Mario Ernesto Sánchez obit

Mario Ernesto Sánchez, director of Teatro Avante, passes away.

The Cuban-born actor and director died early this morning. The sad news was confirmed minutes ago by the artist's assistant.

 He was not on the list.

MIAMI.- Mario Ernesto Sánchez , general director of the Avante Theater and founder of the Mario Ernesto Sánchez International Hispanic Theater Festival, has passed away. The sad news was confirmed to DIARIO LAS AMÉRICAS through the artist's assistant.

"Mario Ernesto Sánchez died today at 3:03 a.m. as a result of a long and painful illness," Padilla said by phone a few minutes ago, without providing further details.

According to this source, his team is currently preparing for the funeral, and they will issue an official statement shortly.

Meanwhile, some personalities and organizations in Miami 's theater scene have made Sánchez's physical departure known.

"The distinguished Cuban-born actor and director Mario Ernesto Sánchez dies in Miami. His tireless work in Cuban exile theater, since his early arrival in the United States, has been a source of invaluable work for Teatro Avante, his founding group, as well as the Miami International Hispanic Theater Festival, which has been running for almost 40 years. May his remains rest in peace and condolences to his family and friends. May it also serve as a well-deserved tribute to his extensive career," Miami Art Promotion posted on social media .

"A Cuban and theater legend has left us: Mario Ernesto Sánchez. He's now with Lorca, Molière, Euripides, and many more of the theater's greatest. Rest in peace, Chachito, and thank you very much for your legacy," said Ramón A. Sánchez .

"Sad news. Goodbye Mario Ernesto Sánchez. My condolences to his beloved children, family and friends. I will always remember how kind you were upon my arrival in Miami; your attention, your chivalry. May your soul join the source of light and love," said actress Verónica Abruza .

Legacy left in Miami

In light of the city's passing, which has saddened the city's theater, the Latin American Center for Theatrical Creations and Research (CELCIT) dedicated a brief profile to the playwright's legacy.

"Our farewell to Mario Ernesto Sánchez: founder, artistic director, and producer of Teatro Avante and the Miami International Hispanic Theater Festival. He received the Distinguished Career Award from the Florida Theatre Conference for his contributions to the development of theater. An actor, director, producer, and playwright, he starred in several works in the world repertoire and appeared in numerous films and television series," Celcit wrote.

"In 1994, he received the Ollantay Award for Promoting Ibero-American Theater, granted by the Latin American Center for Theater Creation and Research (CELCIT) in Madrid. In 1995, he received the Federico García Lorca Award in Fuente Vaqueros, Spain, for having contributed enormously to the development of Hispanic theater in the Americas; and in 2004, he received the Kusillo del Fitaz Award in La Paz, Bolivia, for the same reason," the institution added.

"In 2007, he received a Special Recognition Award from the Arts & Business Council of Miami for his artistic achievements with the Miami International Hispanic Theater Festival, which he founded and directed since its inception in 1986. The FIT of Cádiz – Atahualpa del Cioppo during the Ibero-American Theater Festival of Cádiz received it in October 2009, as did the UCSUR, during the VII International Theater Festival for Cultural Diversity, in Lima, Peru," Celcit added.

He played various bit parts on Miami Vice and in Hollywood movies, including Invasion U.S.A. (1985) and The Specialist (1994).

Sánchez was born in Cuba. He went to the United States as a child during the Operation Pedro Pan. Among his various roles, he appeared in 5 episodes of Miami Vice (as a limo driver), the film Miami Vice (2006) (as a different character), and the classic British sitcom Only Fools and Horses as a Colombian drug baron.

Sánchez died in Miami on 10 April 2025.

Actor

Jammerz (2022)

Jammerz

TV Series

Fernando Sevilla

2022

1 episode

 

Andy Garcia, Gloria Estefan, Diego Boneta, James J. Zito III, and Adria Arjona in Father of the Bride (2022)

Father of the Bride

5.9

Paco (as Mario Ernesto Sanchez)

2022

 

Mario Ernesto Sánchez and Benji Leon in Death of a Fool (2020)

Death of a Fool

4.6

Herman

2020

 

Omari Hardwick in Power (2014)

Power

8.1

TV Series

Abuelo (as Mario Ernesto Sanchez)

2015

1 episode

 

Antoni Corone, Mario Ernesto Sánchez, and Taylor Rouviere in Sea Devil (2014)

Sea Devil

5.8

Short

2014

 

Bryan Greenberg and Stephanie Sigman in The Arrangement (2013)

The Arrangement

5.4

TV Movie

Dan Henriquez

2013

 

Step Up Revolution (2012)

Step Up Revolution

6.4

Ricky

2012

 

A Summer Song (2010)

