Delia Fiallo: 'Mother of the Latin American Soap Opera' Dies at 96

Cuban writer Delia Fiallo, known as the "Mother of Latin American Soap Opera," died at the age of 96.

According to Daily Mail, which Fiallo's daughter confirmed, the Cuban writer died at the comfort of her home in Coral Gables in Miami, Florida on Tuesday, June 29.

Speaking to the Televisa channel, the sons of the "Mother of the Latin American Soap Opera" confirmed that she died peacefully surrounded by her loved ones. However, the Cuban writer's relatives did not mention the cause of Fiallo's death, BBC reported.

Venezuelan actress Lupita Ferrer has also confirmed the passing of Fiallo.

Some of the Latin American artists and networks expressed their thoughts on Fiallo's passing.

Venezuelan actor and television personality Orlando Urdaneta recalled how he met the "Mother of the Latin American Soap Opera," and described her as a "thousand hits writer and lovable being."

Meanwhile, television network Venevision also expressed their sympathies on the Cuban writer's passing, offering their condolences to the woman who shaped "great unforgettable stories."

Delia Fiallo: 'Mother of the Latin America Soap Opera' and Her Works

Delia Fiallo's career peaked during the 1970s and 1980s, with her famous soap operas including "Esmeralda" and "El Privilego de Amar."

Fiallo's last original story was entitled "Cristal," which aired in 1985 and 1986. Her first story to air outside Cuba was "Lucecita," which aired in 1967. Her works dominated Spanish and Latin American television. Fiallo's works also captivated a global audience.

El Siglo De Torreon highlighted that apart from being the "Mother of the Latin American Soap Opera," she was also one of the maximum representatives of the contemporary rose novel.

This was because Fiallo's stories were adapted from different parts of the world, such as Argentina, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United States.

As one of the pillars of Latin American soap operas, Delia Fiallo also blasted the writers who followed her footsteps in the industry.

Citing Televisa, Daily Mail reported that Delia Fiallo criticized writers for destroying the soap opera as they focus on action, violence, and drug trafficking. She noted that the writers are "forgetting about feelings."

Delia Fiallo's Career

Delia Fiallo studied Philosophy and letters in Havana and started her career as a radio soap writer in the Cuban Capital in 1949.

She then fled with her family in Miami, Florida in 1966, as she wrote soap operas for television networks in Mexico and Venezuela.

In the years of being an active television writer, Delia Fiallo was known to write 35 pages of scripts every day to keep her bosses in the company happy. The "Mother of the Latin American Soap Opera" retired from writing in 1985.

Fiallo's hard work in writing paid off when she was honored by Miami's Cuban Cultural Heritage Organization in 2018.

Delia Fiallo was supposed to turn 97 on July 4. She married radio director Bernardo Pascual in 1952 and retained her marriage with the director until Pascual died in 2019.

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