Iconic U. S. Latina actress
Miriam Colon, a pioneering actress in U. S. Latino New York theater who starred in films alongside Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, died Friday.
Her husband, Fred Valle, said that Colon died early Friday because of complications from a pulmonary infection. She was 80.
Colon — whose image appeared on posters throughout the American Southwest for her role in the 2013 movie adaptation of quintessential Chicano novel “Bless Me, Ultima” — had been active as late as 2015 with a cameo appearance on the AMC- TV series “Better Call Saul.”
Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Colon founded the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater in New York in 1967, where she helped cultivate young Latino actors and writers.
During her career, she ap- peared in more than 90 films and more than 250 television episodes on programs including “Bronco,” ” Bonanza” and “Law & Order.” But Colon is widely known as the CubanAmerican mother of Tony Montana, played by Al Pacino, in the 1983 movie “Scarface.”
Colon earned wide acclaim for her role as the New Mexico Hispanic healer Ultima in the movie “Bless Me, Ultima” based on the novel by Rudolfo Anaya. Her character mentored a young boy and taught him about traditional methods of healing and the New Mexico desert.
In 2015, President Barack Obama presented the National Medal of Arts to Colon for her work as an actress and theater founder. It was an honor Colon cherished, Valle said.