Advanced search

Born in Pinar del Río, Cuba, Hector Medina has been making a name for himself in theater and cinema since graduating from Cuba's National School of Art (ENA), having quickly earned a place in the prestigious theatre company El Público and starred in many landmark Cuban films such as Boleto al Paraíso ("Ticket to Paradise," 2010).

His breakout performance as "Jesús" in the critically acclaimed 2015 film Viva launched him as an undeniable talent. He continued to become internationally recognized as a rising star working on The King of Havana.

Since moving to Miami he has had a successful career both in theater and on screen. Next up for Hector is the much-anticipated film "Los Frikis," in which he stars and co-produces, as well as the feature film "Killing Casto."

Carmen Montejo was born on 26 May 1925 in Pinar del Río, Cuba. She was an actress and writer, known for Mujeres sin mañana (1951), Los cachorros (1973) and La infame (1954). She was married to Manuel González Ortega. She died on 25 February 2013 in Mexico, Distrito Federal, Mexico.

Lilia Lazo was born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, in 1935. From an early age, she showed a great gift for acting, painting, writing and oratory. After her father's death, she and her mother moved to Havana. She enrolled in Sociedad de Bellas Artes (The Society of Fine Arts) a theatrical group that was a springboard for many fine Cuban actors. Young Lilia developed on the stage and showed an unusually skillful ability to tackle demanding roles.

In late 1940s Cuba, dozens of radio stations broad casted scores of soap operas. Lilia auditioned for and was hired by Radio CMQ in 1948. By 1950 she starred in five daily radio programs, all with the top audiences. Cuban radio corporations, like their US counterparts, began the transition to TV in the late 40s and CMQ's state-of-the-art television studio was inaugurated in 1949. Lilia was invited to act on television.

Her loyal radio audience could now see the pretty, talented girl they had heard, and her popularity skyrocketed. The Cuban Television Association voted her Cuba's best dramatic and comedic actress in 1952. She created various comedic characters for Cuban television, including one named Popa, which would later reappear in the United States.

Her years of TV stardom were from 1953 to 1960, but she also made time to appear in various movies, most notably Affair in Havana with Raymond Burr and John Cassavetes, and the leading role in the Cuban-made La Vida Comienza Ahora, released in 1960 and considered by critics the first Castro-era movie of note. In 1960, she accepted an offer to study acting with Lee Strasburg at New York's Actors Studio. Rejecting Cuba's Communist Revolution, she and her husband of 47 years, producer Mario Agüero, settled in New York.

In 1967, former Cuban television mogul Gaspar Pumarejo asked Lilia to return to TV with one of her comedy characters, Popa. Popa En Nueva York, as the series was titled, was taped and televised at WNJU channel 47 in Newark, NJ. A second season was aired in 1968 in color, making it the first Spanish language TV show made in color in the US. A full-length film, Popa en Nueva York, was released by Columbia Pictures that same year, directed by the legendary Mexican director Julio Bracho and co-starring Mexican leading man Rogelio Guerra.

In 1971, Goya Foods, Inc., sponsored production for Santa Barbara, Virgen y Martir, the first Spanish language TV Soap Opera made in the U.S. 75 full color episodes were aired between 1971 and 1972, and the novela topped the ratings in various cities in the United States.

By 1975, the illness and death of Lilia's mother and her husband's new upper east side restaurant took Lilia away from acting for good. Thereafter she turned her attention to art, embarking on a successful painting career with various solo and group exhibitions in the US and abroad.

Willy Chirino was born in 1947 in Consolación del Sur, Pinar del Río, Cuba. He is an actor and composer, known for Let It Ride (1989), Caught (1996) and My Big Night (2015). He is married to Lissette Álvarez. They have three children. He was previously married to Olga María Rodríguez.

Raúl Capote was born on 8 January 1983 in Pinar del Río, Cuba. He is an actor and director, known for Reencuentro (2017), La piscina (2012) and Jazz Club (2018).

