Every year the world loses many greats: literary figures, comedians, actors, musicians. While this year was no different, it was unfortunately marked by the loss of Latinos who were victims of violence and other tragedies.
Some died at the peak of their careers, but others had long and legendary careers that made it no easier to say to good-bye. Colombian literary giant Gabriel García Márquez and Mexican comedian Roberto "Chespirito" Gómez Bolaños were two of those great Latin American icons who were not only mourned by Latinos but the entire world after they passed.
Take a look at the Latinos we lost in 2014:
Alma Muriel
Jam Media via Getty Images
Mexican actress Alma Muriel was found dead in her Playa del Carmen home in early January. She was 62. The star was known for her work in dozens of telenovelas, including "Nunca Te Olvidaré," "Destilando Amor" and "Amar Sin Límites. Preliminary reports said the actress died of a heart attack.
Nelson Ned
John Parra via Getty Images
In January, Brazilian musician Nelson Ned died in a clinic in a São Paulo hospital. The "Happy Birthday My Darling" singer and songwriter reportedly died of “medical complications” after being hospitalized for pneumonia and bladder problems. He was 66.
Mónica Spear
ANDREW ALVAREZ via Getty Images
Former Miss Venezuela, model and telenovela actress Mónica Spear died in January. Spear and her ex husband were traveling with their 5-year-old daughter in Venezuela when their car broke down on the Puerto Cabello-Valencia highway.
In what police believe was an attempted robbery, Spear and ex-husband Thomas Henry Berry were shot and killed. Their daughter was shot in the leg but survived.
Their murders gave rise to protests across the country as the beauty queen's death became a symbol of the growing insecurity and violence in the South American country.
In what police believe was an attempted robbery, Spear and ex-husband Thomas Henry Berry were shot and killed. Their daughter was shot in the leg but survived.
Their murders gave rise to protests across the country as the beauty queen's death became a symbol of the growing insecurity and violence in the South American country.
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José Emilio Pacheco
AP Photo/Arturo Rodriguez
Renowned Mexican writer and poet José Emilio Pacheco died in late January. He was 74.
Juan Gelman
AP Photo/Bernat Armangue
Renowned Argentine poet, left-wing activist and Cervantes Prize recipient Juan Gelman died in late January. He was 83.
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Antonio Cermeno
AP Photo/Jim Laurie
Former world champion boxer Antonio Cermeno was kidnapped and killed in February.
The Venezuelan WBA super bantamweight and featherweight champion was kidnapped, along with other relatives, in Caracas. While his family managed to escape, Cermeno remained captive and was found dead shortly after.
The Venezuelan WBA super bantamweight and featherweight champion was kidnapped, along with other relatives, in Caracas. While his family managed to escape, Cermeno remained captive and was found dead shortly after.
Génesis Carmona
AP Photo/Diario Notitarde
Massive political unrest plagued Venezuela at the beginning of 2014. Anti-government and pro-government protests clashed and violence escalated across the South American country.
Miss Tourism Carabobo Génesis Carmona, 22, died in mid-February after she was shot in the head while participating in anti-government protests in Valencia, the capital of the northern state of Carabobo. The photo of Carmona being carried to the hospital in the back of a motorcycle became a symbolic image of the violence in Venezuela.
Miss Tourism Carabobo Génesis Carmona, 22, died in mid-February after she was shot in the head while participating in anti-government protests in Valencia, the capital of the northern state of Carabobo. The photo of Carmona being carried to the hospital in the back of a motorcycle became a symbolic image of the violence in Venezuela.
Paco de Lucía
AP PHOTO/KEYSTONE/Laurent Gillieron
World renowned flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía died in late February at the age of 66. The Spaniard suffered a heart attack while on vacation in Playa del Carmen.
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Carlos Páez Vilaró
AP Photo/Gabriel Garcia
The self-trained Uruguayan painter, sculptor, screenwriter, musician and architect died in his home in late February. He was 90.
Ian Cuttler Sala
Michael Caulfield Archive via Getty Images
Ian Cuttler Sala, 43, died in a car crash in late February. The Grammy-winning art director was the passenger killed when the vehicle driven by Salma Hayek's brother Sami crashed on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Police reported that Sala resided in New York but was in Los Angeles while his parents visited from Mexico. Preliminary reports stated he died of blunt force trauma at the scene.
Simón Díaz
AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews
Venezuelan folk musician Simón Díaz died in mid-February at the age of 85. The musical legend was best known for his song "Caballo Viejo," also known as "Bamboleo," which was covered by artists like Plácido Domingo, Gypsy Kings and others.
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Huber Matos
AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
A commander during the Cuban Revolution, Huber Matos died in late February. The ex-Cuban revolutionary died at the age of 95 of a "massive heart attack," according to a statement released by the family.
