Cuban Actor William Valdés Mourns the Death of Three Friends in a Kenya Helicopter Crash

August 20, 2026

Cuban actor and television host William Valdés expressed his grief after confirming that three close friends died in the crash of a tourist helicopter on August 19, 2026, near Ololokwe mountain in Samburu County, northern Kenya. The aircraft, which was transporting tourists from the Loisaba Natural Reserve, crashed with no survivors among the seven people aboard.

Among the victims was José Alberto Suárez, 55, a journalist and television executive with more than 25 years in media who served as president and general manager of Telemundo's stations in Orlando, Tampa and the Fort Myers-Naples area. Over his career he received multiple Emmy awards and Associated Press honors. Two other friends of Valdés, identified only as Adam and Henry, also died in the crash.

On social media, Valdés shared a photograph from a recent trip to Mexico showing the four of them together, along with a farewell message: "José, Adam and Henry, this was the last time we were all together..." The actor recalled that they had recent plans to reunite and sent condolences to the victims' families, pledging to remember them "celebrating life."

Born in Havana on January 10, 1994, Valdés trained at Cuba's National Circus School before launching his Hispanic television career with the Nickelodeon series "Grachi." He went on to host programs including "Despierta América" and "Venga la Alegría" on TV Azteca, and since 2022 has worked on digital projects, including the official podcast for Telemundo's "La Casa de los Famosos."