Outstanding Cuban Actor José Antonio Rodriguez Dies in Havana

Actor and stage director José Antonio Rodriguez, one of the most important figures of Cuban theater for more than five decades, died on Wednesday in Havana, at the age of 81

With the creation of the National Drama Company in 1961 he began his brilliant and remarkable work in theater. Then he was part of La Rueda troupe, until 1968, when he joined he legendary group Los Doce under the direction of late great Vicente Revuelta, Cubasí reported on September 8.

In the early 1980s, he founded the Buscón Group, where he made his best productions as director, like Los asombrosos Benedetti, Buscón busca un Otelo and Cómicos para Hamlet, winners of prizes and very much appreciated by the public and critics. He performed in all of them.

He also worked in cinema, radio and TV. In television, for example, his interpretation of Rigoletto, in the soap opera Las Impuras, by Miguel de Carrión, directed by Roberto Garriga, is memorable.

Among the greatest and most unforgettable performances of his
professional career we find those alongside actresses Raquel Revuelta and Veronica Lynn. With the latter he shared the National Theater Award in 2003.

He also received, for his outstanding work, the National Culture Order, two Coral Awards in Acting at festivals of New Latin American Cinema, and the Alejo Carpentier Medal.

His burial was scheduled for Thursday at Havana’s Colon Cemetery.