RIP Hector Alterio

 

In Memoriam: Legendary Argentine Actor Héctor Alterio 

Cinema Tropical

December 13, 2025

 

Héctor Alterio, one of the most essential actors in the history of Argentine cinema and theater, died today at the age of 96 in Madrid, Spain, where he lived and worked for decades after going into exile in the 1970s. He had a prolific and celebrated career and was one of the most revered figures in Argentine cinema, theater, and television.

He worked with numerous prestigious filmmakers, including Leopoldo Torre Nilsson, Manuel Antín, Sergio Renán, Carlos Saura, Luis Puenzo, Marcelo Piñeyro, María Luisa Bemberg, and Juan José Campanella, and acted in four of the first five Argentine films ever nominated for the Academy Awards, including the Oscar-winning The Official Story / La historia oficial and Son of the Bride / El hijo de la novia.

Born Héctor Benjamín Alterio Onorato on September 21, 1929, in Buenos Aires to Italian parents, he emerged as a defining presence of Argentine cinema, forging a body of work that bridged classical theater, New Argentine Cinema, and exile-era filmmaking. His acting debut came in the 1948 play Cómo suicidarse en primavera (“How to Commit Suicide in Spring”). After completing drama school, he founded the Nuevo Teatro company in 1950, where he remained active until 1968, playing a key role in transforming Argentina’s theater scene during the 1960s.

His feature film debut came in 1965 with Alfredo Mathé's Every Sun Is Bitter / Todo sol es amargo, and he went on to work in numerous films, including Don Segundo Sombra (1969) by Manuel Antín, The Knight of the Sword / El Santo de la Espada (1970) by Leopoldo Torre Nilsson, Rebellion in Patagonia / La Patagonia rebelde (1974) by Héctor Olivera—which won the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival—and The Truce / La tregua (1974) by Sergio Renán, which became the first Argentine film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

As Argentina descended into political terror, Alterio became one of the many artists forced into exile following threats. He settled in Spain in 1975, a rupture that reshaped his artistic trajectory but never diluted his identity. From exile, Alterio built a formidable second career, becoming a cornerstone of Spanish cinema and theater while continuing to work with filmmakers committed to memory, resistance, and historical reckoning.

In Spain, he played Anselmo in Carlos Saura’s landmark 1976 psychological drama Cría Cuervos, which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival and was selected as the Spanish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 49th Academy Awards. The following year, he acted in To an Unknown God / A un dios desconocido by Jaime Chávarri and Elías Querejeta, earning the Best Actor Award at the San Sebastián Film Festival. Other Spanish film credits include Pascual Duarte (1976) by Ricardo Franco, Asignatura pendiente (1977) by José Luis Garci, and The Nest / El nido (1980) by Jaime de Armiñán, which was nominated for an Academy Award.

With the return of democracy to Argentina in the 1980s, Alterio worked in films produced in both countries and in co-productions. In 1984, he starred as Adolfo O’Gorman in Bemberg’s Oscar-nominated Camila, considered one of the best Argentine films of all time.

The following year, Alterio starred as Roberto Ibáñez in Puenzo’s historical political drama The Official Story, also starring Norma Aleandro. The film tells the story of a high school history teacher who enjoys a comfortable life with her husband, a businessman connected to the military, and their adopted daughter. When Alicia starts questioning the origins of her child, she comes to fear that her daughter may have been taken from parents who were abducted or killed during the government’s violent repression of leftist activists. The Official Story made history as the first Latin American film to win an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

He remained active in numerous film, theater, and television productions, collaborating with Argentine filmmaker Marcelo Piñeyro on the music biopic Wild Tango / Tango feroz (1993), the drama road movie Wild Horses / Caballos salvajes (1995), the crime thriller Ashes of Paradise / Cenizas del paraíso (1997) and the queer thriller Burnt Money / Plata quemada (2000).

In 2001, he reunited with Norma Aleandro in Juan José Campanella’s heartwarming dramedy Son of the Bride, also starring Ricardo Darín, which received an Oscar nomination. The film follows a middle-aged restaurateur navigating a midlife crisis while fulfilling his aging father’s wish to remarry his mother, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s, in the church wedding she always dreamed of.

In 2004, Alterio received the Honorary Goya Award presented by the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain. He is survived by his children, actors Malena and Ernesto Alterio, with whom he formed a rare intergenerational bridge between Latin American and Spanish cinema.

