Liliana Ross (born Liliana Piera Marina Brescia Clerici; March 30, 1939 – June 10, 2018) was an Italian-born Chilean actress, theatre director, playwright and producer. Over a professional life that spanned roughly fifty years, she became a prominent presence on stage and television in Chile and is widely remembered for leading roles in the telenovelas La Colorina (1977) and Machos (2003).

Career and artistic roles

Ross worked across multiple theatrical disciplines: as a performer she was known for strong, character-driven portrayals; as a director, she shaped productions from casting through staging; and as a playwright and producer she contributed to developing new Chilean theatre. Her versatility allowed her to move between television melodrama and more intimate stage work, helping to bridge popular and serious dramatic forms.

Notable works

  • La Colorina (1977) — a telenovela that brought Ross national recognition for a leading role.
  • Machos (2003) — a later, widely discussed series that reaffirmed her presence in contemporary television.

Early life and background

Ross was born in Genoa, Italy, and later established her career in Chile. Her Italian roots and European theatrical awareness informed her approach to performance and production, while her long residence in Chile made her an integral figure in that country’s cultural life.

Legacy and final years

Liliana Ross is remembered for her contributions to Chilean television and theatre, for mentoring younger artists, and for helping to expand complex female roles in popular drama. In later life she suffered from complications related to Alzheimer's disease, and she died at her home in Santiago, Chile, on June 10, 2018, at the age of 79. Her career remains a reference point for discussions of performance, direction and production in modern Chilean culture.

Her work continues to be cited in studies of Latin American television and theatre for its longevity and for the way it navigated both commercial and artistic demands. Though best known for a handful of television roles, Ross’s multifaceted activity—on stage, behind the scenes and as a creator—constitutes the fuller measure of her influence.