Arquímedes Rivero was born on 30 April 1930 in Pinar del Rio, Cuba. He was a producer and director, known for El engaño (1968), La doña (1972) and Mi vida eres tú (2006). He died on 2 December 2021 in Miami, Florida, USA.

Yoel Romero Palacio is a Cuban mixed martial artist (MMA) and former World Champion and Olympic silver medalist in freestyle wrestling. He made his UFC debut against Clifford Starks on April 20, 2013 at UFC on Fox 7. He won the fight via KO in the first round. He did also compete in the now-defunct Strikeforce organization.

Paula Ali was born on 26 January 1938 in Pinar del Río, Cuba. She is an actress, known for Nada (2001), El cuerno de la abundancia (2008) and The Waiting List (2000).

Raúl Eguren was born on 12 August 1920 in Pinar del Río, Cuba. He was an actor, known for Guantanamera (1995), The Man from Maisinicu (1973) and Cartas del parque (1988). He died on 20 April 2013 in Havana, Cuba.

Dianne Garriga was born in Pinar del Río, Cuba. She is an actress, known for FBI: Most Wanted (2020), The Mother (2023) and Pie Mojado.

Alicia Rico was born on 7 October 1886 in Pinar del Rio, Cuba. She was an actress, known for Cancionero Cubano (1939), La canción del regreso (1940) and It Happened in Havana (1938). She died on 29 December 1966 in Havana, Cuba.

Luis Alberto Ramírez was born on 22 January 1932 in Pinar del Río, Cuba. He was an actor, known for Cuba '58 (1962), The Teacher (1978) and A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings (1988). He died on 15 March 1990 in Havana, Cuba.

Agustín Benítez was born on 28 August 1946 in Pinar del Río, Cuba. He was an actor, known for Luz María (1998), Soledad (2001) and Knocks at My Door (1993). He died on 8 March 2008 in Lima, Peru.

Tino Acosta was born on 31 July 1927 in Pinar del Río, Cuba. He was a writer and actor, known for Puerto Rico en carnaval (1965), Solamente tú (1966) and Juicio contra un ángel (1964). He was married to Ofelia D'Acosta. He died on 19 January 1986 in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Rubén Breñas was born on 21 September 1953 in Pinar del Río, Cuba. He was an actor, known for The Waiting List (2000), Scent of Oak (2003) and Sabor latino (1996). He died on 23 March 2023 in Havana, Cuba.

John Bouzón was born on 16 October 1974 in Pinar del Rio, Cuba. He is an actor and producer, known for Dixon's Girl (2009).

Pedro Gomez was born on 10 October 1944 in Pinar del Río, Cuba. He is an actor, known for Mon Amour (2003).

Tony Oliva was born on 20 July 1940 in Pinar del Rio, Cuba. He is an actor, known for Crime Patrol (1993), Going the Distance (2000) and Thérèse: The Story of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (2004).

Miriam Dueñas was born on 22 February 1944 in Pinar del Río, Cuba. She is a costume designer, known for Cartas del parque (1988), Strawberry & Chocolate (1993) and El otro Francisco (1974).

Ana Viña was born in 1941 in Pinar del Río, Cuba. She is an actress, known for Una novia para David (1985), Vals de la Habana vieja (1988) and Techo de vidrio (1981).

Eduardo Zamacois was born on 17 February 1873 in Pinar del Rio, Cuba. He was a writer and director, known for El otro (1919), La hija del cielo (1943) and Las puertas del presidio (1949). He died on 31 December 1971 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Mijaín López was born on 20 August 1982 in Pinar del Río, Cuba.

Iván González Lewis was born in 1974 in Pinar del Río, Cuba. He is an actor, known for The Skin I Live In (2011), Walking Vengeance (2008) and Entre dos aguas (2012).

Danys Baez was born on 10 September 1977 in Pinar del Rio, Cuba.

Guido Inguanzo was born on 23 May 1932 in Viñales, Pinar Del Río, Cuba. He was an actor, known for Cat Chaser (1989). He died on 3 December 2018 in Miami Lakes, Florida, USA.