ALTERIO, Hector (Héctor Benjamín Alterio Onorato)

Born: 9/21/1929, Chacarita, Buenos Aires, Argentia

Died: 12/13/2025, Madrid, Madrid, Spain

 

Hector Alterio’s westerns – actor:

Don Segundo Sombra – 1969 (gaucho in black)

Rebellion in Patagonian - 1974 (Commander Zavala)

The Last Train – 2002 (El Profesot)

RIP Eduardo Manzano

 

Eduardo Manzano, iconic Mexican actor and comedian, dies at 8 

USA Today

By Edward Segarra

December 5, 2025

 

Mexican actor and comedian Eduardo Manzano, best known for "El Show de los Polivoces," died at age 87 on December 4, 2025. His son Lalo announced the death on social media, noting the lack of a disclosed cause. Manzano was celebrated for his decades‑long career in film, television and comedy, including his recent role on "Una Familia de Diez."

Eduardo Manzano, the Mexican actor and comedian best known for his role on "El Show de los Polivoces," has died. He was 87.

Manzano died on Thursday, Dec. 4, Manzano's son, Lalo Manzano, shared in an emotional social media post on Friday. A cause of death was not given.

"Today, the stage of life has lowered the curtain," Lalo Manzano wrote in a lengthy tribute, in Spanish. "My father, a comedian loved by thousands and a human being admired by everyone who knew him, has departed this world. He was an extraordinary, kind and intelligent man with a heart as big as his talent."

Representatives for Manzano and Lalo Manzano were not available for comment at the time of publication.

One of the stars of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, Manzano appeared in a number of TV series and films throughout the 1960s alongside his comedic partner-in-crime, fellow Mexican actor-comedian Enrique Cuenca. The duo, known as Los Polivoces, nabbed supporting roles in the feature films "Agarrando Parejo" and "Tres Mil Kilómetros de Amor" and starred in 1969's "El Aviso Inoportuno."

Manzano and Cuenca solidified their comedy legacy with "El Show de los Polivoces," a sketch comedy series that showcased the pair's hilarious vocal impersonations through celebrity parodies and zany original characters. The show ran for four seasons from 1971-1975.

"Behind every joke was a tireless worker. Behind every applause was a human being who deeply loved what he did," Lalo Manzano wrote. "And behind every smile, there was always a father who taught us to laugh, including in the most difficult moments."

Manzano's most recent role was a recurring gig on the family sitcom "Una Familia de Diez," playing Don Arnoldo López for over 130 episodes from 2007-2022.

"With deep sorrow we bid farewell to my beautiful daddy, and we thank all who have respectfully joined in with their love. 🙏🏻❤️✨," Lalo Manzano wrote.

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Stars remember 'comedy master' Eduardo Manzano

Several stars took to the comments section of Lalo Manzano's tribute to mourn Manzano's death.

"You don't know how I feel, my dear Lalo," actor Luis Felipe Tovar wrote. "I send you a very strong hug and wish with all my heart that your daddy is already enjoying the bliss of having accomplished his mission. RIP. The great among the greats."

"God has him in his glory, master of comedy 🙏🏼 🙏🏼 ❤️ ❤️," TV host Mario Bezares commented.

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"I'm so sorry, Lalo. Your dad will always live in our hearts," actress and TV host Mariazel wrote.

"A master of comedy, a great friend, an outstanding guy. Lalo, Ariel and family, I accompany you in your grief," comedian JoJo Jorge Falcon wrote. "He left a huge legacy, no other like him. Rest in peace 🕊️"

MANZANO, Eduardo (Eduardo Manzano II)

Born: 7/18/1938, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

Died: 12/4/2025, Tlalpan, Mexico City, Mexico

 

Eduardo Manzano’s westerns – actor:

Somo del otro Laredo – 1977 (Dinamita Mazano)

RIP Erna Martha Bauman

 

3 Mexican Actors Die: From a Miss Universe Representative to The Rose of Guadalupe

ANDI confirmed the departure of actress and former beauty queen, Erna Martha Bauman Krauze, who is cataloged as one of the unforgettable faces of Mexican fantasy cinema

N+ Newsroom

November 21, 2025

 

Mourning in film and television in Mexico the death of three endearing actors and actresses, the deaths of two actors who participated in the Rose of Guadalupe, The Lord of the Skies, and of an actress who was even a beauty queen and participated in Miss Universe, were confirmed this Friday, November 21, 2025.

The first of these deaths was reported by the National Association of Interpreters (ANDI) when confirming the departure of actress and former beauty queen, Erna Martha Bauman Krauze, who is cataloged as one of the unforgettable faces of Mexican fantasy cinema, and who died at the age of 86.

Who was Erna Martha Bauman Krauze the beauty queen?

Actress Erna Martha Bauman Krauze dedicated herself in her last years of life to piano lessons.

