Havana/The actor and comedian Jorge Losada Moreno died early this Sunday in Havana, at the age of 92. The news was published by his friend Luis Lacosta, art director of the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC); and later confirmed by the official media.
Jorge Losada was an emblematic figure of Cuban television, theater and cinema. During his long career, which spans more than six decades, he became one of the most recognizable faces of the island’s audiovisual culture, thanks to his versatility and his humorous characterizations on Cuban television.
However, the precariousness in which he lived during his last years contrasted with the level of recognition he had achieved with his artistic career. His relatives felt the need to ask for public help due to the scarcity of resources that affected the actor’s health. The most recent call, published last March 13 by Luis Lacosta, lamented: “There is no food to give him, there is no transportation to take him to the doctor, we have no more money left, we have many needs.”
There is no food to give him, there is no transportation to take him to the doctor, we have no more money left, we have many needs.
Losada began his acting work in the 1950s, as a speaker on the radio. His theatrical career spans more than 60 productions. As an actor and deputy director of the Havana Lyric Studio, he visited international stages in Europe and Latin America, where he worked as a performer and stage director.
In the 1980s he joined the Musical Theater of Havana, where his presence is remembered in performances such as teacher life, Pedro Navaja and The Pogolotti Knighta character for which he received the award for best theater actor awarded by the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (Uneac), in 1987.
In cinema, Losada debuted with the film I am Cuba (1964) by Mikhail Kalatózov, which was followed by titles such as There is no Saturday without sun (1980), Glass Roof (1981), and the censored Alice in Wonderland (1991), among many others.
Despite these difficulties, he tried to continue active: when he turned 90, he participated on television with the soap opera ‘Renacer’.
On Cuban television, his charisma made him an artist loved by the public, participating in productions such as The grandparents rebel, The papaloteros and SOS Divorce.
He was also recognized in Cuba with the Small Screen Award (2020) and the Caricato Award (2019).
The digital platform CubaActors He lamented the loss and recalled that this year they had awarded Losada the Maestro de Generaciones Award, “a recognition that summarizes his legacy: actor, mentor, teacher and key figure in the history of Cuban acting.”
In his final years, Losada depended on the solidarity of friends to obtain food, medicine, blood donations and basic equipment necessary for his care. His health condition had generated sustained concern among co-workers and followers. Despite these difficulties, he tried to continue active: when he turned 90, he participated on television with the soap opera Be reborn.
