Christina Sánchez

Cuban actress and writer who stood out from childhood in various branches of the arts. When she was just 12 years old, she emigrated alone to the United States as part of Operation Pedro Pan, the largest exodus of children known on the island organized by the Catholic Church. She never saw her father or much of her family again.

To cope with the pain of exile, the young woman began writing comedies inspired by legends of the genre of the caliber of Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Jack Benny, Carol Burnett and Peter Sellers.

Shortly after, she made her way in the commercial industry, starring in hundreds of radio and television advertisements at the national level, in both English and Spanish, among which she left her mark with the character of Claire Voyant in a Florida Lottery commercial.

Christy is one of the first Hispanics in South Florida to host an English-language television interview program, Getting Together. She was also one of the first Hispanics hired by the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami to work as the company's manager and later as an actress.

Her filmography includes Fires Within, The Take, Intimate Strangers, The Mean Season, Cease Fire, Hardly Working, The Island, Lenny and The Champ, among other titles. In film she worked alongside Michael Caine, Dustin Hoffman, Bob Fosse, León Ichaso, Kurt Russell and Faye Dunaway, among many others.

But without a doubt, her appearances on the defunct program Sábado Gigante won her the favor of millions of viewers thanks to her participation in the humorous segment La familia Fernández.

Christina Sánchez gained a large number of international followers, which led to her being named 'Most Popular Comedy Actress of Hispanic Television'.

Much in demand as a comedy writer, she created numerous pieces for theater, television and bilingual advertising campaigns, for which she received awards, such as the Silver Mike, for her work as a bilingual radio announcer.

As for her humanitarian work, Christy supported the American Red Cross (as a member of its Cabinet of Celebrities), the Hispanic Health Council and Children's Charities of Costa Rica.

The actress decided to retire in 2004.

"Great sadness at the news of the passing of Christina Sánchez, popular Cuban actress, writer, producer and presenter. Christy, as we affectionately knew her, was our Teresa, protagonist of the acclaimed segment La familia Fernández, from Sábado Gigante. We are left with the memory of a woman passionate about her career, very professional, cheerful and successful in theater, film and television. May she rest in peace. Our remembrance and applause wherever she may be," expressed Mario Kreutzberger, Don Francisco.

Marcos Miranda, associate producer of the segment, noted that Christy was a complete artist, while recalling her success in her monologue Tortinelli busca estrellas at the Teatro de Bellas Artes in Miami.

"Working with her was a pleasure because she was a major league professional," Miranda stated.

"It should be added that apart from being a great comedy actress, Christy was a first-rate writer," said her colleague and friend Julie de Grandy, recalling the success of the comedy Seis en la cocina, which was presented at the defunct venue La Danza in the 1970s.

For his part, Mario Ernesto Sánchez, founder of Teatro Avante and director of the International Festival of Hispanic Theater in Miami, highlighted the actress's work at Avante in Las niñas ricas de Camagüey, ¿Quién le teme a Virginia Woolf? and La finca.