Chelo Rodríguez, telenovela star, dies at 84

Consuelo ‘Chelo’ Rodríguez, a prominent Spanish-Venezuelan actress and former supermodel, died at the age of 84 on the night of Wednesday, August 12, 2026. The news was confirmed by journalist Simón Villamizar.

Rodríguez was a central figure during the golden age of Venezuelan telenovelas, starring in iconic productions such as ‘La Usurpadora’, ‘Rafaela’, ‘La Zulianita’, and ‘La Loba’. Her career spanned over five decades across television, film, and theater, with significant work at networks like Venevisión and RCTV.

While an official cause of death has not been released by her family, reports indicate she had been facing serious health challenges, including a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and a recent public battle with cancer, which she discussed in March 2026.