Cuban Actor Héctor Echemendía Dies at 87
The actor, remembered for the series Hermanos, died in Belgium, where he had lived for several years with his children and grandchildren. His daughter announced the death on Facebook, and the family has not disclosed the cause.
Key points
- Cuban actor Héctor Echemendía died on Thursday, November 5, in Belgium, at the age of 87.
- His daughter, Dannele Echemendía, announced the news in a Facebook post on behalf of the family.
- The family did not reveal the cause of death or any details about the funeral arrangements.
- Echemendía was popular on Cuban television for his role as Andrés Iznaga in the series Hermanos.
- He had lived in Belgium for several years after retiring from acting and following the death of his wife, Elsa Blanco, in 2022.
What happened
Cuban actor Héctor Echemendía died on Thursday, November 5, in Belgium, at the age of 87. The news was shared by his daughter, Dannele Echemendía, in a Facebook post signed on behalf of herself, her brother and the rest of the family. The relatives did not say what caused the death or offer any details about the funeral arrangements.
In the message, Dannele spoke about her father's final years, which he spent in Belgium surrounded by his children and grandchildren. According to her, after the death of his wife, Elsa Blanco, in 2022, the family became his main support. "Although he was far from his homeland, Cuba never stopped living in him," the daughter wrote.
Close friend of the actor Mayito Cordero Pérez also announced the death on social media. His message read: "Today the First Actor of Cuba, Héctor Echemendía, has departed for the house of the Father. Today he is beside Mama Elsa, his eternal love."
Context
Héctor Echemendía was born in Camagüey on November 17, 1938. He began working in 1957 as a plant operator at the CMJA radio station in his province. Three years later he joined an amateur group led by Miguel Ponce, which in 1961 became the Conjunto Dramático de Camagüey. Between 1968 and 1975 he worked with the Conjunto Dramático de Oriente, in Santiago de Cuba. In 1984 he returned to Camagüey and joined Radio Cadena Agramonte, where he performed radio plays and children's, comedy and rural programs.
His national fame came with the adventure series Hermanos, where he played Andrés Iznaga. Audiences remembered him for years. In an interview with the portal En Vivo, of the Instituto Cubano de Radio y Televisión, he said that as late as 2017 people still recognized him on the street and shouted "Lorencito…", the name of Iznaga's son in the series, a role played by Rini Cruz.
In 1992 he moved to Havana so his daughter could study Biology, a degree not offered in Camagüey. From then on he focused much of his work on television. He took part in telenovelas such as Cuando el agua regresa a la tierra, Pasión y prejuicio, Entre mamparas, El eco de las piedras, Si me pudieras querer and Tierra brava. He also made more than 76 appearances in comedy programs, among them Punto G.
In film he worked on El brigadista (1977), Una mujer, un hombre, una ciudad (1978), La bella del Alhambra (1989), Kleines Tropicana (1997) and Amor vertical (1997). In La bella del Alhambra he played the galleguíbiri, who formed a comic duo with the negrito pancontíbiri. He also took part in co-productions with Spain, France, Italy, Colombia and Russia.
His honors include the Distinción por la Cultura Nacional in 1993, the ACTUAR Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2019, and the National Television Prize in 2020. His residence in Belgium became publicly known in July 2024, when it was reported that he had settled there with his children after retiring.
What's next
So far, the family has not announced the date or location of the funeral. No further details about the death have been made public.
FAQ
What did Héctor Echemendía die of?
The family has not revealed the cause of death. His daughter announced the death on Facebook on Thursday, November 5, without giving further details.
Where did the actor live in his final years?
He lived in Belgium with his children and grandchildren. His residence in that country became known in July 2024, when it was reported that he had settled there after retiring from acting.
What role made him most famous in Cuba?
His role as Andrés Iznaga in the adventure series Hermanos made him one of the most recognizable faces on Cuban television. As late as 2017, people still recognized him on the street.
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