Beloved Mexican Actress María Eugenia Ríos Passes Away at 88, Leaving a Legacy of Iconic Roles

María Eugenia Ríos dies. | Cover: Jovany Pérez, Infobae México.

The entertainment world is in mourning over the loss of one of its most celebrated actresses in Mexican television. Heartbroken, Andrés Bonfiglio confirmed that his mother María Eugenia Ríos passed away during the early hours of this Thursday, August 1.

“I deeply appreciate all your prayers, however, my mother decided to leave us 10 minutes ago,” said her son in a Facebook post that was published around 12:50 AM.

On the other hand, the National Association of Actors also confirmed the news while recalling that the actress played a vital role in the history of the Union and in the development of the Childcare Center, a safe place where acting colleagues could leave their children before going to work.

“The National Association of Actors deeply regrets the passing of our colleague María Eugenia Ríos, who dedicated years of her life to our Union and the Childcare Center. Our condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues. Rest in Peace,” they wrote.

María Eugenia Ríos died at the age of 88. (Instagram)

Hours later, Andrés took to his Instagram account to say goodbye to his mother. With a photograph where Maria Eugenia looks as young as in her best years, his son paid a small and deserved tribute while bidding her farewell.

In addition to the actress’s photo, her son included a list of telenovelas in which she participated. These roles made her recognized by the Mexican public and, above all, earned her the affection of Mexican viewers.

“I will love you forever, mom. My heart is broken,” wrote Andrés Bonfiglio.

(Special Infobae: Jovani Pérez)

Any Mexican who has ever had an encounter with television, especially with the dramatic world of telenovelas, surely knows María Eugenia Ríos.

She was born on August 4, 1935, in Mexico City. Little is known about her life before her career, but it is known that she trained to be a bilingual secretary, although she hardly practiced, as the world of acting knocked on her door.

Her desire to become an actress led her to successfully participate in a play by Andrés Soler. It was in his academy where she began her professional training as an actress starting in 1954. In that institution, she met Oscar Morelli, with whom she fell in love and had four children: Gustavo, María Eugenia, and actors Óscar Bonfiglio and Andrés Bonfiglio Ríos.

María Eugenia Ríos lived a dream marriage until Morelli passed away in 2005 due to pulmonary failure. Since then, she constantly stated that she could never conceive her existence in this life without him.

The actress was legendary and has an extensive list of performances and roles of greater or lesser significance in Mexican telenovelas. The vast majority of viewers remember her from Rubí, María Mercedes, Cañaveral de pasiones, Carita de ángel, or the unitary program Mujer, casos de la vida real.