The Cuban actor Alejandro Cuervo paid tribute on Instagram to the legendary Héctor Echemendía, who passed away on Thursday in Belgium at the age of 87, with a shared photograph and words that reflect the impact the veteran performer left on generations of Cuban artists.
In his farewell post on Instagram, Cuervo wrote: "Rest in Peace Hector Echemendía, another privilege I will cherish like a treasure, having shared the screen with another Legend of our craft, immortalizing Lorencitooooooooo." The image shows him alongside Echemendía and another older man, in a casual setting that conveys warmth and affection.
Echemendía, whose full name was Héctor Benito Echemendía Ruiz de Villa, passed away in Belgium, the country where he had been living with his children since around 2024. The news was confirmed by his daughter Dannele Echemendía via Facebook. The cause of death was not disclosed by the family.
Born in Camagüey on November 17, 1938, Echemendía built a career spanning more than six decades in theater, radio, film, and television. His most remembered character was Andrés Iznaga, the patriarch of the main family in the adventure series Hermanos (1989), set in colonial Cuba in 1868.
The scene of that character's death, in which he shouted "Lorencito!" calling for his son, was forever etched in the collective memory of Cuba and made Echemendía an inseparable figure of the island's popular culture.
Throughout his career, he participated in soap operas such as When the Water Returns to the Land, Passion and Prejudice, Behind Screens, and Tierra Brava, as well as films like The Brigade Member, The Beauty of Alhambra, and Vertical Love.
His legacy was recognized with the ACTUAR Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2019 and the National Television Award in 2020, before retiring from artistic activity and settling in Europe.
Cuervo, one of the most popular actors in current Cuban television with two decades of experience, recently celebrated his 40th anniversary and has received accolades such as the Caricato Award for Best Male Performance. His farewell to Echemendía illustrates the bond that connects different generations of Cuban art and the place the veteran actor holds in the minds of those who grew up watching his performances.
The post by Cuervo garnered nearly 3,900 reactions and sixty comments within a few hours, signaling the affection that the Cuban public, both on the island and abroad, continues to show in memory of Echemendía.
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