Iconic Mexican actor Fernando Almada died on Monday (October 30). He was 94. The Asociación Nacional de Actores (ANDA) in Mexico made an official announcement about Almada’s death on social media. His cause of death was not reported.
“The National Actors Association deeply regrets the passing of our colleague Fernando Almada, a member of our union,” the Instagram post read. “Our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. Rest in peace.”
Born on February 26, 1929, in Mexico City, Almada made his screen debut in the 1959 drama Milagros de San Martín de Porres. He would go on to star in more than 150 movies in his career, including Nido de Águilas, Todo El Horizonte Para Morir, and La Banda del Carro Rojo. Many of the films he was featured in were in the Western genre. Almada also worked with his brother Mario Almada, who died in 2016, also at the age of 94.
Along with acting, Almada wrote, directed, and produced movies. He wrote and directed the 1978 crime adventure El Hechizo del Pantano. The last film Almada starred in was the 2003 action movie La Viuda de Chihuahua.
Plenty of fellow actors, friends, and fans paid their respects on social media after Almada’s passing. Actress Sonia Velestri (El Corrido de los Perez) described Almada as “a great human being” and “an icon of the national cinema” and said she was “forever grateful to him for his light, support, and affection.”
One fan of the Almada brothers’ films said they “brought to life stories of the vulnerable and nefarious” at a time when Mexican narratives were not part of the mainstream. “Complicated to say the least” [but] “for me … always … special.”