RIP Elsa Aguirre

 

Elsa Aguirre, Icon of Mexican Golden Cinema, die

She was the last diva of national cinematography and consolidated herself with fifty films in eight decades of artistic career

N+ Newsroom

July 15, 2026

 

Elsa Aguirre, one of the most iconic actresses of the Mexican Golden Cinema era, has died at the age of 95, the National Association of Interpreters (ANDI) reported. She was a passionate, simple and independent woman who consolidated herself with fifty films.

"The Board of Directors and the Vigilance Committee of the National Association of Interpreters communicate the sensitive death of our interpreter partner Elsa Aguirre," ANDI said at 0:12 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, without detailing the causes of death.

Elsa Aguirre was a legend for her career on the big screen since 1946. Elegant, versatile and discreet, she was the last diva of the golden age of national cinematography.

She was born in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, on September 25, 1930 and participated in films such as "The Woman I Loved" and "Acapulco". She was the younger sister of actress Alma Rosa Aguirre.

Elsa Aguirre was recognized as one of the most beautiful women in Mexico. She was the fourth of five children: Alma Rosa, Hilda, Jesús, Elsa and Mario. Her other two sisters had their own, parallel careers in film and television.

She will be remembered for her great performance in films such as "La muerte de un gallero" (1977) and "Las figuras de arena" (1970). In "Cuidado con el amor" (1954), Pedro Infante sang the theme of "Cien años" to him. In addition to film, she developed an extensive career in television, theater, radio and live shows.

At some point, she said that she never dreamed of being an actress and her first interaction with the public was at the age of 14 in a beauty contest in which she won 300 pesos at the time, which eventually opened the doors of the big screen for her.

In that competition of the company Clasa Films Mundiales she participated with her sister Alma Rosa and, as they did very well, they were among the cast of the film "El sexo fuerte", directed by Emilio Gómez Muriel, produced in 1945 and starring Mapy Cortés.

Just last April, the government of Morelos celebrated Aguirre's career at the Ocampo Theater in Cuernavaca, where he was given recognition for more than 80 years of career.

Months earlier, on January 8, President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke with the artist and defined her as "an example of great strength."

"It has been an experience of great admiration and respect, very attentive to what I was talking about and simple. I felt a lot of closeness to that way of being," said the actress about that meeting with the president.

"Until I leave"

In her last years, Elsa Aguirre lived in retirement at her residence in the state of Morelos, where she occasionally gave interviews. Part of his longevity was attributed to a diet recommended by doctors, as he confessed that he stopped eating meat and seafood in the last six decades. He also excluded cigarettes and alcohol.

She also adopted a lifestyle based on meditation. Shee also performed social service in prisons and assured that the key was to live in the present and think first of others before of oneself.

Since the end of August 2025, the actress became more active on social networks, where she shared anecdotes, experiences, advice and moments from her daily life. He opened an official account on Facebook and, in the afternoons, he made live broadcasts to spend time with his followers, whom he always thanked for the love and support they gave her, according to a review by N+.

She said that her intention was to talk as much as she could with the public and the media: "until I leave." Often, she had to use an oxygen tank, but that did not prevent her from lucidity in her ideas and stories full of wisdom. In addition, she offered to answer questions.

In her last video, published on Tuesday, July 13, she remembered Joaquín Pardavé 71 years after his death and reviewed the films that marked her career. In her broadcasts she also spoke naturally about all kinds of topics: from cats, their diet, yoga and the benefits of bathing in cold water, to Luis Miguel, Nelson Mandela, an autograph signing by inbox and even the occasion when he rescued a badger from a pool.

In that way she also released his song "De mis labios a tus ojos", which she composed with Javier Manríquez as a song to summarize her life. She gave the same title to the piece of music and his autobiography.

What films did she act in?

Over eight decades, Elsa Aguirre starred in several outstanding films, along with figures such as Pedro Infante, Jorge Negrete, Joaquín Pardavé, Pedro Armendáriz, Mario Moreno "Cantinflas", Ignacio López Tarso, Antonio Aguilar, among many others.

The film that marked the course of her career was Don Simón de Lira, after Julio Bracho convinced her parents to act, because they wanted to remove her from histrionics because they did not agree with her first two roles, whose productions with comic touches presented genre dynamics extremely transgressive for their time.

AGUIRRE, Elsa

Born: 9/25/1930, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico

Died: 7/15/2026, Cuernavaca, Merelos, Mexico

 

Elsa Aguirre’s westerns – actress:

Watch Out for Love -1954 (Ana Maria)

Giant – 1956

El pistolero desconocido – 1967 (Maria)

La vuelta del Mexicano – 1967 (Rosario)