The World of Telenovelas Mourn the Death of Helena Rojo, the Grand Dame of Mexican TV

MIAMI -- The telenovela world is reeling from the loss of Helena Rojo, a venerated Mexican actress, who passed away at the age of 79 following her battle with liver cancer. The news of her passing was met on social media with a wave of tributes and heartfelt messages from fans and celebrities alike, including Lucero, Lucía Méndez, Arturo Carmona, Consuelo Duval, Ana Martín, and Chantal Andere, among many others.

The outpouring of grief and remembrance underscores Rojo's significant impact on the telenovela genre and the entertainment industry at large. Her career, spanning several decades, left an indelible mark on Mexican, Latin American, and Latino culture and television.

Born María Elena Enríquez Ruiz on August 18, 1944, in Mexico City, Rojo began her career as a model in the 1960s before transitioning to acting. Her last role on English-language TV was in "Ugly Betty," where she played an actress playing a telenovela villain.

Helena Rojo's legacy

Her journey in the world of telenovelas began in 1974 with "Extraño en su pueblo." Over the decades, she became known for her roles in numerous popular telenovelas, including "La venganza," "El privilegio de amar," and "Abrázame muy fuerte."

In film, she collaborated with renowned directors such as Werner Herzog and Arturo Ripstein, earning accolades like the Ariel Award (Mexico's Oscars) for Best Supporting Actress in 1972 for her role in "Fin de fiesta."

In 1972, Helena Rojo was part of the cast of the Peruvian movie "Espejismo," which was nominated for the Golden Globes as Best Foreign Film.

Apart from her television success, Roj

A community in mourning

The news of Helena Rojo's passing led to an on-going outpouring of tributes from fellow actors and fans alike.

"The most beautiful and cute, great actress and companion, beautiful woman inside and out. Rest in peace, adorada Helena Rojo. It was an honor to share scenes with you and to know you closely.", wrote Lucero, who worked with her in "Por ella soy Eva."

"Great among the greats. Forever loved and admired. My deepest condolences to your family and friends. May she continue to take care of all her loved ones in that beautiful place where she is now," added the actress and singer.

Not many people knew Rojo was sick, so the news came as a big shock to fans and his fellow actors. The reactions were as beautiful as they were devastating. RIP Helena Rojo.