Matos, once an ally of Fidel Castro, broke with the revolution and spent two decades in prison before going into exile in Miami.
Matos, once an ally of Fidel Castro, broke with the revolution and spent two decades in prison before going into exile in Miami.
José 'Cheo' Feliciano
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
Puerto Rican salsa legend José 'Cheo' Feliciano died in a car accident in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was 78.
Gabriel García Márquez
YURI CORTEZ via Getty Images
The death of Colombian novelist Gabriel García Márquez was one of the most heavily mourned losses in 2014. The Nobel laureate died in April in his Mexico City home. He was 87.
The magical realism in García Márquez's novels and short stories inspired a generation and showed the world a new side of Latin America.
Arguably the most prominent Spanish-language writer since Miguel de Cervantes, the Associated Press reported that his fictional works outsold everything published in Spanish except the Bible. His 1967 novel "One Hundred Years Of Solitude" is perhaps his best-known work.
The magical realism in García Márquez's novels and short stories inspired a generation and showed the world a new side of Latin America.
Arguably the most prominent Spanish-language writer since Miguel de Cervantes, the Associated Press reported that his fictional works outsold everything published in Spanish except the Bible. His 1967 novel "One Hundred Years Of Solitude" is perhaps his best-known work.
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Gustavo Cerati
AP Photo/Jeff Christensen
Argentine rock legend Gustavo Cerati died in September at the age of 55. In 2010, the star suffered a stroke and fell into a coma. For four years fans and family were optimistic the musician would wake up, but this year Cerati died from a respiratory arrest at the ALCLA hospital in Buenos Aires.
Cerati was one of Latin America's most influential musicians, whether as the lead singer of the widely popular Argentine rock band Soda Stereo or as a collaborator with Shakira and other artists.
Cerati was one of Latin America's most influential musicians, whether as the lead singer of the widely popular Argentine rock band Soda Stereo or as a collaborator with Shakira and other artists.
Oscar de la Renta
AP
Legendary designer Oscar de la Renta died in October. The Dominican icon was one of the most important figures in the fashion world with timeless designs worn by the world's most prominent figures.
De le Renta died from complications from cancer at age 82.
De le Renta died from complications from cancer at age 82.
Elizabeth Peña
Eric Isaacs via Getty Images
Cuban-American actress Elizabeth Peña died in October at the age of 55. Days later, the autopsy results cited the cause of death as complications of alcohol abuse.
Peña made a successful career as a Latina actress in Hollywood with roles in "La Bamba," "Rush Hour" and TV appearances in hits like "Modern Family." The star also did voice over work, most notably for Pixar's "The Incredibles."
Peña made a successful career as a Latina actress in Hollywood with roles in "La Bamba," "Rush Hour" and TV appearances in hits like "Modern Family." The star also did voice over work, most notably for Pixar's "The Incredibles."
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María José Alvarado
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Miss Honduras María José Alvarado, 19, went missing just days before she was to fly to London to compete in the Miss World pageant in mid-November.
The beauty queen and her 23-year-old sister's bodies were found days later shot dead on a remote river bank, according to the Associate Press. Police said the sister's boyfriend killed the two in a jealous rage after seeing
But the beauty queen and her sister were found shot dead on a remote river bank, and police said the sister's boyfriend confessed to killing both in a jealous rage.
The beauty queen and her 23-year-old sister's bodies were found days later shot dead on a remote river bank, according to the Associate Press. Police said the sister's boyfriend killed the two in a jealous rage after seeing
But the beauty queen and her sister were found shot dead on a remote river bank, and police said the sister's boyfriend confessed to killing both in a jealous rage.
Roberto "Chespirito" Gómez Bolaños
SUSANA GONZALEZ via Getty Images
Roberto Gómez Bolaños, better known as "Chespirito," died in November after suffering a cardiac arrest in his Cancún home.
Chespirito was a widely beloved figure in Latin America and the world due to his children's show "El Chavo del Ocho," which was translated into several languages. More than 111 million viewers continue to watch the show, which began airing in 1971.
In fact, at least three generations were exposed to the Mexican comedian's work, including other characters like El Chapulín Colorado and El Chompiras. Fans mourned Chespirito's death with a tribute in Mexico City's Estadio Azteca and heartwarming illustrations on Twitter.
Chespirito was a widely beloved figure in Latin America and the world due to his children's show "El Chavo del Ocho," which was translated into several languages. More than 111 million viewers continue to watch the show, which began airing in 1971.
In fact, at least three generations were exposed to the Mexican comedian's work, including other characters like El Chapulín Colorado and El Chompiras. Fans mourned Chespirito's death with a tribute in Mexico City's Estadio Azteca and heartwarming illustrations on Twitter.
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