Cuban Actress and Playwright Christy Sánchez Dies in Miami

December 18, 2022

Cuban actress and playwright Christy Sánchez, known for playing the role of Teresa on the popular Latin television program in the United States Sábado Gigante, died in Miami from a heart condition at the age of 74.

The actress died on November 6, but it was not until last Thursday that the family publicly revealed the news, according to El Nuevo Herald.

"Great sadness at the news of the passing in Miami of Christina Sánchez, popular Cuban actress, writer, producer and presenter. Christi, as we lovingly knew her, was our Teresa, star of the fun and acclaimed segment 'La Familia Fernández' on Sábado Gigante," lamented Sábado Gigante's popular host Mario Kreutzberger, known as Don Francisco, on his Facebook profile.

"We are left with the memory of a woman passionate about her career, very professional, cheerful, and successful in theater, film and television. May Christi rest in peace, and may our memory and applause follow her wherever she is," he added.

"It should be noted that aside from being a great comic actress, Christy was a first-rate writer," said her colleague Julie de Grandy, in statements gathered by El Nuevo Herald.

Sánchez was born in Havana on December 20, 1947 and emigrated to the United States at only 12 years old as part of Operation Peter Pan.

The actress was also known as the star of hundreds of radio and television commercials at the national level. She became particularly popular in the character of Claire Voyant in a Florida Lottery commercial, according to El Nuevo Herald's obituary.

Christy, who acted in a dozen films, among which Intimate Strangers and The Mean Season stand out, was one of the first Hispanic actresses in South Florida to host an English-language television interview program, as well as to perform at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami.

She wrote theatrical works, advertising campaigns, and pieces for television and also carried out active humanitarian work.