CARMEN ZAPATA passed away at 86

According to KABC, actress Carmen Zapata died Sunday night at her home in Van Nuys. She was 86 and had been dealing with an illness and a heart condition for some time. On SANTA BARBARA she played Mama Castillo on and off from 1985 to 1991. Fate made it so that Cruz Castillo's mom passed away two days after A Martinez’ s mother, Eva Martinez. My condolences to Martinez and Zapata’s family.

Zapata worked to preserve Latin American culture in U.S., but she was also an actress who took on many roles.

In her career, Zapata did Broadway, movies and television. She appeared on numerous TV shows, including BONANZA and DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN.

Her resume was as long as her smile was bright. During her career, good roles didn't always come easy for a Latina in show business. But Zapata worked hard to change that.

The actress, teacher, producer, lecturer, narrator and translator spent decades in show business, even getting her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003. 

I'd like to remember her with this video: a funny sparkling lunch between daughter-in-law and mother-in-law! Enjoy and thank you, Mama Castillo.