Gerardo Taracena, an actor known for roles in “Narcos: Mexico” and “Apocalypto,” has died. He was 55 years old.
The Mexican Academy of Film Art and Sciences announced his death in an Instagram post on Sunday.
The organization described him as “a fundamental actor in Mexican cinema, whose presence on screen left an intense, honest, and profoundly human mark…a career marked by absolute dedication, expressive power, and a deep commitment to his craft.”
“His work and his unforgettable face will remain in the memory of our cinema,” the statement concludes.
No additional information about Taracena’s death was released.
The Asociación Nacional de Actores, Mexico’s actor’s guild, also mourned Taracena’s death on Instagram.
The guild “deeply regrets the departure of our colleague Gerardo Taracena. We join in the grief that he bothers his family, friends and the artistic community. R.I.P.”
Born in Mexico City in 1970, Taracena was nominated for three acting Ariel Awards — often called the “Mexican Oscars” — for his roles in “The Violin” — for which he won Best Supporting Actor — “Potosi” and “The Load.”
His turn as drug smuggler Pablo Acosta on Netflix’s “Narcos: Mexico” gave him one of his most-high-profile roles for American audiences during the show’s three seasons.
Taracena played the villainous, sadistic warrior Middle Eye in Mel Gibson’s “Apocalypto.” He also appeared in films like “Man on Fire,” “Sin Nombre,” “Sound of Freedom” and others.
His final onscreen credit was for the Amazon Prime series “Cometierra,” which premiered last year. He has at least four posthumous roles in upcoming projects, according to his IMDB page.
