# Cuban actor Mario Balmaseda dies in Havana

**Date:** 10/09/2022

This Saturday, at the age of 81, iconic Cuban actor Mario Balmaseda passed away in Havana, having developed a masterful career in theater, film, and television.

Balmaseda died in the afternoon hours of October 8, 2022 after spending a prolonged period suffering from Alzheimer's, which gradually diminished his physical and mental capacities.

The news was announced by Minister of Culture Alpidio Alonso Grau through his Twitter account: The great Cuban actor Mario Balmaseda has died, he who was Lenin, Maceo, Eduardo, Manolo, Reinier and so many other essential characters for understanding who we are. To family and friends, our condolences. For Mario, all the gratitude and respect of his people.

Balmaseda studied Dramaturgy at the National Theater of Cuba and in what was then the German Democratic Republic.

As an actor he possesses a long and prolific career, with an extensive filmography that includes titles such as: El hombre de Maisinicú (Manuel Pérez Paredes, 1973), De cierta manera (Sara Gómez, 1974), El brigadista (Octavio Cortázar, 1977), Se permuta (Juan Carlos Tabío, 1984), En tres y dos (Rolando Díaz, 1985), Baraguá (José Massip, 1986), La inútil muerte de mi socio Manolo (Julio García Espinosa, 1990), Entre ciclones (Enrique Colina, 2002) and La obra del siglo (Carlos M. Quintela, 2015).

Among other honors, he received the National Theater Prize in 2006, the National Television Prize in 2019, and the National Cinema Prize in 2021.

According to a note from the Cuban Cinema Portal (CubaCine), Balmaseda is the only Cuban actor who holds these three recognitions; which confirms his extraordinary talent, versatility, and ability to leave a mark on the scene.

With Balmaseda's death, an era passes away, a legendary figure, charismatic and with a strong dramatic character, who moved through acting with overflowing talent, versatility, and artistic commitment. A face that marked the popularity of films, theatrical pieces, and dramatized series in the Cuban landscape for the last five decades.