Adan Canto | |
|---|---|
 Adan Canto on the set ofThe Shot inDripping Springs, Texas | |
| Born | (1981-12-05)5 December 1981 Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico |
| Died | 8 January 2024(2024-01-08) (aged 42) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park,Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2009–2024 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Adan Canto (5 December 1981 – 8 January 2024) was a Mexican actor. He portrayedSunspot in the 2014 superhero filmX-Men: Days of Future Past, Paul Torres on theFox drama seriesThe Following, and A.J. Menendez in theABC prime-time seriesBlood & Oil. He appeared asRodrigo Lara Bonilla in theNetflix drama seriesNarcos, Aaron Shore in the ABC/Netflix political dramaDesignated Survivor,[1] and starred on Fox'sThe Cleaning Lady until his death.
Canto wrote and directed his first short filmBefore Tomorrow in 2014. His short filmThe Shot earned several festival awards for Best Narrative Short Film in 2020.
Canto was born inCiudad Acuña,Coahuila, on 5 December 1981.[2][3] He crossed the border daily as a child to attend an American Catholic school inDel Rio, Texas.[4][5] He grew up riding horses at his grandfather's ranch inAcuña where his father was acharro. With the encouragement of his mother, Canto began performing on stage as a singer at the age of 7. He was introduced to the traditionalboleros andmariachi music from a young age and performed in and around his home state through his teenage years.[4][5]
Canto left home at the age of 16 to pursue a career as a musician.[2][6] He had success as a singer/songwriter inSan Antonio after collaborating withStudio M. He spent five years working as a musician inMexico City where he performed as lead singer for thejazz bandDel Canto. Canto wrote for and produced several songs for film and TV in Mexico.[3][4] He began acting in a handful of commercials in Mexico City and was soon cast in a television series calledEstado de Gracia.[2][7] Canto eventually turned to the stage after being cast as a lead in the adaptation ofPedro Almodóvar'sAll About My Mother.[6][7]
In 2013, Canto made his debut on American television, playing the role of Paul Torres on the Fox drama series,The Following during its first season.[8] He later was cast asSunspot in the 2014 superhero filmX-Men: Days of Future Past.[9][10] Also in 2014, Canto was regular cast member on the ABC comedy series,Mixology. He later co-starred in the Amazon pilotHysteria,[11] and NBC'sThe Curse of the Fuentes Women.[12] In 2015, Canto was cast as A.J. Menendez inABC prime time series,Blood & Oil.[13][14] He later had a recurring role on the Fox drama series,Second Chance, and guest-starred onShondaLand'sThe Catch.
In 2016, Canto was cast in the ABC political drama seriesDesignated Survivor, playingWhite House Deputy Chief of Staff and laterChief of Staff Aaron Shore oppositeKiefer Sutherland,Natascha McElhone, andMaggie Q.[15] The show was renewed byNetflix for a third season which was released on 7 June 2019.[16]
In 2019, Canto was cast oppositeHalle Berry in her highly anticipated directorial debut filmBruised.[17]
Canto started his production company Canto House Pictures in 2013 and directed his first short filmBefore Tomorrow the following year.[2][18] His most recent short filmThe Shot, a period drama set in 1844Texas, earned several festival awards for Best Narrative Short Film in 2020.[3] Canto was developing projects for film and TV through his production company based in Los Angeles, California at the time of his death.[2]
In March 2020, Canto was cast in a main role of mobster Arman Morales for the Fox seriesThe Cleaning Lady,[19][20][21] which he starred in for two seasons. His declining health prevented him from immediately rejoining the cast for the show's third season, although, at the time of his death, he had planned to eventually return to the show. The show's third season was dedicated to Canto with a tribute card in the third-season premiere.[2][22][23]
Canto met American sculptor and painter Stephanie Lindquist in 2012 while filmingThe Following inBrooklyn, New York. Their first artistic collaboration was the short filmBefore Tomorrow in 2014.[24] The two married in June 2017 and lived in theHollywood Hills. They had a son in 2020 and a daughter in 2022.[25][26]
Canto died ofappendiceal cancer on 8 January 2024 at age 42.[22] His body is interred atForest Lawn Memorial Park,Hollywood, California.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Te Presento a Laura | Manuel | [4] |
| Sin Memoria | Coco | [27] | |
| 2011 | Amar no es querer | Mauro | [18] |
| 2012 | Al Ras | Adan | Short film[28] |
| 2014 | Before Tomorrow | Joseph | Short film; also director, writer, and producer[18] |
| X-Men: Days of Future Past | Sunspot | [18][27] | |
| Almost Thirty | Sid | [27] | |
| 2017 | Amanda & Jack Go Glamping | Nate | [18][27] |
| 2020 | 2 Hearts | Jorge Bolivar | [18][27] |
| Bruised | Desi | [18][27] | |
| The Shot | — | Director, writer, and producer[3] | |
| 2021 | The Devil Below | Darren | [18][27] |
| 2022 | Agent Game | Kavinsky | [18][29] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Estado de Gracia | Leon | [2] |
| 2010 | Los Minondo | Episode: "El enfrentamiento"[30] | |
| 2013 | The Following | Paul Torres | 10 episodes[18][27] |
| 2014 | Mixology | Dominic | 13 episodes[18][27] |
| Hysteria | Matt Sanchez | Episode: "Pilot"[27] | |
| 2015 | Narcos | Minister Rodrigo Lara Bonilla | Episode: "The Men of Always"[4][27] |
| Blood & Oil | A.J. Menendez | 9 episodes[18][27] | |
| 2016 | Second Chance | Connor Graff | 5 episodes[18][27] |
| The Catch | Jeffery Bloom | Episode: "The Real Killer"[27] | |
| 2016–2019 | Designated Survivor | Aaron Shore | Main role[18][27] |
| 2022–2024 | The Cleaning Lady | Arman Morales | Main role (seasons 1–2)[18][27] |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
