Latest news with #RenéeVictor
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Disney Lays Off Several Hundred Employees in Cost-Cutting Measure
Disney is laying off several hundred employees globally as part of cost-cutting measures. The impacted teams are employees working on marketing for both film and television, as well as TV publicity, casting and development and corporate financial operations, a source familiar with the matter confirms to The Hollywood Reporter. While individual employees from those teams are impacted, and were notified Monday, no team itself is being eliminated, the source said. More from The Hollywood Reporter Renée Victor, Voice of Abuelita in 'Coco,' Dies at 86 'Lilo & Stitch' Live-Action Remake Ignites Debate Over "Harmful" Changes to Original's Story Disney+, Hulu Expand Subscriber-Only Perks and Sweepstakes with 'Freakier Friday' Movie Premiere Tickets, Disney Cruise Vacations and More In March, Disney cut just under 200 jobs at ABC News and at its Disney Entertainment Networks division due to economic headwinds facing the linear TV business. The cuts represented about 6 percent of the division's workforce. This is part of Disney's ongoing efficiency and cost-cutting measures, which were outlined in September, as it refocuses on streaming and pushes for profitability. The Burbank-based company employs 233,000 people globally and 171,000 in the U.S., per its most recent annual report. 'We continually evaluate ways to invest in our businesses and more effectively manage our resources and costs to fuel the state-of-the-art creativity and innovation that consumers value and expect from Disney,' a rep for the company stated in September. 'As part of this ongoing optimization work, we have been reviewing the cost structure for our corporate-level functions and have determined there are ways for them to operate more efficiently.' In 2023, upon his return, Disney CEO Bob Iger unveiled a plan to cut 7,000 employees as part of a 'strategic realignment' of the company that was instituted in multiple phases with staffers being cut across a number of months. Best of The Hollywood Reporter How the Warner Brothers Got Their Film Business Started Meet the World Builders: Hollywood's Top Physical Production Executives of 2023 Men in Blazers, Hollywood's Favorite Soccer Podcast, Aims for a Global Empire Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Renée Victor, Voice of Abuelita in ‘Coco,' Dies at 86
Renée Victor, the actress known for voicing Abuelita in Disney and Pixar's Coco and starring as Lupita in Showtime's Weeds, has died. She was 86. Victor died at her home in Sherman Oaks on Friday night surrounded by her family after a battle with lymphoma, her representative told The Hollywood Reporter. More from The Hollywood Reporter Devin Harjes, 'Boardwalk Empire,' 'Daredevil' and 'Gotham' Actor, Dies at 41 Alan Alda, Mike Farrell Among Those Paying Tribute to Loretta Swit: "A Supremely Talented Actor" Sherry Robb, Literary Agent, Talent Manager and Producer, Dies at 81 After being born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1938, she moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s where she grew her career as a musician. Victor worked alongside the likes of Xavier Cugat and Perez Prado, who helped popularize Latin music in the States before she and her husband began performing as the duo named 'Ray & Renée' from 1963 to 1973. She began her pivot into television in the 1970s when she hosted Pacesetters, a KTLA program that spotlighted the Chicano movement. Victor went on to be featured in an episode of Masquerade in 1984, Scarecrow and Mrs. King in 1985 and Matlock in 1987. She ventured into voice acting in 1992 with the animated The Addams Family series, with her additional credits including The Doctor, Confessions of a Shopaholic, A Night in Old Mexico and Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, among others. In 2005, she joined the cast of Weeds, where she starred as Lupita, the housekeeper to Mary-Louise Parker's character. Victor starred in Coco as the protective Aubelita, and the film went on to garner two Academy Awards for best animated feature and best original song, 'Remember Me,' written by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez. Notably, Coco featured an all-Latin cast. After Disney announced Coco 2 was in development at Disney's Annual Shareholder Meeting earlier this year, Victor showed her excitement for the project on Instagram. 'It was my great pleasure and experience working with the incredibly talented Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina! We get to do it again,' she wrote, though the official cast for Coco 2 has not yet been confirm. 