RIP Christa Lang

 

Christa Lang, Actress, Producer and Widow of Samuel Fuller, Dies at 82

She appeared in French New Wave movies for Roger Vadim, Claude Chabrol and Jean-Luc Godard before marrying the iconic American filmmaker in 1967.

The Hollywood Reporter

By Mike Barnes

February 3, 2026

 

Christa Lang, the German-born actress and producer who appeared in French New Wave features and served as a muse to her husband of three decades, the daring American filmmaker Samuel Fuller, has died. She was 82.

Lang died Friday at her home in Los Angeles after what was described as a brief period of declining health, her daughter, Samantha Fuller, announced.

Lang had moved to Paris and become friends with writers, actors and filmmakers including Roger Vadim, Claude Chabrol, Agnès Varda and Jean-Luc Godard while appearing in Vadim’s Circle of Love (1964), Chabrol’s Code Name: Tiger (1964) and Godard’s Alphaville (1965), starring Anna Karina.

Also in Paris at the time was Fuller, who had acted in Godard’s Pierrot le Fou (1965), a precursor to he and Lang having their first date the following year in Montmartre.

After Fuller returned to the U.S., he paid for Lang’s first-class, one-way ticket to the States, and they married in 1967, when she worked opposite Elvis Presley, her teenage idol, in an uncredited role in Charro!

For Fuller, she went on to portray a rebellious German countess in the World War II epic The Big Red One (1980) and a nurse in White Dog (1980), and she was his partner in the production company Chrisam Films.

Christa Langewiesche was born in December 1943 in Winterberg, Germany and raised in postwar Essen, where she had her first poem published in a local newspaper when she was 15.

At 17, she moved to France and worked as an au pair for the Toulouse-Lautrec family, then began modeling and saving money for acting classes. (In Paris, she sat as an art model for renowned sculptor Paul Belmondo, father of actor Jean-Paul Belmondo.)

Lang acted in stage productions including La Jalousie by Sacha Guitry, then earned her first onscreen role in L’Assasin connait la musique (1963), written and directed by Pierre Chenal.

After appearing in Chabrol’s The Champagne Murders (1967) and getting married, she joined Fuller in developing projects while pursuing her academic ambitions. She enrolled in a French Literature program at UCLA and graduated with a master’s degree a few years later.

In 1972, Lang showed up in Peter Bogdanovich’s What’s Up Doc? — she and Fuller would become great friends with the director and his then-wife, Polly Platt — and played a witty con artist on an episode of the German crime series Tatort that was written and directed by her husband.

Lang gave birth to her daughter in 1975, and nine months later they appeared as mother and child alongside Anthony Hopkins in the 1976 NBC telefilm The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case.

In 1981, the family moved to Paris to pursue European film offers for Fuller to write and direct, and they would remain there until 1995. Before returning to the U.S., however, she and Fuller traveled to Brazil to meet with Karaja Indians in the Amazon jungle for the 1994 Mika Kaurismäki-directed documentary Tigrero.

After Fuller’s death in October 1997 at age 85, Lang set out to have his autobiography, A Third Face, edited and published, and it hit bookstores in 2002. She also produced a 2013 documentary about him, A Fuller Life, that was directed by their daughter.

Her last onscreen appearance was filmed last year for an upcoming documentary about Fuller’s final feature, Street of No Return (1989).

Survivors also include her granddaughter, Samira.

LANG, Christa (Christa Langewiesche)

Born: 12/23/1943, Winterberg, Gau Westphalia-South, Germany

Died: 1/30/2026, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

 

Christa Lang’s western – actress:

Charro! – 1969 (Christa)

RIP Gerardo Taracena

 

Gerardo Taracena, ‘Apocalypto’ actor and renowned Mexican performer, dies at 55

The Economic Times

By Maitreyee Thakkar

February 1, 2026

 

Gerardo Taracena, a celebrated Mexican actor and dancer known for Apocalypto and other projects, died on 31 January 2026 at the age of 55. The fact was confirmed by the Asociación Nacional de Actores (ANDA) in an official statement expressing deep sorrow over his passing. It has not elaborated on medical details or circumstances.

