Mexican telenovela star Karla Alvarez, who was known for playing villains, has died, allegedly from respiratory failure, according to Mexican journalist Gustavo Adolfo Infante.
She was 41 and had appeared in the novela “Que Bonito Amor” just this year, though she was rumored to be battling alcoholism as well as an eating disorder. She was found in her Mexico City apartment.
Alvarez’s breakthrough role came in “Maria Mercedes.” Other credits include “Buscando El Paraiso,” “Acapulco, Cuerpo y Alma,” 1997′s “Mi Querida Isabel,” in which she starred, as well as “La Mentira,” “La Intrusa,” “Alma Rebelde,” “Inocente De Ti,” “Heridas de Amor” and “Las Tontas No Van Al Cielo.”
She was married for two years to Mexican actor Alexis Ayala, then had a relationship with the director Armando Zafra. About a month ago, she was involved in a reported carjacking, and then announced that she had cancer, though it’s unclear whether that was ever confirmed.
Alvarez, born in Mexico City, also appeared on reality show “Big Brother VIP” in 2003.
source :1