Itziar Castro passed away this morning at age 46. Preliminary reports indicate the beloved actor died from heart failure, a shock to colleagues who knew him well.
“With a remarkable career in the entertainment world, Castro left a lasting impression through his extraordinary performances and magnetic presence,” remarked Director Frankie De Leonardis, noting how social media has been filled with tributes since early today.
Itziar Castro, a versatile artist who spoke out against fatphobia and championed the LGTBI community
Castro began his professional journey 23 years ago, starring in projects such as Inconscientes and The Bags of Tulse Tuper 3. His profile rose in the 2010s with films like El gran Vázquez, REC 3: Génesis, and Snow White.
Unfortunate Stories and Champions, directed by Javier Fesser, stand among his recent notable big screen works. In 2018 he received a Goya nomination for best new actor for the film Pieles by Eduardo Casanova.
Outside cinema, Castro devoted a large portion of his career to television. His rise to fame came with See you later, a prison drama aired on Antena 3 and later on FOX, where he portrayed Goya. He reprised the character in the 2020 spin-off Vis avis: oasis.
In addition to TV series such as Por H o por B and Once upon a time… but not anymore, he also appeared episodically in other fiction works including Paquita Salas, Terror and fair, Perfect life, Benidorm, and The one to come.
Castro did not confine his work to fiction. In 2018 he joined the faculty as an acting teacher for the project Operation Victory. He left the role weeks later due to not meeting expected results, according to Gestmusic.
A year later he became a lead figure in the program Everything is a lie hosted by Risto Mejide on Cuatro. After a short period, he left the team, with statements suggesting scheduling conflicts rather than a firing. He explained that his contract had a built-in limit from the start due to other commitments.
Shortly after, he reconnected with Risto on Chester, where he spoke about his relationship with food and the bullying faced in childhood. He recalled being called fat at the age of 17 and weighing a size 40, a memory he described with raw honesty.
Regarding his exit from Operación Triunfo, he admitted the experience left him feeling disappointed because he wanted to complete his work. He also described a cordial relationship with Noemí Galera and Tinet Rubira, noting that their absence at the dismissal mattered to him.
Castro used his voice to oppose sexist violence. He expressed support for Rocío Carrasco and applauded her bravery for speaking out. In recent years he appeared as a guest on programs such as 25 words, Pasapalabra, and Chain reaction.