Born on 27 March 1970 in Mexico City, Gerardo Taracena developed an early passion for the performing arts, studying Dramatic Arts at the Centro Universitario de Teatro of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). He began his artistic journey in theatre and dance, performing in numerous productions that showcased his expressive range and physicality.

Taracena’s talent quickly found expression beyond the stage, and by the late 1990s and early 2000s he was appearing in notable film and television roles. While his early work included a variety of national productions, he soon became known to international audiences as well.

Breakthrough in Hollywood

One of Taracena’s most internationally celebrated roles came in Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto (2006), where he portrayed Middle Eye, a fierce and memorable warrior in the epic historical drama. The film brought him global recognition and remains one of his most iconic screen performances.

In addition to Apocalypto, his Hollywood credits included roles in acclaimed films such as Man on Fire (2004) and The Mexican (2001), broadening his reach with North American audiences.

Success in Mexican cinema

Taracena’s filmography was vast and diverse, including a mix of dramatic and comedic work in Mexican cinema. He appeared in popular films such as El violín (The Violin), El Chamán in El Señor de los Cielos, Batman in La Reina del Sur, showcasing his range from intense character roles to lighter, heartfelt performances.

In the era of streaming, Taracena became widely recognized for his role in the hit Netflix series Narcos: México, where he portrayed Pablo Acosta Villarreal, a historical figure linked to the rise of modern drug trafficking along the US-Mexico border.

Beyond Narcos: México, he also appeared in other acclaimed television series, contributing to the growing international visibility of Mexican actors in global content platforms.

Taracena’s career spanned more than three decades and included over 30 theatre productions, numerous films and prominent television roles. He was widely respected not only for his screen presence but also for his commitment to the craft, blending physical performance, emotional depth and cultural authenticity.

Following news of his passing, ANDA publicly shared its condolences:

“La Asociación Nacional de Actores lamenta profundamente la partida de nuestro compañero Gerardo Taracena. Nos unimos a la pena que embarga a sus familiares, amigos y a la comunidad artística. QEPD.”

 

Colleagues, directors and fans have taken to social media to celebrate Taracena’s contributions and memories of his performances, particularly highlighting the strength and nuance he brought to every role.

 

As of the latest reports, the official cause of Gerardo Taracena’s death has not been disclosed by authorities or his family.

 

TARACENA, Gerardo

Born: 3/27/1970, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

Died: 1/31/2026, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

 

Gerardo Taracena’s westerns – actor:

Private Pérez – 2011 (Carmelo Benavides)

Texas Rising – 2015 (Manuel Flores)

RIP Fernando Esteso

 

Comedian Fernando Esteso dies at the age of 80

The actor had been admitted a couple of days ago to the La Fe University Hospital in Valencia

el Periodico

By Jaime Roch and Voro Contreras

February 1, 2026

 

The actor and comedian Fernando Esteso died this Sunday in Valencia at the age of 80. As Levante-EMV has been able to confirm, Esteso was admitted to the La Fe University Hospital. Esteso already had respiratory problems five years ago and was already hospitalized in the same center then. The actor was admitted a couple of days ago for one due to respiratory failure.

Sources close to the actor acknowledge that he was very delicate after having received treatment for an illness. In fact, during the last Christmas holidays she missed several commitments with her friends because she did not feel well. One of the appointments he could not attend, for example, was Christmas Day. Every year he went to celebrate it at Vicente Ruiz's house 'El Soro' with the comedian Paco Arévalo. This year he no longer attended the meeting with his friends because he was weak.

Fernando Esteso Allué was born on January 14, 1945 in Zaragoza, into a family of jota artists. His destiny was on stage from the beginning: he debuted at the age of six as "the Boy of the Jota" and cut his teeth in variety theater and revue. This early training gave him a versatility that would allow him to master humour, singing and acting, soon becoming one of the most recognised figures in show business in Spain at the time.

