Silvia Pinal Hidalgo was a prominent Mexican actress who started her career in theater before transitioning to film in 1949. A leading figure during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, she also participated in the Golden Age of Hollywood with her role in the 1969 film "Shark!". Her success in Mexico propelled her career to Europe, where she gained international recognition for starring in Luis Buñuel's renowned film trilogy: "Viridiana" (1961), "El ángel exterminador" (1962), and "Simón del Desierto" (1965).
Silvia Pinal Hidalgo was born in September 1931.
Silvia Pinal married actor and director Rafael Banquells, her first formal boyfriend, in 1947.
Following her theater debut, Pinal appeared in films like "El pecado de Laura" and "Escuela para casadas" in 1949. She also began a successful comedic partnership with Germán Valdés "Tin-Tán" in "El rey del barrio".
Silvia Pinal began her film career with a role in the movie "Bamba" in 1949.
In 1950, Silvia Pinal co-starred with Cantinflas in "The Doorman", marking a significant step in her career.
In 1950, Silvia Pinal performed in "Celos del aire" and "Don Juan Tenorio."
In 1952, Silvia Pinal won her first Silver Ariel Award for her performance in "Un rincón cerca del cielo". She also starred in comedies like "Doña Mariquita de mi corazón" and "El casto Susano".
Pinal continued working with Tin-Tán in films like "La Marca del zorrillo" and "Me Traes de un ala" in 1952.
Pinal divorced Rafael Banquells in 1952.
Silvia Pinal appeared on television in 1952 in a show called "Con los brazos abiertos." She also participated in several programs by Luis de Llano Palmer, where she introduced playback singing to Mexican television.
Silvia Pinal landed her first starring roles in "Reventa de esclavas" and "Yo soy muy macho" in 1953. She also made her musical debut in "Mis tres viudas alegres".
Silvia Pinal had a romance with Arturo de Córdova while filming "Un extraño en la escalera" in 1954.
Pinal acted in the play "La Sed" in 1954 with Ernesto Alonso and Pedro López Lagar.
In 1954, Silvia Pinal achieved a major breakthrough with her starring role in "Un extraño en la escalera", directed by Tulio Demicheli.
Pinal worked with director Alberto Gout on "La sospechosa" and appeared in the episodic film "Historia de un abrigo de mink" in 1954.
In 1955, Pinal gained recognition for her performance in "Anna Christie" alongside Wolf Ruvinskis.
In 1955, Pinal starred in the international co-production "Cabo de Hornos" and the comedy "El inocente" with Pedro Infante.
Silvia Pinal won her first Silver Ariel Award for Best Actress for her performance in "Locura pasional" in 1955.
Pinal worked with director Emilio Fernández for the first and only time on the film "Una cita de amor" in 1956.
In 1957, Pinal received her second Silver Ariel Award for Best Actress for her role in "La dulce enemiga".
Silvia Pinal staged the play "Desnúdate, Lucrecia" in Chile in 1957, co-starring with Jorge Mistral.
In 1958, Silvia Pinal produced Mexico's first musical comedy, "Bells Are Ringing," directed by Luis de Llano Palmer. She received an offer to work on Broadway but declined.
Silvia Pinal made her European debut in 1958 with the Spanish-Mexican co-production "Las locuras de Bárbara".
In 1959, Pinal worked in Italy and also served as producer for the film "Uomini e Nobiluomini".
Silvia Pinal starred in the Spanish film "Maribel y la extraña familia" in 1960.
Silvia Pinal gained international acclaim for her starring role in Luis Buñuel's "Viridiana" in 1961.
In 1961, "Viridiana", directed by Luis Buñuel and starring Silvia Pinal, won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Pinal starred in the Spanish musical film "Adiós, Mimí Pompom" in 1961.
"El ángel exterminador", starring Silvia Pinal, received international critical acclaim upon its release in 1962.
Silvia Pinal continued her work with Luis Buñuel in 1962, starring in "El ángel exterminador".
Pinal's daughter, Viridiana Alatriste, was born in 1963.
Pinal starred in the Mexican version of the musical "Irma La Douce" in 1964, directed by Enrique Rambal and co-starring Julio Alemán.
Silvia Pinal starred in "Simón del desierto" in 1964, which featured her first nude appearance in a film.
In 1965, Silvia Pinal completed her trilogy with Luis Buñuel, starring in "Simón del desierto".
In 1965, Silvia Pinal returned to cinema after her work with Luis Buñuel, starring in the comedy "Buenas noches, Año Nuevo" alongside Ricardo Montalbán.
1966 was a productive year for Pinal, featuring her in the iconic Mexican Revolution film "La Soldadera," directed by José Bolaños. She also participated in the Mexican-Brazilian co-production "Juego Peligroso," based on a Gabriel García Márquez script, and the international production "La bataille de San Sebastian" with Anthony Quinn and Charles Bronson.
Silvia Pinal's marriage to Gustavo Alatriste ended in 1967.
Silvia Pinal married singer Enrique Guzmán in 1967.
In 1967, Silvia Pinal made her only Hollywood appearance in the film "Shark!," directed by Samuel Fuller and co-starring Burt Reynolds.
Alejandra Guzmán, daughter of Silvia Pinal and Enrique Guzmán, was born in 1968.
Pinal achieved a major box office hit in 1968 with "María Isabel," a film adaptation of a popular comic strip by Yolanda Vargas Dulché.
Silvia Pinal and Enrique Guzmán launched their variety show, "Silvia y Enrique," in 1968, which ran successfully for four years.
Silvia Pinal debuted in telenovelas in 1968 with the historical drama "Los Caudillos."
In 1969, Silvia Pinal achieved international recognition with her role in the Hollywood film "Shark!".
