Bilal Saeed
At the age of 78, renowned Cuban-American actor and theatre pioneer Mario Ernesto Sánchez died in Miami, Florida, on April 10, 2025. In a statement to Diario Las Américas, his assistant confirmed his death, stating that he passed away at 3:03 a.m. from a protracted illness.
Sánchez was born in San Antonio de las Vegas, Cuba, on January 10, 1947. His love for acting began in kindergarten. As part of Operation Pedro Pan, which moved more than 14,000 Cuban children, he came to the United States by himself at the age of 15. Despite the language barrier, he took part in a high school production of “The Music Man,” after first settling in Helena, Montana.
After returning to Miami in 1968, Sánchez became fully involved in the theatre community there by joining a zarzuela group and subsequently graduating from Florida International University with honours in theatre. He established the Miami International Hispanic Theatre Festival in 1986 and Teatro Avante, a Hispanic theatre company, in 1979. These two endeavours became important pillars of Hispanic cultural expression in the United States. Sanchez worked as an actor in both films and television. He played various roles in the 2006 movie adaption of “Miami Vice” and made appearances in five of its episodes. His portrayal of a Colombian drug lord in the British sitcom “Only Fools and Horses” “Miami Twice” episodes is still noteworthy. “Invasion U.S.A.” (1985), “The Specialist” (1994), “The Truman Show” (1998), and “Proof of Life” (2000) are among his film credits. Sánchez won various honours over his career, such as the “Special Recognition Award” from the Arts & Business Council of Miami (2007), the “Ollantay” medal from CELCIT in Madrid . Colleagues and cultural organisations have been pouring in tributes. It was said by Ramón A. Sánchez, “A glory of Cuba and the theatre has left us.” Verónica Abruza, an actress, recalls his generosity when she first arrived in Miami. Funeral plans are still in the works; specifics will be revealed soon. Because of his contributions to theatre and cinema, Mario Ernesto Sánchez’s legacy lives on and inspires future generations.