What did Ernesto Gómez Cruz, an actor who shone in ‘Los Caifanes’ and ‘El Infierno’, die of?

The National Association of Actors confirmed the actor’s death on the night of April 6; he was 90 years old. Photo: Juan Vicente Manrique/Infobae.

On the night of Saturday, April 6, the National Association of Actors (ANDA) announced the sensitive death of the first actor Ernesto Gómez Cruz, at 90 years of age. Considered an icon of Mexican cinema, during the last four years of his life he gradually stopped making public appearances due to the ravages of a degenerative disease.

The ANDA thus broke the news: “The National Association of Actors regrets the sensitive death of our Comrade Ernesto Gómez Cruz. Our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. The artistic community in Mexico today suffers the loss of a great artist and colleague. RIP”.

ANDA announcement of the death of Ernesto Gómez Cruz photo: Screenshot

Honest, but falling into negativity, Ernesto Gómez Cruz hinted that he suffered from a degenerative disease. In June 2019, during the 61st Ariel Awards in Mexico City, the actor spoke to the Ventaneando microphones, where he anticipated his eventual disappearance from public events to await their outcome: “I have felt very bad, I am sick. They would be my last presentations, I think, without being too negative. “I already enjoyed these events.”

When asked about the illness that afflicted him, the first actor avoided referring to it:

“It would sound very disastrous (to say what he suffers from), I have to take advantage of these moments when he is no longer the Gómez Cruz of years ago. I already enjoyed my time and now, without being too negative, wait for the moment. I hope that moment takes a long time to come.”

In May 2023, Gómez Cruz, along with Mónica Huarte and other prominent actors, received recognition for their contributions to cinema. The event was recorded on the social networks of the actor, who attended the ceremony in wheelchairs. In addition to the lack of mobility, he looked tired and lighter compared to his appearances a year earlier.

His deterioration was also recorded in a photograph next to Julissa, producer and actress with whom he worked in the film Los Caifanes (1967), directed by Juan Ibáñez.

Julissa and Ernesto Gómez Cruz, in one of the last photographs that the actor shared on social networks. Photo: @ernestogomezcruzoficial

A few hours after the news was spread, his daughter, Virginia Gómez, spoke about the ailments that afflicted the actor: “He already had senile dementia, suddenly he didn’t want to eat. He had kidney problems for several years and the bacteria he had was never detected, so he got sick all the time, every month, every fifteen days and that implied a deterioration of his body.

Speculation regarding the lucidity of Ernesto Gómez Cruz began in early 2023, when actress Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez encouraged rumors that the actor suffered from a degenerative disease, presumably Alzheimer’s. In March of that year, during the promotion of the film ¡Qué viva México!, Silva Gutiérrez declared in Todo para la Mujer by Maxine Woodside that the first actor suffered episodes of memory loss and disorientation on locations:

“Every week I told him what was going to happen. There were times she remembered, sometimes she didn’t, and sometimes she couldn’t place who I was. “She was always very enthusiastic and always wanted to return to the screen because the vocation is something that cannot be given up,” she indicated.

According to the Mayo Clinic specialized site, Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that affects millions of people around the world. It is characterized by changes in the brain that result in the buildup of certain proteins, causing the brain to shrink and brain neurons to die over time.

This process leads to a series of symptoms that affect memory, thinking, behavior, and social skills, ultimately affecting a person’s ability to function.

Early signs of the disease often include forgetting recent events or conversations. Over time, these symptoms can worsen and develop into serious memory problems, as well as loss of the ability to perform everyday tasks.

Although there is no definitive treatment that will cure Alzheimer’s disease, there are medications that can help improve symptoms or slow their progression. Additionally, programs and services are available to provide support to both people with the disease and their caregivers.

However, in the advanced stages of the disease, severe loss of brain function can lead to complications such as dehydration, malnutrition or infections, which can be life-threatening.

Ernesto Gómez Cruz participated in more than 100 productions throughout his prolific career. Los Caifanes, El Infierno and The Crime of Father Amaron are his most remembered films. Photo: ernestogomezcruzoficial

Ernesto Gómez Cruz is an emblematic figure of Mexican cinema whose career spans decades of dedication to the art of acting. Born on November 7, 1933 in Veracruz, his impact on the film, theater and television industry is undeniable, participating in more than 100 productions throughout his prolific career.

His versatility and talent have been recognized with numerous awards and distinctions over the years. One of the most notable is the Golden Ariel, awarded in 2008 by the Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences. This award, considered one of the most prestigious in the field of Mexican cinema, is a tribute to those individuals whose work has left an indelible mark on national cinematography.

The Golden Ariel not only recognizes Gómez Cruz’s artistic excellence, but also his profound impact on Mexico’s cinematographic culture. Her work is not limited only to cinema, since she has also left an indelible mark on Mexican theater and television.