“Narcos: Mexico” actor Gerardo Taracena has died at 55, Mexican film officials confirmed Sunday.
The Mexican Academy of Film Art and Sciences announced Taracena’s death in an Instagram post, calling him a “fundamental actor in Mexican cinema, whose presence on screen left an intense, honest, and profoundly human mark.”
“The Academy extends its respectful and heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues,” the statement added. “His work and his unforgettable face will remain in the memory of our cinema.”
The academy also praised Taracena for portraying “memorable characters” throughout his career and noted he was a three-time Ariel Award nominee, honoring “a career marked by absolute dedication, expressive power, and a deep commitment to his craft.”
Taracena was best known internationally for his role as drug smuggler Pablo Acosta in Netflix’s “Narcos: Mexico.” The series, which ran from 2018 to 2021, chronicled the rise of the Guadalajara Cartel in the 1980s and served as a follow-up to the original “Narcos.” The cast included Michael Peña, Diego Luna, Tenoch Huerta, Alyssa Diaz, Joaquín Cosío, Alejandro Edda and Matt Letscher.
One of Taracena’s most recognized film roles came in Mel Gibson’s 2006 epic “Apocalypto,” which followed a young hunter attempting to escape captivity during the collapse of the Mayan civilization. The film also starred Rudy Youngblood, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Sérbulo and Dalia Hernández.
His film credits spanned decades and included “El Violin” (2005), “Saving Private Perez” (2011), “A World for Raúl” (2012), “Sound of Freedom” (2022) and “Surviving My Quinceañera” (2023). Taracena also appeared in Netflix’s “Pedal to Metal” and the USA Network’s long-running crime drama “Queen of the South.”
In a 2011 interview with Fox News discussing his role in “Saving Private Perez,” Taracena spoke candidly about the physical demands of the part.
“I had to gain 20 pounds to play my role,” Taracena told Fox News. “But, in two months I was able to lose the weight again.”
He also said at the time that he was proud to help bring what he described as a “risky” Mexican film to American audiences.
In his final year, Taracena appeared in seven episodes of the Amazon Prime Video series “Cometierra.” According to IMDb, he had two projects in post-production and two more in pre-production at the time of his death.
Taracena’s passing marks the loss of a familiar face in Mexican cinema and international television, an actor known for intense performances and a career defined by commitment to his craft.
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