
Acting
Born October 1, 2025 · Cuba
Mario Ernesto Sánchez (born on January 10, 1947, in San Antonio de las Vegas, Cuba; † April 10, 2025, in Miami, Florida, USA) was a Cuban actor and theater founder. In 1979, he established Teatro Avante, a Hispanic theater in Florida, and became a significant figure in promoting Latin American theater in the United States. Sánchez played various supporting roles in Hollywood films and TV series, including Invasion U.S.A. (1985), The Specialist (1994), Bad Boys (1995), and Step Up Revolution (2012). He also appeared in five episodes of the series Miami Vice and had a role in the 2006 film of the same name. Additionally, he was featured in The Truman Show as a security guard and in the British cult series Only Fools and Horses as a Colombian drug lord. As a teenager, he emigrated to the United States through Operation Pedro Pan. Over the course of his career, he received several awards for his contributions to Hispanic theater, including the Federico García Lorca Award (1995) and the Ollantay Award (1994). Sánchez passed away on April 10, 2025, at the age of 78 in Miami.

Father of the Bride
2022

Death of a Fool
2020

Sea Devil
2015

Step Up Revolution
2012

Miami Vice
2006

Proof of Life
2000

8MM
1999

The Truman Show
1998

Catherine's Grove
1997

Virtual Weapon
1997

Plato's Run
1997

Blood and Wine
1996

Bad Boys
1995

The Specialist
1994

Staying Afloat
1993

Fires Within
1991

Clinton and Nadine
1988

Invasion U.S.A.
1985