Her trademark was playing maids and housekeepers on TV and in film.

Acclaimed Hispanic actress Lupe Ontiveros lost her battle with liver cancer on Thursday night, her longtime friend and manager Miriam Baum tells RumorFix exclusively. Over the past few days she was surrounded by family and friends, including Edward J. Olmos.

Lupe, who was going to turn 70 in September, estimated that she played a maid 150 to 300 times.  She once said, “I’m proud to represent those hands that labor in this country. I’ve given every maid I’ve ever portrayed soul and heart.” Because of that she was chosen as narrator for the documentary Maid in America.

Her roles, whether large or small, were always memorable. She was Selena’s killer in the 1997 film Selena, she played Greg Kinnear’s maid on As Good As It Gets and was the recipient of one of the most quoted lines in the film by Jack Nicholson: “Sell crazy somewhere else.”

Most recently the actress, whose career spanned almost 40 years, was nominated for an Emmy for her portrayal of Eva Longoria’s mother-in-law on Desperate Housewives and she just completed a stint as Abuelita on the CBS comedy Rob.

Miriam tells RumorFix, “She was the most wonderful client, friend, actress and mother.”

Lupe is survived by her husband, Elias and her three sons (two of whom are hearing impaired) Nicky, Alex and Elias Jr.