His golden age came between the end of the 70s and the beginning of the 80s, when he formed with Andrés Pajares the most profitable comedy duo in Spanish cinema. Under the direction of Mariano Ozores, they starred in massive hits such as "Los bingueros" (1979) or "Yo hice a Roque III" (1980). Their style of mischievous and costumbrist humour captured the idiosyncrasies of a Spain in the midst of the Transition, turning them into mass phenomena that filled cinemas throughout the country.

Despite his Aragonese roots, Esteso maintained an unbreakable bond with Valencia, the city where he has lived for decades.

ESTESO, Fernando (Fernando Julián Esteso Allué)

Born: 1/14/1945, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain

Died: 2/1/2026, Valencia, Valencia, Spain

 

Fernando Esteso’s western – actor:

Al este del Oeste – 1983 (Bill Golden Pistol)

RIP Henner Hofmann

 

In Memoriam — Henner Hofmann, ASC, AMC (1950-2026) 

The cinematographer, whose works included The Legend of the Mask and Juego limpio, was instrumental in founding the Mexican Society of Cinematographers and devoted his career to shaping generations of filmmakers. Noah Kadner

American Cinematographer

1/30/2026

 

Henner Hofmann, ASC, AMC — a champion for Mexican filmmaking opportunities and education — died January 30, 2026 in Cuernavaca, Mexico at the age of 75.

Hofmann was born in 1950 in Mexico City, into a family rooted in the arts. His mother, Kitzia, of French origin, was a stained-glass artist and sculptor whose work included major architectural commissions. His father, Herbert, was also a sculptor who studied at the Bauhaus and created a well-known sculpture for the façade of the Nacional Financiera (National Finance Building) in Mexico City. Growing up in a home filled with books, art and spirited discussion, Hofmann was steeped in visual culture, which shaped his lifelong connection to image-making and cinema.

One of his formative filmmaking experiences involved traveling throughout Mexico and filming documentary material of indigenous communities in the 1970s. Along with fellow filmmakers Alfonso Muñoz, Gonzalo Martínez Ortega, Nacho López, Óscar Menéndez and Juan Rulfo, Hofmann founded the Archives of Ethnic Communities. This led to his first film as cinematographer, Bajo el Mismo Sol (Under the Same Sun) in 1979.

After meeting Society member Harry Wolf and drawing upon Wolf's experience establishing a cinematographers’ association in Hong Kong, Hofmann brought together leading cinematographers — including Gabriel Figueroa, Jorge Stahl and Pepe Ortiz Ramos — as well as younger colleagues, to establish the Mexican Society of Cinematographers (AMC) in 1994.

Hofmann built a prolific career as a cinematographer with more than 25 feature and television credits spanning the late 1970s through the 2010s. His work includes films such as The Legend of the Mask (1991) and Juego limpio (1995), both of which earned him Mexico’s Ariel Award for Best Cinematography, as well as international projects like Ground Control (1998), Flight of Fancy (2000), and Vampires: Los Muertos (2002).

Through his work at the Centro Universitario de Estudios Cinematográficos (CUEC, National Autonomous University of Mexico Film School) and later at the Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica (CCC, Film Training Center), he actively encouraged women pursuing careers behind the camera. As a teacher and later as director of the CCC, he emphasized inclusion, hands-on experience and mentorship, shaping generations of filmmakers in the process.

Hofmann was a member of the Technicians and Cinematographic Production Guild, the Mexican Academy of Arts and Cinematographic Science, and the Screenwriters Guild of Mexico. In the United States, he was a member of the International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600) and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Hofmann became a member of the ASC in 2004, proposed by Society members Steven Poster, Gabriel Beristain and Michael O’Shea. In 2017, he received the ASC’s first-ever Certificate of Recognition for his contributions to education in cinematography.

