# Esther Sandoval > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Esther_Sandoval > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Esther_Sandoval.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Sandoval > Source revision: 1218822145 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Esther Sandoval** (28 December 1925 – 6 February 2006) was a Puerto Rican actress and a pioneer in [Puerto Rico](/source/Puerto_Rico)'s television. ## Early years Sandoval was born **Esther María González** in [Ponce](/source/Ponce,_Puerto_Rico) where she received her primary and secondary education. After graduating from Salinas High School, she attended Colegio Percy de Ponce (Percy College of Ponce) and earned a degree in secretarial sciences.[1][2] ## Radio actress Sandoval went to work for *El Día*, a local newspaper in Ponce. She first came into contact with the field of communications when she went to work as a secretary for [Emilio Huyke](/source/Emilio_Huyke) in the radio station [WPAB](/source/WPAB). She auditioned and was named director of a program directed towards a female audience. In 1949, she informed her parents that she wanted to become an entertainer and she left for [San Juan](/source/San_Juan,_Puerto_Rico), despite their protests, and went to work for [Ángel Ramos](/source/%C3%81ngel_Ramos_(industrialist))' "Radio El Mundo", which later became known as WKAQ. She was given the surname "Sandoval" by the [Argentine](/source/Argentina) actress [Queca Guerrero](/source/Queca_Guerrero). Sandoval landed roles in radionovelas (radio soap operas) and became known in Puerto Rico as "The Queen of the Radio Operas".[3] ## Television debut In 1954, Sandoval became a pioneer in the island's television when she participated, alongside [Mario Pabón](/source/Mario_Pab%C3%B3n) and [Lucy Boscana](/source/Lucy_Boscana), in Puerto Rico's first televised [telenovela](/source/Telenovela) *Ante La Ley* which was transmitted through [Telemundo](/source/Telemundo). The soap opera caused a national scandal in Puerto Rico because in one scene she kissed her co-star Pabon in the mouth, an act that was totally unheard of in those days.[1] ## Theater in New York City Sandoval traveled to New York City, where she joined [Míriam Colón](/source/M%C3%ADriam_Col%C3%B3n)'s theatrical group "El Circulo Dramatico" (The Drama Circuit). Later she founded her own theatrical group and named it "Experimental Hall of Theater". They were located at the Lucerne Hotel of New York. There she produced and starred in *Té y Simpatía* (*Tea and Sympathy*) and *Dondé esta la Luz?* (*Where is the Light?*). Before returning to Puerto Rico, Sandoval made several presentations in the [Teatro Puerto Rico](/source/Teatro_Puerto_Rico).[3] ## Return to Puerto Rico In 1959, Sandoval returned to the island and married Ivan Goderich, a [Cuban](/source/Cuba) soap opera musical director. They had two daughters, Yara Goderich and [Ivonne Goderich](/source/Ivonne_Goderich). Ivonne would follow her mother's footsteps and become an actress herself. Sandoval continued working in soap operas, such as *Bodas de Sangre* (*Blood Wedding*), *La Novia* (*The Bride*), *La Rosa Taluada*, *Un Tren Travia llamada Deseo*, *Santa Juana de America* and *Los Soles Truncos*, where she acted alongside her daughter Ivonne and her son-in-law Xavier Cifre. She also lent her voice in the Spanish translation of movies. She was the voiceover of [Joan Crawford](/source/Joan_Crawford), [Barbara Stanwyck](/source/Barbara_Stanwyck) and [Rosalind Russell](/source/Rosalind_Russell). In 1978, her supporting role in the [Telemundo](/source/Telemundo) [soap opera](/source/Soap_opera) *[Cristina Bazán](/source/Cristina_Baz%C3%A1n)* was thoroughly acknowledged, alongside [José Luis Rodríguez](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Luis_Rodr%C3%ADguez_(singer)) and [Johanna Rosaly](/source/Johanna_Rosaly). In 1979, she participated alongside [Norma Candal](/source/Norma_Candal), [Alicia Moreda](/source/Alicia_Moreda), [Gladys Rodríguez](/source/Gladys_Rodr%C3%ADguez) and [Otilio Warrington](/source/Otilio_Warrington) in [Jacobo Morales](/source/Jacobo_Morales)' movie *Dios los Cría* (And God Created Them), where she played the role of a prostitute.[1] ## Awards and recognitions According to *[El Vocero](/source/El_Vocero)* (See reference) Sandoval received many awards and recognitions, including:[3] - Best Actress and Best Actress of the Year (1955) - Golden Coqui for Best Actress (1966) - Golden Aqueybana (1968 and 1974) - Selected amongst the most distinguished Puerto Rican women during the celebration of the International Year of the Women - The Golden Coral Award from the Festival of the New Latin Movie in [Havana](/source/Havana) for her role in *Díos los Cría* - The Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico approved a life pension for her in 1998 in honor of her valuable contributions to the Puerto Rican theater - The Puerto Rican Institute of Culture dedicated its 46th Festival of the Puerto Rican Film industry to her (1998) Amongst the movies in which she participated are:[4] - *[Creature from the Haunted Sea](/source/Creature_from_the_Haunted_Sea)* (1961) - *Thunder Island* (1963) - Rena - *Traitors of San Angel* (1967) - Doña Consuelo - *[Las Pasiones Infernales](/source/Las_Pasiones_Infernales)* (1969) - *"Cristina Bazán* (1978) TV series - Rosaura Alsina - *[Dios los Cría](/source/...And_God_Created_Them)* (1979) - Old Prostitute - *La Otra Mujer* (1980) TV series ## Later years In the late 1990s, Sandoval suffered from the complications of various health problems such as [Alzheimer's disease](/source/Alzheimer's_disease), chronic [diabetes](/source/Diabetes) and a [cerebral hemorrhage](/source/Cerebral_hemorrhage), which left part of her body paralysed. She had been hospitalized at the Antiilas Hospital of Rio Piedras for several years, before dying on February 6, 2006. Her body was cremated on February 10, in accord with her wishes.[1][3] ## See also - [List of Puerto Ricans](/source/List_of_Puerto_Ricans) - [History of women in Puerto Rico](/source/History_of_women_in_Puerto_Rico) ## References 1. El Vocero, Feb 8, 2006 pg.45 article:"Impacta a clase artistica deceso Esther Sandova" by Jorge Rodriguez 1. ["Esther Sandoval – Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular"](https://prpop.org/biografias/esther-sandoval/) (in Spanish). *San Juan, Puerto Rico*. 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2020-07-28. 1. [El Vocero - Adios a Esther Sandoval](http://www.vocero.com/noticia.asp?n=65102&d=2/10/2006)[dead link] 1. [Esther Sandoval](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0762115/) at IMDb ## External links - [Esther Sandoval](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0762115/) at IMDb - [El Vocero - Adios a Esther Sandoval](http://www.vocero.com/noticia.asp?n=65102&d=2/10/2006)[dead link] --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Esther Sandoval](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Sandoval) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Sandoval?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.