'This is what we've all been waiting for! I'm so excited! Coco shared a Mexican tradition that is now celebrated around the world in unity. An amazing amount of work and talent goes into the creation of this unique film.' Following the news of her death, Pixar shared a statement in honor of Victor on Instagram. 'We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Renée Victor, the voice Abuelita in Coco and an incredible part of the Pixar family. We will always remember you,' they wrote Saturday. Gloria Calderón Kellett, whom Victor starred alongside in Prime Video's With Love, shared a heartfelt Instagram post Saturday, recalling when they first crossed paths on the set of The Ortegas and 'she radiated talent, humor and grace.' 'It's hard to say goodbye to the incomparable Renee Victor,' she wrote. 'Years later, she would become my TV mom, Marta, on With Love — a role named after my paternal grandmother. It felt like destiny. She brought that character to life with such warmth, sharp wit, and elegance. And let's be honest — she had the best legs in the biz!' 'Renee was a true pro. A scene-stealer. A joy. A blessing. Her artistry made everything better, and her presence made every set brighter,' she wrote in the conclusion of the post. Survivor include her two daughters, Raquel and Margo. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
Euronews
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Renée Victor, the voice of Abuelita in 'Coco', dies aged 86
American actress Renée Victor, who voiced the scene-stealing, sandal-throwing Abuelita in Disney's animated hit film Coco and played the wisecracking Lupita in the TV show Weeds has died aged 86. Victor's death was confirmed on Monday by a representative, Julie Smith, who said the actress had lymphoma for several years. She died Friday at her home in Sherman Oaks, California, Smith said, with family by her side. Victor appeared in 22 episodes of Weeds as sassy housekeeper Lupita between 2005 and 2012, among many other TV credits including ER, Matlock and The Addams Family. But she was perhaps best known for her voice work on Coco, the 2017 gem that explored death through the journey of a young Mexican boy to the land of the dead. A post on the Instagram feed of Pixar, which produced Coco, said: 'We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Renée Victor, the voice (of) Abuelita in 'Coco' and an incredible part of the Pixar family. We will always remember you.' Born in San Antonio, Texas, on 25 July 1938, Victor began her performing career as a singer and dancer. She moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s, according to biography material provided by her representatives, where she launched her career singing with prominent big band leaders Xavier Cugat and Pérez Prado. She also taught Latin dancing, including salsa and tango. She met her future husband, Ray, during that period, and from 1963 to 1973, they performed together as 'Ray & Renée,' a variety show took them around the world. By the '80s, she had moved into TV and film work. Her film credits included The Doctor with William Hurt (1991), The Apostle (1997) directed by and starring Robert Duvall and A Night in Old Mexico (2013), also with Duvall. In 2004, she had a recurring role as Florina Lopez on TV's ER, and the following year was cast in Weeds. Other series credits included Snowpiercer (2020-2021), Mayans M.C. (2022), Dead to Me (2020-2022), and With Love (2021-2023). Her final film role was in 2023's Moe. Victor is survived by her daughters, Raquel and Margo Victor.
The Independent
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Renée Victor, the voice of no-nonsense Abuelita in 'Coco,' dies at 86
Renée Victor, who voiced the no-nonsense, sandal-throwing Abuelita in Disney's animated hit 'Coco' and played the wisecracking Lupita on Showtime's 'Weeds,' has died. She was 86. Victor's death was confirmed on Monday by a representative, Julie Smith, who said the actor had lymphoma for several years. She died Friday at her home in Sherman Oaks, California, Smith said, with family by her side. A post on the Instagram feed of Pixar, which produced ' Coco,' said: 'We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Renée Victor, the voice (of) Abuelita in 'Coco' and an incredible part of the Pixar family. We will always remember you.' Victor appeared in 22 episodes of 'Weeds' as sassy housekeeper Lupita between 2005 and 2012, among many other TV credits including 'ER,' 'Matlock' and 'The Addams Family.' But she was perhaps best known for what she called the chancla-throwing grandmother in 'Coco,' the 2017 family-friendly movie that explored death through the journey of a young Mexican boy to the land of the dead. 'I play the part of 'Abuelita,' the chancla throwing grandma that preaches 'No Music!'' she wrote on Instagram, looking back several years ago. 