In 2025, Hofmann was honored with a lifetime-achievement ceremony at Churubusco Studios in Mexico City, attended by many of his former students and his peers from the ASC and AMC. During that ceremony, a special tribute video was played for the veteran cinematographer.

“The world is cinematic, and it feels like I’m looking through a camera,” Hofmann says in the video. “You begin life seeing with an 18mm lens, and now I’m already at a 250mm. I’m very proud and satisfied with my work in cinematography and my academic work. If there was a circle of things like a cake cut into slices of what you like and what you want to do most — it’s the movies.”

Hofmann is survived by his wife Maria, son Sebastián and daughter Natalia.

HOFMANN, Henner

Born: 7/?/1950, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

Died: 1/30/2026, Cuernavaca, Morales, Mexico

 

Henner Hofmann’s westerns – cameraman, cinematographer:

Bajo el mismo sol y sobre la misma tierra – 1979 [cinematographer]

Wagons East – 1994 [cameraman]

Warden of Red Rock – 2001 [cinematographer]

Gallowwalkers – 2012 [cinematographer]

RIP Tal Berkovich

 

Model, actress Tal Berkovich killed in car accident at 41

Berkovich was in Israel visiting her family. Her brother was with her in the vehicle, and is currently in critical condition at Soroka Medical Center.

The Jerusalem Post

January 30, 2026

 

Israeli actress and model Tal Berkovich died in a car accident at age 41 on Thursday outside of Telalim, Israeli media confirmed on Friday morning.

The actress was in Israel visiting her family. Her 40-year-old brother, Gil, was in the vehicle with her on their way to their mother's birthday when they impacted a truck, and he is currently in critical condition at Soroka Medical Center, along with the truck driver, who has light injuries.

Berkovich was born in Kiryat Tivon, and performed in the Israeli ballet and the Bat-Dor Dance Company. She had a role in the 2006-2007 satirical show Paparazzi, after which she moved to London to study acting.

Berkovich worked on Israeli and American productions

In 2011, Berkovich performed in Dancing with the Stars. She then moved to Los Angeles, where she continued working on American projects such as the television shows Payday and Perfect and the 2017 movie Don't Forget Me, as well as Israeli productions, including an advertising campaign for INTIMA.

In an interview with Maariv in 2019, Berkovich talked about how her first arrival in Los Angeles left her disillusioned by the glamorous city. "I touched it and saw that not everything glitters. I saw that that's not what makes people happy. I started to investigate, to learn Kabbalah, and it brought me a lot of joy and peace, so I stuck with it. I know myself better. I have an internal peace."

Berkovich had participated in the ninth season of the cooking show Game of Chefs in Romania a few months prior to her death.

BERKOVICH, Tal

Born: 8/27/1984, Kiryat Tivon, Israel

Died: 1/29/2026, Telalim, Israel

 

Tal Berkovich’s western – actress:

In the Blood – 2019 (Dolores)

RIP Andreas Bellis

 

Andreas Bellis (1939-2026): Illuminating Greek cinema

At the age of 87, one of the most important directors of photography of the new Greek cinema has died.

FLIX

By Manolis Kranakis

January 28, 2026

 

I was born in Athens, studied physics, chemistry, mathematics at the Faculte des Sciences in Paris, cinema at the Ecole National de la Cinematographie and Stockhlm Film Sociology. Since 1982 I have illuminated many theatrical performances. I have collaborated with many directors, theater groups, music stages, dance theaters as well as with state and municipal stages. And I continue...

This autobiography of Andreas Bellis was indicative of Andreas Bellis' tireless creative disposition, but it does not include, apart from a few other biographical elements (such as the fact that he started working abroad – among other things, he was a camera assistant in the legendary 1967 film "I'm Strange: Yellow" and signed the cinematography for films and television productions in France, Sweden, USA and Lebanon). at least the titles of some of the films he illuminated, leaving them really as brilliant examples in the great book of Greek cinema.

