María Salud Ramírez Caballero, the grandmother who inspired Disney to make “Coco”, dies at 109

María Salud Ramírez Caballero, the woman who inspired the character of Mama Coco in the celebrated film “Coco”, produced by Pixar studios and winner of the Oscar in 2017 for best animated film, died this Sunday, Mexican authorities reported.

“I deeply regret the death of Doña María Salud Ramírez Caballero, ‘Mamá Coco’, a tireless woman and example of life, who was the inspiration for this beloved character who went around the world”, reported by Twitter Roberto Monroy, Secretary of Tourism of Michoacán (west), the state where he was originally from.

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According to local media information, Doña María had turned 109 last September and died in her hometown of Santa Fe de la Lagunaclose to the tourist lake of Patzcuarofamous for its colorful celebration of the traditional Day of the Dead.

After the success of the film, which portrays this deep-rooted Mexican holiday, the old woman had become a kind of celebrity, with tourists visiting her to take photos with her due to her notorious resemblance to the animated character, Mexican media highlighted.

“Coconut” tells the story of a boy who embarks on a fantastic journey to the world of the dead to learn the history of his ancestors, in particular his great-great-grandfather, Mama Coco’s father.

“The greatest thanks to the people of Mexico. ‘Coco’ would not exist without its infinitely beautiful culture and traditions,” said Lee Unkrich, the film’s director when he received the Oscar in March 2018.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.