Luis Enrique Guzmán, son of Silvia Pinal and Enrique Guzmán, was born in 1970.
In 1972, "Silvia y Enrique" ended, and Pinal began a new variety show titled "¡Ahora Silvia!"
Silvia Pinal starred in the first of her three productions of the musical "Mame" in 1972.
In 1973, Pinal starred in the telenovela "¿Quién?," based on a comic by Yolanda Vargas Dulché.
In 1976, Pinal starred in the Mexican version of the musical "Annie Get Your Gun."
Silvia Pinal starred in the psychological thriller "Las mariposas disecadas" in 1976.
In 1977, Pinal starred in the controversial film "Divinas palabras," directed by Juan Ibáñez, which featured a full nude scene.
To celebrate her 25-year career in 1977, Pinal created and performed in the cabaret show "¡Felicidades Silvia!" at El Patio nightclub and the Teatro de la Ciudad.
In 1978, Silvia Pinal starred in the musical "Plaza Suite."
Silvia Pinal became the First Lady of Tlaxcala in 1981 after marrying Tulio Hernández Gómez.
In 1982, Silvia Pinal produced her first telenovela hit, "Mañana es primavera," which was also the last acting work of her daughter Viridiana before her death.
Pinal was set to star in "Agnes of God" with her daughter Viridiana in 1982, but the project was halted due to Viridiana's death.
Silvia Pinal married politician Tulio Hernández Gómez in 1982.
Tragically, Viridiana Alatriste died in a car accident in 1982.
In 1983, Pinal starred in and produced the Mexican production of "La señorita de Tacna," based on the work of Mario Vargas Llosa.
In 1983, Silvia Pinal produced the melodrama "Cuando los hijos van".
In 1985, Silvia Pinal launched the television program "Mujer, casos de la vida real," initially focused on the 1985 earthquake's aftermath and later evolving to address social issues. The show ran for over 20 years.
Pinal starred in her second production of "Mame" in 1985.
Silvia Pinal produced and starred in the telenovela "Eclipse" in 1985.
While serving as First Lady of Tlaxcala in 1985, Pinal spearheaded the remodeling and reopening of the Teatro Xicohténcatl, which relaunched with "The Memories of the Divine Sarah."
Pinal starred in "Anna Karenina" in 1986, a production that, despite its success, ran for only 100 performances and wasn't to Pinal's liking.
Pinal's term as First Lady of Tlaxcala ended in 1987.
Pinal produced the melodrama "Tiempo de Amar" in 1987.
In 1988, Silvia Pinal and Margarita López Portillo acquired the Cine Estadio in Mexico City to convert it into a theater.
In 1988, Silvia Pinal became a leader of the National Association of Interpreters (ANDI).
In 1989, Pinal produced the Mexican version of the musical "A Chorus Line."
In 1989, Silvia Pinal starred in her third production of the musical "Mame."
The Silvia Pinal Theater opened in 1989 with a production of "Mame," starring Pinal.
In 1991, Silvia Pinal founded the Asociación Rafael Banquells to provide non-profit help to performers and began presenting the annual Bravo Awards.
Pinal produced the Mexican version of the musical "Cats" in 1991.
Silvia Pinal was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for Mexico City's 27th district in 1991.
The Diego Rivera Theater, converted from the former Cine Versailles, opened in 1991 with the production "Lettice and Lovage."
Pinal acquired the Cine Versailles in 1992, transforming it into the Diego Rivera Theater.
After a ten-year hiatus from film, Silvia Pinal returned to the big screen in 1992 with "Modelo Antiguo," directed by Raúl Araiza.
In 1992, Pinal produced the Mexican version of "La Cage aux Folles."
Pinal and Hernández divorced in 1995.
Pinal's time as a leader of the National Association of Interpreters (ANDI) ended in 1995.
Silvia Pinal returned to musical theater in 1996, starring in "Hello, Dolly!" opposite Ignacio López Tarso.
Pinal's last stage performance was in 1998, starring in "Gypsy" alongside her daughter, Alejandra Guzmán.
In 2000, Silvia Pinal appeared as a special guest star in the telenovela "Carita de ángel," replacing actress Libertad Lamarque.
In 2000, Silvia Pinal faced legal problems due to conflicts with her management as leader of the Association of Theater Producers. She temporarily resided in Miami before being declared innocent eleven months later.
The Silvia Pinal Theater closed its doors in 2000 and was later converted into a religious temple.
In 2002, Pinal appeared in the film "Ya no los hacen como antes."
Silvia Pinal returned to the theater in 2002 with the play "Debiera haber obispas."
In 2004, "El ángel exterminador" was recognized by The New York Times as one of the best films ever made.
"Mujer, casos de la vida real" was canceled in 2007 after more than two decades on air.
In 2008, Pinal participated in the production of "Adorables enemigas."
Silvia Pinal made a guest appearance in the telenovela "Fuego en la sangre" in 2008.
Silvia Pinal appeared in an episode of the television series "Mujeres asesinas" in 2009.
In 2010, Pinal had a guest role in the telenovela "Soy tu dueña".
In 2010, Silvia Pinal began serving as General Secretary of the National Association of Actors (ANDA).
Pinal appeared in the play "Amor, dolor y lo que puesto" in 2012.
Silvia Pinal made a brief special appearance in the 2013 film "Tercera llamada."
Silvia Pinal's term as General Secretary of the National Association of Actors (ANDA) concluded in 2014.
The Diego Rivera Theater was renamed the Silvia Pinal Theater in 2014.
Pinal appeared as a special guest in "Mi marido tiene familia" in 2017.
Silvia Pinal passed away in November 2024.