Cuban actor Héctor Echemendía died in Belgium on Thursday, November 5, at the age of 87 or 88, according to reports from ACN and Cibercuba. The veteran performer, a recipient of the 2020 National Television Award, passed away in the European country where he had been residing during his retirement.
Dannele Echemendía, the actor’s daughter, confirmed the news via Facebook to reach his family, colleagues, and admirers. She noted that social media was the most efficient way to contact the many people who had followed her father’s life and work.
Echemendía Lived His Final Years in Belgium
The actor spent his final years in Belgium surrounded by his children and grandchildren. His wife passed away in 2022, after which his family provided the support and affection he needed to move forward.
He spent the last years of his life in Belgium, surrounded by his children, grandchildren and loved ones. After our mother’s departure in 2022, he found in us the support and love necessary to move forward,
Dannele Echemendía told Cuballama
Despite living abroad, his family maintained his connection to Camagüey. Diario de Cuba reported that his daughter described his life as one filled with endless conversations and memories, noting that Cuba never left him.
“They were years of tranquility, of endless conversations and memories. Although he was far from his land, Cuba never stopped inhabiting him. Camagüey, the city where he was born and began to dream of art, was always present in his heart and art continued to be the language with which he looked at life,” Dannele Echemendía told Diario de Cuba
The Career of the Unforgettable Iznaga
Born on November 17, 1938, in Camagüey, Echemendía began his professional journey in 1957 as a radio plant operator for the station CMJA, according to ACN. He transitioned into acting in 1960 when he joined an amateur theater group led by Miguel Ponce, which became the Conjunto Dramático de Camagüey in 1961.
🚨 Última Hora: Fallece a los 87 años el actor Héctor Echemendíahttps://t.co/esYYKJN152
During this early stage, he performed in productions such as Santa Camila de La Habana Vieja, Santa Juana de América, and La casa de té de la luna de agosto, as reported by TV Yumurí.
His career moved through various artistic mediums and regions. He joined the Conjunto Dramático de Oriente in 1968 and remained there until 1975 before returning to Camagüey. In the mid-1980s, he worked with Radio Cadena Agramonte, performing in radio plays, children’s programming, comedy sketches, and rural-themed productions.
He also worked in cabaret, portraying the popular character “El Gallego,” part of the traditional Cuban bufo theater trilogy, according to TV Yumurí.
In 1992, he moved to Havana to work in television. He became widely recognized for his roles in several prominent telenovelas and series, most notably for his debut as Andrés Iznaga in the adventure series Hermanos, directed by Eduardo Macías. This character became a cultural touchstone, often associated with his famous exclamation, “¡Lorencito!” Escambray notes that the actor once recalled his surprise at seeing himself credited with a special appearance
and finding his scenes used in the series’ intro.
Echemendía Earned Multiple Professional Honors
Echemendía’s work extended into cinema, with credits in films such as El brigadista (1977), Una mujer, un hombre, una ciudad (1978), La Bella del Alhambra (1989), Ilona llega con la lluvia (1996), and Kleines Tropicana (1997), as noted by TV Yumurí.
On stage, the University of Miami’s Digital Archive of Cuban Theater documents his roles in Pedro Navaja—where he played Cambalache in 2006—and El diario de Anna Frank in 2007, according to Diario de Cuba.
One of his most recent television appearances was as Felito in the 2021 production Vuelve a mirar, which focused on the experiences of older adults and featured his character as the father of two sisters, Consuelo and Soledad, as reported by Directorio Cubano.
Throughout his decades of service to Cuban culture, he received several distinctions, including:
- The ACTUAR Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 (via ACN)
- The National Television Award in 2020 (via TV Yumurí)
- The Distinción por la Cultura Nacional in 1993 (via TV Yumurí)
Reflecting on her father’s legacy, his daughter emphasized his dignity, humility, and the love he shared with others.
His greatest work was not on a stage, but in the way he loved his family and his friends,
Dannele Echemendía told Cuballama