A Summer Song

6.8

Richard

2010

 

666: The Beginning of the End (2009)

666: The Beginning of the End

6.5

Abel

2009

 

Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campbell, and Jeffrey Donovan in Burn Notice (2007)

Burn Notice

8.0

TV Series

Campos (as Mario Ernesto Sanchez)

2008

1 episode

 

Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell in Miami Vice (2006)

Miami Vice

6.1

El Tiburon (as Mario Ernesto Sanchez)

2006

 

Esai Morales, Valeria Andrews, Charlotte Ayanna, Kuno Becker, Cristián de la Fuente, Rosanna DeSoto, Michael Irby, and A Martinez in Once Upon a Wedding (2005)

Once Upon a Wedding

4.3

Pablo

2005

 

Andy Garcia and Inés Sastre in The Lost City (2005)

The Lost City

6.5

First Inspector

2005

 

Jason Armada in Lechón (2005)

Lechón

Short

Leo

2005

 

Landfall

8.5

Jorge Mendoza

2001

 

Russell Crowe and Meg Ryan in Proof of Life (2000)

Proof of Life

6.3

Arturo Fernandez (as Mario Ernesto Sanchez)

2000

 

Andy Garcia and Mía Maestro in For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story (2000)

For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story

7.1

TV Movie

Functionary

2000

 

Nicolas Cage and Jenny Powell in 8MM (1999)

8MM

6.6

Taxi Driver

1999

 

Jim Carrey in The Truman Show (1998)

The Truman Show

8.2

Security Guard (as Mario Ernesto Sanchez)

1998

 

Michael Madsen, Maria Conchita Alonso, and Jeff Fahey in Catherine's Grove (1997)

Catherine's Grove

4.5

Ernesto (as Mario Sanchez)

1997

 

Terence Hill and Marvelous Marvin Hagler in Virtual Weapon (1997)

Virtual Weapon

4.4

Emergency doctor

1997

 

Steven Bauer and Gary Busey in Plato's Run (1997)

Plato's Run

4.4

Video

Flaco

1997

 

Jennifer Lopez, Jack Nicholson, and Stephen Dorff in Blood and Wine (1996)

Blood and Wine

6.0

Artie (Fishing Ace)

1996

 

Jack Scalia in Pointman (1995)

Pointman

7.0

TV Series

Enrique Remy

Amigo

1995

2 episodes

 

Will Smith, Téa Leoni, and Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys (1995)

Bad Boys

6.8

Drug Buyer (as Mario Ernesto Sanchez)

1995

 

Sylvester Stallone and Sharon Stone in The Specialist (1994)

The Specialist

5.6

Charlie

1994

 

Fortune Hunter (1994)

Fortune Hunter

7.6

TV Series

Sandoval (as Mario Ernesto Sanchez)

1994–1996

1 episode

 

Staying Afloat (1993)

Staying Afloat

5.9

TV Movie

Phillipe

1993

 

Billy Campbell and Ally Walker in Moon Over Miami (1993)

Moon Over Miami

7.4

TV Series

Xavier

1993

1 episode

 

Jim Belushi and Lorraine Bracco in Traces of Red (1992)

Traces of Red

5.2

Tony Garidi (as Mario Ernesto Sanchez)

1992

 

Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel (1992)

Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel

6.6

TV Mini Series

Military Man (uncredited)

1992

 

David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, and Lennard Pearce in Only Fools and Horses (1981)

Only Fools and Horses

9.0

TV Series

Alberto Vasquez (as Mario Ernesto Sanchez)

1991

1 episode

 

Fires Within (1991)

Fires Within

4.6

Family Member (as Mario Ernesto Sanchez)

1991

 

Kevin Spacey, Jonathan Banks, and Ken Wahl in Wiseguy (1987)

Wiseguy

7.8

TV Series

Colonel Guerrera

1990

2 episodes

 

Johnny Depp, Holly Robinson Peete, Peter DeLuise, Dustin Nguyen, and Steven Williams in 21 Jump Street (1987)

21 Jump Street

7.2

TV Series

Guardia Leader (as Mario Ernesto Sanchez)

1990

1 episode

 

Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas in Miami Vice (1984)

Miami Vice

7.6

TV Series

Morales

Jorge

Paco the Limo Driver ...

1984–1989

5 episodes

 

Blood Money (1988)

Blood Money

4.9

TV Movie

Rojas

1988

 

Charley Hannah (1986)

Charley Hannah

6.6

TV Movie

Pizer (as Mario Sanchez)

1986

 

Chuck Norris in Invasion U.S.A. (1985)

Invasion U.S.A.

5.5

Victor (as Mario Ernesto Sanchez)

1985

 

Below the Belt (1980)

Below the Belt

5.4

(as Mario Sanchez)

1980