Lupe Ontiveros, Selena and Desperate Housewives Actress, Dies at 69

Veteran thespian passed away after a battle with liver cancer

By Peter Gicas Jul 27, 2012 5:34 PMTags
Lupe OntiverosAlberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Lupe Ontiveros, who appeared in such films as Selena, As Good As It Gets and The Goonies, along with having a recurring role on Desperate Housewives, has died. She was 69.

The cause of death was liver cancer, CNN reports.

"My friend Lupe Ontiveros just passed away. May you rest in peace," Ontiveros' Selena costar Jacob Vargas tweeted on Wednesday night. "Thank you for your great contribution to film and TV. You will be missed."

Vargas had tweeted a few hours before Ontiveros' death that he had "just left the bedside of my dear friend."

Jennifer Lopez also took to Twitter to express her condolences. "I am tremendously saddened by the news of Lupe's passing!" Lopez tweeted. "I've enjoyed her work throughout the years. She was a great actress and working with her in Selena was an unforgettable experience. She will truly be missed."

While her career was extensive, Ontiveros probably became best known for her role as Yolanda Saldivar, who was convicted of killing Tejano singer Selena, in the hit 1997 film starring Jennifer Lopez.