Andreas Bellis was an Honorary Member of the Union of Greek Filmmakers (GSC)

Andreas Bellis was responsible for "The Lazy of the Fertile Valley" by Nikos Panagiotopoulos in 1978, "Chrysomallousa" by Tony Lykouresis in 1978, "Honeymoon" by Giorgos Panousopoulos in 1979, "Wandering" (1979) and "Rosa" (1982) by Christoforos Christofis, "Revenge" by Nikos Vergitsis in 1983, "Sweet Country" by Michael Cacoyannis in 1987, "Terirem" by Apostolos Doxiadis in 1987, "... Deserter" by Giorgos Korras and Christos Voupouras, "The Athenians" by Vassilis Alexakis in 1990, "House in the Countryside" by Lagia Giourgou in 1994 A harvest of titles and collaborations that makes his mark as Director of Photography on some of the most characteristic moments of new Greek cinema, next to great creators and in different phases of their development.

However, he also worked with a rejuvenating drive - as claimed by all those who worked with him - in lighting theatrical performances, dance theaters, events, ceremonies of the Thessaloniki Film Festival, fashion shows, tirelessly continuing his course in the Greek and international audiovisual landscape.

Andreas Bellis was born in 1939 in Athens and died on January 28, 2026, at the age of 87.

BELLIS, Andreas

Born: 11/30/1939, Athens, Greece

Died: 1/28/2026, Kinéta, Attiki, Greece

RIP Catherine O’Hara

 

Catherine O’Hara Died 'After a Brief Illness,' Her Rep Confirms

O'Hara died in Los Angeles on Friday, Jan. 30 at the age of 71

People

By Toria Shefield, Sandra Mandell

January 30, 2026

 

Hours after the news that comedy icon Catherine O’Hara had died at 71 on Jan. 30, her rep confirms to PEOPLE that she passed away “after a brief illness."

Shortly after her death was announced, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department told PEOPLE that they received a call at 4:48 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 30 for an “approximately 70-year-old” unnamed female at O'Hara's home address. The woman, presumed to be the Schitt’s Creek alum, was transported to the hospital “in serious condition.”

According to LAFD dispatch audio, the person in distress at the address was having "breathing difficulty."

The comedy icon was well-known for her roles in films like Beetlejuice, Home Alone and Christopher Guest mockumentaries like Best in Show.

She also starred in several TV shows, including Schitt’s Creek, in which she played Moira Rose opposite Annie Murphy and Dan and Eugene Levy. In 2020, she won an Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her role in the beloved series. She also won a Golden Globe and a SAG Award for the show.

Friends and colleagues have been sharing their shock and sadness over the news of O’Hara’s death.

Macaulay Culkin, who played her onscreen son in the holiday classic Home Alone, shared a heart-felt tribute on Instagram, writing, “Mama. I thought we had time.”

"I wanted more. I wanted to sit in a chair next to you. I heard you but I had so much more to say," he added, along with side-by-side photos of himself and O'Hara in Home Alone and in 2023.

"I love you. I’ll see you later," he wrote at the end of the post.

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"Oh, genius to be near you. Eternally grateful. There is less light in my world, this lucky world that had you, will keep you, always. Always ♥️," Pedro Pascal, her Last of Us costar, wrote in a tribute on Instagram, along with a photo of the two of them on set.

Michael McKean, who along with O'Hara was a regular in many Christopher Guest comedies, summed up the loss simply on X: "Only one Catherine O'Hara, and now none. Heartbreaking."

O’Hara is survived by her husband of 33 years, production designer Bo Welch, and their two grown sons, Luke and Matthew.

O’HARA, Catherine (Catherine Anne O’Hara)

Born: 3/4/1954, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Died: 1/30/2026, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

 

Catherine O’Hara’s westerns – actress:

Wyatt Earp – 1994 (Allie Earp)

Tall Tale – 1995 (Calamity Jane)