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Founder of the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater Miriam Colon dies at the Age of 80

Emily Fermin

Monday, March 13, 2017

Founder of the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater Miriam Colon dies at the Age of 80

On Friday, March 3, 2017 Miriam Colon died at the age of 80 due to medical complications from a pulmonary infection. She was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on August 20, 1936 but was raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She started her acting career in 1951 in Puerto Rico, she played Lolita in the movie Los Peloteros. In the 1950’s she moved to New York City to study at the actors’ studio but later on moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. She was the first Puerto Rican to be in the actors’ studio. Colon appeared in over 100 films. She is known for acting in the movie “Scarface” as the mother of Al Pacino. She appeared in over 250 television cameos such as Law Order: SVU and Better Call Saul. She is the founder of the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater in New York which started in 1967. In 2015, President Obama presented her the national medal of art for her acting. When she received this medal she stated “I appreciate this great honor. This recognition makes me feel that you cannot lose hope when things are not right or when there is no positive results. Perseverance and not to give up is fundamental”. This medal ceremony took place at the Whitehouse. Miriam Colon was a very active committee member of the Cristian Rivera Foundation which is a foundation which funds research and Trials to find a cure for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (D.I.P.G.) . She was a very powerful woman in the Latino community and will be missed by many people.

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