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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family, friends, and fans across Texas and the |
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nation mourn the loss of actress and El Paso native Lupe Ontiveros, |
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who died on July 26, 2012, at the age of 69; and |
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WHEREAS, The former Guadalupe Moreno was born on September |
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17, 1942, in El Paso, where her parents owned a tortilla factory and |
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two restaurants; she graduated from El Paso High School and went on |
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to earn a degree in psychology and social work from Texas Woman's |
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University; and |
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WHEREAS, After marrying Elias Ontiveros, she moved with him |
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to Pico Rivera, California, where she found employment as a social |
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worker; in 1972, Ms. Ontiveros answered a newspaper advertisement |
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for movie extras and began getting small parts in such television |
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shows as Charlie's Angels, Eight Is Enough, Hill Street Blues, and |
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Who's the Boss?, often playing a maid or a housekeeper; along the |
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way, she garnered roles in several important Hispanic-themed films, |
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including Zoot Suit, The Border, El Norte, Born in East L.A., and My |
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Family; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1997, Ms. Ontiveros drew attention for her |
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breakout role in the film Selena, playing Yolanda Saldivar, the |
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convicted killer of the singer; her skill at playing drama and her |
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exquisite comic timing resulted in roles in such films as As Good As |
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It Gets, Real Women Have Curves, and Our Family Wedding; her |
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television career thrived as well, with guest spots or recurring |
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roles on Greetings From Tucson, Weeds, Los Americans, and |
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Southland; in 2005, she was nominated for an Emmy for her |
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performance as Juanita "Mama" Solis, the mother-in-law of Eva |
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Longoria's character on the hit series Desperate Housewives; she |
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also narrated the documentary Maid in America; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to her extensive work in TV and film, |
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Ms. Ontiveros helped establish the Latino Theater Company in Los |
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Angeles, and she spoke out on behalf of Latino performers |
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throughout her career; her career and her advocacy earned her |
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lifetime achievement awards from both the National Hispanic Media |
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Coalition and the National Association of Latino Independent |
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Producers; and |
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WHEREAS, In all her endeavors, she enjoyed the love and |
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support of her husband and their three sons, Nicholas, Alejandro, |
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and Elias; she also took great pride in her two granddaughters; and |
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WHEREAS, Lupe Ontiveros was a gifted actress and a passionate |
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voice for the causes in which she believed, and her talent, good |
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humor, and unshakeable dignity will continue to inspire not only |
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those who knew and loved her, but all those who delighted in her |
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performances over the years; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Lupe Ontiveros and |
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extend sincere condolences to her family and friends; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Lupe |
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Ontiveros. |