Walter Rodriguez, 65, beloved Puerto Rican actor, director and playwright
Hoodoo
June 20, 2010
by The Daily Sun staff
http://www.prdailysun.com/index.php?page=news.article&id=1276967264
Photo -
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A wake for the ashes of actor, director and playwright Walter Rodríguez
will be held this afternoon at 1 at Buxeda Funeral Home in Hato Rey,
followed by a religious service at 6 p.m., Puerto Rico Actors
Association president Anamín Santiago said Friday.
Condolences from all segments of Puerto Rican society poured in as
people learned of the death of actor Walter Rodriguez, who died of bone
cancer at the age of 65.
Rodríguez “will be remembered as that first-rate actor of great
theatrical gifts, memorable acting and a strict professional
discipline,” Santiago said in a written statement.
He has been a model for several generations of actors, as a
distinguished companion in the labor struggles which helped them to
achieve better pay and working conditions, she said. “Until his last
moments he was trying to help Puerto Rican performers.”
He was an actor with a labor union conscience,” she said. “In his own
career, he showed respect for the workers on the set.”
“Thank you, Walter, for being the example of a complete, thinking actor
with a collective conscience. We will miss your voice, your ideas and
your actions,” she said.
The Puerto Rico Public Broadcasting Corp family, through its president
Ray Cruz, saw Walter Rodríguez as “actor, director, producer and, above
all, true friend.
“The loss of this man who has worked tirelessly to preserve [the
theatrical environment] for our local actors represents a very sad
moment for us all. We recently spoke about his soap opera, “Paso Fino”
which he hoped to produce on the island. We mourn his death and we
will continue developing local workshops as was Walter’s wishes.”
Veteran actor/producer/director Sandra Rivera wept as she noted that
“Walter Rodríguez still had so much to give to the theater. When I spoke
with him he had so much joy of life, in spite of his weakened physical
state. He found energy when he thought he didn’t have it,” she said in a
trembling voice.”
Rivera, who produced the film “La fuga,” in which Rodríguez acted as the
grandfather, said the two colleagues often discussed the vicissitudes of
working in the theater. How difficult it is to be an actor in Puerto Rico.
“He was an extremely talented actor and playwright, one of our best.”
The producer of the canceled program “Cuéntame tu historia,” Puchín
Morales, said that “one of the greats of the theater and television has
gone. Working with Walter was incredible He was a companion and brother
who didn’t mind being directed, despite being a great director,” he
said. “We always had great chemistry.”
State and local officials also saw a special person in the Puerto
Rican actor. -
Gov. Fortuño lauded the veteran actor’s career and his commitment to
Puerto Rico’s cultural development.
“The actors and artists have lost a wonderful representative, someone
who always helped out with opportunities for our people, who was a great
contributor to our culture, especially at Channel 6.
San Juan Mayor Jorge Santini was especially grateful to Rodríguez for
his work on the Tapia Theater’s Advisory Board, “for his knowledge and
art and dedication.” He said he had shared some moments with the actor
when they announced the first municipal tribute to theatrical
productions in the Tapia.
“Rodríguez projected a positive image of Puerto Rico with his acting off
the island, and he knew how to be true to his craft during several lean
decades,” said Santini. “Even though he has left us physically, his
work and his achievements in and out of Puerto Rico, will be remembered
and imitated for several generations,” the mayor said.
Another mayor, Héctor O’Neill of Guaynabo, thanked the late actor for
“his enthusiastic and creative collaboration with all the efforts of our
city in the area of culture.”
In a written statement he said “Walter not only responded to our
requests for help, but also inspired us to establish programs in the
arts for children, young people and adults.”
Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz called Rodríguez a “master of the
stage.
“Today, Puerto Rico has lost one of its greatest dramatic actors. His
45-year career is an example of true love and devotion to a profession
he lived for up until the last moments of his life. Walter always
demonstrated loyalty to and preoccupation for the island’s artistic
class and worked toward achieving better working conditions for those
who, as he, dedicated their lives to our theater;” said Rivera. “This
is why we can say that Walter will never disappear, because not only
will he live in his melodramas and theater presentations but also he
will always be in our hearts”.
Sen. Evelyn Vázquez Nieves, chairwoman of the Senate Tourism and Culture
Committee, also mourned the death of
Rodríguez. “Walter thrilled us with his talent, and diverse
interpretations, all performed with equal intensity and professionalism.”
Vázquez recalled that on March 15 the actor was “honored at the state
legislature for his long and fruitful artistic career.” In a written
statement, she described their conversation about the lack of work for
local actors and others in the performing arts.
In the world of communications, television station WIPR-TV also felt
Rodríguez’s departure.
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Trout Mask Replica
KFJC.org, WFMU.org, WMSE.org, or WUSB.org;
because the pigoenholed programming of music channels
on Sirius Satellite, and its internet radio player, suck
Hoodoo
(Central Daylight Time), spoke thusly:
> Condolences from all segments of Puerto Rican society poured in as
> people learned of the death of actor Walter Rodriguez, who died of
> bone cancer at the age of 65.
>
> Rodríguez “will be remembered as that first-rate actor of great
> theatrical gifts, memorable acting and a strict professional
> discipline,” Santiago said in a written statement.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0735541/bio
Date of Birth
8 June 1945, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
Date of Death
17 May 2010, San Juan, Puerto Rico (bone cancer)