The Mexican film institute announced through its Twitter account that Velasco, also a screenwriter and director, died today, but did not specify the cause.
Velasco's "La India Maria," which exaggerated stereotypes about Mexico's indigenous people, became one of the most recognizable characters in Mexican film, dressed in colorful blouses and full skirts with her hair in braids.
"La India Maria," often accompanied by her faithful donkey "Filemon," sometimes illustrated the journey from her native village to the big city and the inevitable comic situations that followed.