'Enjoy 'Coco' with your family this Dia de los Muertos and forever more!' She also looked back at 'The Apostle,' the 1997 movie that Robert Duvall wrote, directed and starred in. 'He took a chance on me with this film,' Victor wrote on Instagram. 'This is where I got my nickname 'one take Renée,'' she said, adding laughter emojis. 'I had a small role but what a great one! Can somebody give me an amen?!' Born in San Antonio, Texas, on July 25, 1938, Victor began her performing career as a singer and dancer. She moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s, according to biography material provided by her representatives, where she launched her career singing with prominent big band leaders Xavier Cugat and Pérez Prado. She also taught Latin dancing, including the salsa and tango. She met her future husband, Ray, during that period, and from 1963 to 1973, they performed together as 'Ray & Renée,' a variety show took them around the world — including Australia, where 'they enjoyed particular fame,' the materials said. In the 1970s, Victor hosted the 'Pacesetters' public affairs show on KTLA, her representatives said, and by the '80s had moved into TV and film work. Her film credits, other than 'The Apostle,' included the 2014 horror film 'Paranormal Activity 5: The Marked Ones,' 'The Doctor' with William Hurt (1991), and 'A Night in Old Mexico' (2013), also with Duvall. In 2004, she had a recurring role as Florina Lopez on TV's 'ER,' and the following year was cast in 'Weeds.' Other series credits included 'Snowpiercer' (2020-2021), 'Mayans M.C.' (2022), 'Dead to Me' (2020-2022), and Amazon's 'With Love' (2021-2023). Victor is survived by her daughters, Raquel and Margo Victor, Smith said.
Associated Press
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Renée Victor, the voice of no-nonsense Abuelita in 'Coco,' dies at 86
Renée Victor, who voiced the no-nonsense, sandal-throwing Abuelita in Disney's animated hit 'Coco' and played the wisecracking Lupita on Showtime's 'Weeds,' has died. She was 86. Victor's death was confirmed on Monday by a representative, Julie Smith, who said the actor had lymphoma for several years. She died Friday at her home in Sherman Oaks, California, Smith said, with family by her side. A post on the Instagram feed of Pixar, which produced 'Coco,' said: 'We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Renée Victor, the voice (of) Abuelita in 'Coco' and an incredible part of the Pixar family. We will always remember you.' Victor appeared in 22 episodes of 'Weeds' as sassy housekeeper Lupita between 2005 and 2012, among many other TV credits including 'ER,' 'Matlock' and 'The Addams Family.' But she was perhaps best known for what she called the chancla-throwing grandmother in 'Coco,' the 2017 family-friendly movie that explored death through the journey of a young Mexican boy to the land of the dead. 'I play the part of 'Abuelita,' the chancla throwing grandma that preaches 'No Music!'' she wrote on Instagram, looking back several years ago. 'Enjoy 'Coco' with your family this Dia de los Muertos and forever more!' She also looked back at 'The Apostle,' the 1997 movie that Robert Duvall wrote, directed and starred in. 'He took a chance on me with this film,' Victor wrote on Instagram. 'This is where I got my nickname 'one take Renée,'' she said, adding laughter emojis. 'I had a small role but what a great one! Can somebody give me an amen?!' Born in San Antonio, Texas, on July 25, 1938, Victor began her performing career as a singer and dancer. She moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s, according to biography material provided by her representatives, where she launched her career singing with prominent big band leaders Xavier Cugat and Pérez Prado. She also taught Latin dancing, including the salsa and tango. She met her future husband, Ray, during that period, and from 1963 to 1973, they performed together as 'Ray & Renée,' a variety show took them around the world — including Australia, where 'they enjoyed particular fame,' the materials said. In the 1970s, Victor hosted the 'Pacesetters' public affairs show on KTLA, her representatives said, and by the '80s had moved into TV and film work. Her film credits, other than 'The Apostle,' included the 2014 horror film 'Paranormal Activity 5: The Marked Ones,' 'The Doctor' with William Hurt (1991), and 'A Night in Old Mexico' (2013), also with Duvall. In 2004, she had a recurring role as Florina Lopez on TV's 'ER,' and the following year was cast in 'Weeds.' Other series credits included 'Snowpiercer' (2020-2021), 'Mayans M.C.' (2022), 'Dead to Me' (2020-2022), and Amazon's 'With Love' (2021-2023). Victor is survived by her daughters, Raquel and Margo Victor, Smith said.
