Silvia Pinal, the renowned Mexican actress famous for her role in Luis Buñuel’s classic film Viridiana, passed away on Thursday at the age of 93, as confirmed by Televisa-Univision and government officials.
Born in 1931 in Guaymas, a city in northwestern Mexico, Pinal was a prominent figure in Mexico’s Golden Age of cinema during the mid-20th century. She shared the screen with other iconic stars of the era, including Pedro Infante, Germán Valdés “Tin Tan,” Cantinflas, and Arturo de Córdova.
Mexico’s Culture Secretary, Claudia Curiel de Icaza, paid tribute to Pinal on social media, describing her as “a pioneer in theatre who paved the way for future generations.”
Claudia Curiel de Icaza, Mexico’s Culture Secretary, honored Silvia Pinal, stating on social media, “Her legacy as an artist and her contribution to our culture are unforgettable. May she rest in peace.”
Earlier this week, one of Pinal’s daughters, Sylvia Pasquel, shared that the actress had been in intensive care due to complications from a urinary infection.
Pinal, known for her striking appearance with blonde hair and bold red lipstick, was a towering figure in Mexican cinema. She began her career at the age of 18, making her film debut in the 1949 movie Bamba, in which she played a small role.
Throughout her impressive six-decade career, Silvia Pinal appeared in numerous films across Mexico, the US, and Europe. She achieved international recognition for her roles in three films directed by the legendary Luis Buñuel. Her career soared with Viridiana (1962), which became the first Spanish-Mexican film to win the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Pinal also starred in Buñuel’s Simon of the Desert (1965) and The Exterminating Angel (1967).
In addition to her film career, Silvia Pinal starred in the 1969 Mexican-American action film Shark! alongside Burt Reynolds.
Pinal also enjoyed successful careers in musical theatre and television, working as both an actress and a producer. She produced the long-running telenovela Mujer, casos de la vida real, which aired for over 20 years until 2007.
Emilio Azcárraga, chairman of the Mexican media giant Grupo Televisa, where Pinal worked for many years and where a series about her life was produced, paid tribute to her on social media. He expressed sadness over her passing but also pride in having worked alongside her at Televisa, which he described as her “home.”
Pinal was also involved in Mexican politics, serving as a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). She held seats in the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate, and the Mexico City local assembly.
Throughout her life, Pinal was married four times and had four children, one of whom is rock singer Alejandra Guzmán. Her beauty was immortalized in a portrait painted by Diego Rivera, one of Mexico’s most iconic muralists.
