‘Solely Fools and Horses’ actor Mario Ernesto Sanchez has died aged 78.
The star – who portrayed Colombian drug lord Alberto Vasquez within the two-part 1991 ‘Miami Twice’ Christmas particular of the long-lasting BBC sitcom – handed away within the early hours of Thursday (10.04.25) morning after struggling a “lengthy and painful sickness”.
The unhappy information was confirmed by the South Florida newspaper, Diario Las Americas, by way of the actor’s assistant.
An announcement learn: “Mario Ernesto Sanchez died at present at 3:30am on account of an extended and painful sickness.”
Mario additionally featured in 5 episodes of the US crime drama ‘Miami Vice’ in a recurring position as a limo driver and appeared within the 2006 movie adaptation of the sequence as a unique character.
Tributes have flooded in for the actor – whose different Hollywood credit embrace ‘Invasion U.S.A.’ and ‘The Specialist’.
Miami Artwork Manufacturing mentioned in a press release: “The excellent actor and director of Cuban origin Mario Ernesto Sanchez dies in Miami.
“His tireless work within the Cuban exile theatre, since his early arrival in the US, has earned him precious work of Teatro Avenue, a gaggle he based, in addition to the Miami Worldwide Hispanic Theater Competition, with nearly 40 years of expertise.
“Peace to his stays and condolences to his family members and buddies. It additionally serves as a well-deserved tribute to his intensive profession.”
Actress Veronica Abruza added: “Unhappy information. Goodbye Mario Ernesto Sanchez. My condolences to his beloved kids, household and buddies.
“I’ll all the time keep in mind how form you had been upon my arrival in Miami; your consideration, your chivalry.
“Could your soul unite with the supply of sunshine and love.”
‘Miami Twice’ noticed Trotter brothers Del Boy (Sir David Jason) and Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) go on vacation to the Florida metropolis the place Del turns into the topic of quite a few assassination makes an attempt attributable to his resemblance to a neighborhood mafia boss and David admits that it was one in all his favorite episodes of the legendary comedy.
The 85-year-old actor mentioned: “I vividly recall the Miami resort we stayed in and consuming cocktails and hanging out within the solar with Nick and mucking about on boats within the Everglades and considering: ‘Is that this really work?’
“I additionally vividly recall the appears to be like on the faces of a few of the solid when the scripts had been handed out and so they realised that they weren’t in these scenes.”
