Ella Laboriel, pioneer of Mexican rock, dies at 81

Ella Laboriel, a pioneering figure in Mexican rock music and a respected actress, has died at the age of 81. Her passing was reported on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, by Televisa Espectáculos.

Laboriel succumbed to complications from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a condition she had lived with for 25 years. Born in Mexico City on March 28, 1949, she hailed from a musically inclined family, being the sister of renowned musicians Johnny Laboriel and Abe Laboriel. Ella herself was part of the Trío Las Yolis, one of the first female groups to emerge in the Mexican rock scene.

Beyond her musical achievements, Laboriel had a notable career in film and television. Her film credits include 'Joselito vagabundo' and 'Blue Demon: destructor de espías.' On television, she appeared in popular telenovelas such as 'El extraño retorno de Diana Salazar,' 'Te Sigo Amando,' 'La Pícara Soñadora,' and 'Tormenta en el Paraíso.'

The National Association of Interpreters (ANDI) confirmed her death, remembering her as a "distinguished Mexican singer and actress of Honduran descent, recognized as one of the pioneering women of rock in Mexico." While her family has not yet issued a formal statement, her enduring legacy in both music and acting solidifies her status as a cultural icon in Mexico.