Erna Martha Bauman Krauze was born on July 6, 1938, in Mexico City, she became a public figure from a very young age, when in 1956 she obtained the title of Miss Mexico and represented the country in Miss Universe, where she managed to advance to the semifinals. Her beauty led her to professional modeling and, later, to cinema.

Her film debut occurred at the end of the fifties, starting a career that consolidated her as one of the most emblematic actresses of Mexican horror cinema.

During the sixties she participated in productions that are currently cult, such as "The Bloody Vampire", "The Invasion of the Vampires" and "The World of the Vampires", where she played some of the most iconic vampires on the Mexican screen. Although terror marked a large part of his career.

She had a filmography that combined national and international productions, including the American film Vampire Hookers (1978).

BAUMAN, Erna Martha

Born: 7/6/1938, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

Died: 11/20/2025, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

 

Erna Martha Bauman’s western – actress:

Los siete proscritos – 1969 (Mary Garrison)

RIP Corrado Solari

 

Corrado Solari, the historic face of Elisa di Rivombrosa loved by the general public, has died: the cause of the actor's death

Corrado Solari, historic actor of Italian cinema, has passed away at the age of 79. From Elisa di Rivombrosa to cult films, she was famous for her antagonist roles.

Magazine

By Melania Fiata

June 10, 2025

 

Italian cinema loses one of its most unmistakable faces. Corrado Solari died at the age of 79, and he was the actor that the public learned to hate on screen and that his colleagues did not stop admiring in life. A thoroughbred character actor, trained in the theater, he has gone through years and years of Italian entertainment playing antagonists, cynical officials and other characters thanks to which he has left his mark, as in the historic fiction Elisa di Rivombrosa. Yet, off the set, he was anything but: a cultured gentleman, passionate about literature and art, very far from any form of protagonism.

Farewell to Corrado Solari, the causes of death

The villain par excellence of Italian cinema and television has left us: Corrado Solari, an actor with a severe face, a sharp gaze, and a stage presence capable of making even the most marginal character unforgettable, has passed away at the age of 79. The causes of death have not yet been disclosed. With a career spanning over fifty years and a solid theatrical training, he has played numerous complex characters, often antagonists, criminals and authoritarian figures and with a strong expressive intensity. In his private life, however, he was known as a cultured, kind person and deeply passionate about art and literature.

Corrado Solari, an extraordinary career: the face that great directors could not forget

Throughout his career he has worked with some of the most important Italian directors, including Sergio Leone in Giù la testa, Elio Petri in La classe operaia va in paradiso, Damiano Damiani and Marco Bellocchio. He was also one of the symbolic faces of the Italian detective story, participating in films such as Roma a mano armata and La banda del trucido. In the 2000s he achieved new television popularity thanks to Elisa di Rivombrosa and, more recently, he appeared in the series Vita da Carlo by Carlo Verdone. Just in the famous fiction of Canale 5, with Puccini and Preziosi, despite his 'perfidious' role, he was much appreciated by the public. For those who don't know, he was the one who carried out the orders of 'very bad' Luca Ward.

His last film performance was in the film Nel tepore del ballo by Pupi Avati, alongside Massimo Ghini, Isabella Ferrari, Raoul Bova, Giuliana De Sio and others. With his death, the world of entertainment loses an interpreter of great talent and professionalism: a man with a gloomy appearance on the set but with a good, honest and kind soul in everyday life. Especially for this, we are sure that he will always be remembered.

SOLARI, Corrado

Born: 7/21/1948, Rimini, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Died: 6/9 /2026, Rome, Lazio, Italy

 

Corrado Solari’s western – actor:

Duck You Sucker – 1971 (Sebastian)

 

RIP Oliver Lee

 

Singer Oliver Tree, 32, killed in helicopter crash in Brazil

New York Post

By Ronny Reyes

June 14, 2026

 

Singer Oliver Tree died in a helicopter crash Sunday when two choppers collided in Rio de Janeiro, killing all six occupants, officials said.

The “Life Goes On” singer, 32, was in the middle of a tour in Brazil when he boarded a helicopter in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, in the Southwest zone of Rio de Janeiro, CNN reported.

The chopper Tree was on then slammed into another over an electric car lot, setting at least 20 cars ablaze in the deadly collision.

Harrowing images of the aftermath show the helicopters completely mangled on the ground, surrounded by crushed and burnt cars in the lot.

The other victims include passengers Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim (also known as Argentinian YouTuber Gaspi), Lucas Brito Chaves, and pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac.

Officials say the cause of the collision is still under investigation.

Tree — who’s also known for his distinctive hairstyle, a bowl-cut mullet hybrid — was in South America as part of his “The World’s First World Tour,” which was meant to span across 30 countries and hit all seven continents.

