform together under the banner "Ray & Renée" — nicknamed the Latin Sonny & Cher — from 1963 to 1973.

She appeared in the 2014 film, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones. Her previous work includes a recurring role in 2004 on ER, and a guest role on a 2010 episode of Childrens Hospital. In 2020 and 2021, she appeared in the TNT show Snowpiercer while working with actors such as Daveed Diggs.

In 2017, Victor voiced Miguel's stern Abuelita Elena in the Disney–Pixar animated film Coco.

Victor died of lymphoma at her home in Sherman Oaks, on May 30, 2025, at the age of 86.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRole
1988SalsaAunt / Featured Dancer
1991The DoctorLucy
1995Steal Big Steal LittleRanchhand Wife
1997The ApostleLatin Translator
1998The Prophecy IINana
1998The Wonderful Ice Cream SuitGrandmother
1999My Brother the PigGrandma Berta
2001Island PreyYolanda
2002Never Trust a Serial KillerLupe
2002Assassination TangoStella
2004ProspectAbuela
2006Hot TamaleMama
2006Hollywood FamiliaMommee
2009Confessions of a ShopaholicBag Lady
2009StuntmenJuanita Villareal
2010Boyle HeightsGloria
2011WakeMama Chelo
2013A Night in Old MexicoJosefina Nelly
2014Paranormal Activity: The Marked OnesIrma Arista
2017CocoAbuelita (voice)
2018SuperflyEsmeralda Gonzalez
2020In Other WordsRegina Aragon
2021Green Ghost and the Masters of the StoneNana
2021Welcome to Our WorldConnie
2021Unknown Dimension: The Story of Paranormal ActivityHerself
2023MoeMother

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983–1985HotelChambermaid3 episodes
1984MasqueradeGuard #2Episode: "Five Days"
1985Scarecrow and Mrs. KingCarmen ValdezEpisode: "Ship of Spies"
1985George Burns Comedy WeekVarious roles2 episodes
1987MatlockMaidEpisode: "The Gambler"
1992–1993The Addams FamilyAdditional voices21 episodes
1993BobYolandaEpisode: "La Sorpresa"
1996The Parent 'HoodPrincipal2 episodes
1996Men Behaving BadlyEstelleEpisode: "Drunken Proposal"
1997The Tony Danza ShowLydia CruzEpisode: "A Marriage Made in Miami"
1998Team Knight RiderRosa BraccoEpisode: "Spy Girls"
2000That's LifeSeamstressEpisode: "The Tell-Tale Uterus"
2001Strong MedicineIsabel SantanaEpisode: "History"
2003Mister SterlingGloria LopezEpisode: "Game Time"
2004ERFlorina Lopez6 episodes
2005–2012WeedsLupita22 episodes
2006All You've GotGrandmother RosaTelevision film
2007Women's Murder ClubCarazonEpisode: "No Opportunity Necessary"
2007Good Morning AgresticLupitaEpisode: "Our Borders"
2008–2009Tyler Perry's House of PayneConsuela Hernandez6 episodes
2010Childrens HospitalGladysEpisode: "I See Her Face Everywhere"
2014Major CrimesRegina LopezEpisode: "Personal Day"
2014Witches of East EndAlma2 episodes
2017The Super ManAnita's Grandmother5 episodes
2018–2019VidaDoña Tita4 episodes
2020GentefiedOfeliaEpisode: "The Mural"
2020All RiseLupita3 episodes
2020–2021SnowpiercerMama Grandé11 episodes
2020–2021Victor and ValentinoDolores Del Rey (voice)2 episodes
2020–2022Dead to MeFlo Gutierrez3 episodes
2021FairfaxGloria (voice)Episode: "Fairfolks"
2021–2023With LoveMarta Delgado8 episodes
2022UndoneAbuelita Fabiola2 episodes
2022Mayans M.C.Sister Teresa3 episodes
2023A Million Little ThingsInez2 episodes
2024FuturamaAbuelatron (voice)Episode: "The One Amigo"

External links