He had wrapped up his Brazilian show in São Paulo last week and was set to travel to Portugal for a show in Lisbon on July 13.

The “Miss You” singer, who has more than 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify, was born in Santa Cruz, California, and made his start in the music world at age 17 when he worked with big names like Skrillex and Zeds Dead.

Tree released his independent album, “Splitting Branches,” in 2013, with the artist stepping away from the scene afterward to study music technology.

He returned to the scene in 2020 with his first studio album, “Ugly is Beautiful,” which featured his platinum hit “Life Goes on.”

By 2024, he was nominated for the International Song Brit award alongside Robin Schulz for their hit song “Miss You.”

He went on to release “Cowboy Tears,” “Alone in a Crowd,” and his April 2026 album, “Love You Madly Hate You Badly.”

Along with his music career, Tree is also known for breaking the Guinness World Record for the largest kick scooter on Earth in 2020, with the machine measuring more than 13 feet tall and 10 feet long.

TREE, Oliver (Oliver Tree Nickell)

Born: 6/29/1933, Santa Cruz, California, U.S.A.

Died: 6/14/2026, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

 

Oliver Tree’s western – singer:

Oliver Tree: Cowboys Don't Cry – 2022

RIP Ronnie Schell

 

Ronnie Schell, ‘Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.’ and ‘That Girl’ Actor, Dies at 94

Variety

By Matt Minton

June 12, 2026

 

Ronnie Schell, the versatile actor known for his comedic work in “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” and “That Girl,” died Friday in Los Angeles of natural causes, his publicist confirmed to Variety. He was 94.

Known for his work in film, TV and on stage as a comedian, the San Francisco native amassed over 140 credits over the course of his decades-spanning career.

He is perhaps best remembered for his run of ’60s shows, from starring in 92 episodes of “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” as Duke Slater to three episodes of “That Girl” alongside Marlo Thomas. During that time period, he made appearances on “The Patty Duke Show” and “The Andy Griffith Show.” He co-starred with Goldie Hawn on “Good Morning World.”

Schell’s career as a performer started after auditioning for San Francisco’s Purple Onion nightclub while he was still a senior at San Francisco State University. He also enlisted in the Air Force.

Beyond his on-screen work, which included roles in “Fatal Instinct,” “The Devil and Max Devlin” and “The Revenge of the Red Baron,” Schell was known as a voice performer for “Cat from Outer Space,” “Jetsons,” “Rover Dangerfield,” “Battle of the Planets” and “Goober and the Ghost Chasers.” Additionally, he was credited as a dialogue coach on 1984’s “All of Me,” directed by Carl Reiner.

His most recent appearances included the TV shows “See Ya” and “Kaplan’s Korner.” He also starred in the musical comedy “Don’t Leave it All to Your Children!”

Schell is survived by his wife Janet, sons Gregory and Christian and a granddaughter, Chiara.

SCHELL, Ronnie (Ronald Ralph Schell)

Born: 12/23/1932, Richmond, California, U.S.A.

Died: 6/12/2026, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

 

Ronnie Schell’s western – actor:

 The Cowboy Killer – 2026 (Trucker Harry)

 

RIP Pauls Butkēvičs

 

Latvian actor Pauls Butkēvičs passes away

Latvian Public Service Media

6/12/2026

 

Latvian actor Pauls Butkēvičs, who played approximately 150 roles during his film career, has died at the age of 85, announced Marta Bite, the chairwoman of the board of the Latvian Cinematographers' Union, citing information from the actor's relatives.

Butkēvičs was born in 1940. After graduating from Riga Secondary School No. 11 in 1959, he studied at the Riga Polytechnic Institute (now Riga Technical University) and worked at the "VEF" electrical factory. At the same time, he was actively involved in artistic life at the Dailes Theatre, where he mastered the basics of acting together with several later famous stage artists. He also studied at the Law, History and Philosophy Faculties of the University of Latvia.

Butkēvičs began his career in film in 1963 with a role in the film "Nedziedātā dziesma". A few years later, he got his first leading role in Ada Neretniece's film "Hipokrāta zvērests", and starred in director Rolands Kalniņš' films "Akmens un šķēmbas" and "Elpojiet dziļi".

He went on to star in numerous films and TV series and worked in Russia, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Denmark and India.

In 2016, Butkēvičs was awarded the Fourth Class of the Cross of Recognition for his long-standing and significant contribution to Latvian culture and cinema.

Our condolences to his friends and family.

BUTKEVICS, Pauls (Paul Paulovitch Butkevich)

Born: 8/8/1940, Riga, Latvia, U.S.S.R.

Died: 6/12/2026, Latvia

 

Pauls Butkēvičs – western – actor:

Alaska Kid (TV) – 1993 (Clark)