Carlos Alberto Badías

Cuban actor born in Havana in 1940. His parents were Carlos Badías and Eva Vázquez, both popular actors who had achieved legendary status by their performances on Cuban radio, television and stage. Raised in the environment of the performing arts, Carlos Alberto knew by instinct that he wanted to follow in his parents footsteps. After graduating from high school, his parents allowed him to try out for acting parts in theaters and television. Apart from inheriting his father's deep voice and classic delivery, Carlos Alberto was tall and extremely handsome with a youthful exuberance that casting directors found very appealing. At barely 18 years old, he was given the opportunity to act on television in various sitcoms playing small roles but in spite of the limited exposure, Carlos Alberto impressed the audience and started gathering a large following, especially among the young ladies. Producers and advertising agencies realized they had a hot commodity in their hands and gave Carlos Alberto larger starring roles that cemented his acting career and increased his popularity. It could not be more idyllic for public relations: a young, good-looking, capable actor, with a prestigious last name. By the end of 1957, the media, with the blessings of the television networks, had inducted Carlos Alberto into a dynamic group of top young actors they nicknamed "Los galanes" (The gallants) and the designation soon became a household name. Everybody in Cuba knew the individual names of "The gallants": Rolando Barral, Jorge Félix, Carlos Barba, Alberto Insúa, Jorge Marx, and Carlos Alberto Badías. In short, it was a new generation of promising actors that guaranteed the continuity of the high standards of the performing arts in the Caribbean island, and the public idolized them. The promise came to an abrupt halt when Cuba fell to a Marxist dictatorship in 1959. All businesses were confiscated by the government including the arts and communications. From then on, radio, television, printed press, etc. became tools to indoctrinate the masses and anyone who disagreed publicly was risking death by firing squad or prison. One of the first actors to be incarcerated for refusing to follow the communist agenda was Carlos Badías, Carlos Alberto's father. After his release from two different imprisonments, Badías senior was officially banned from working as an actor and the same fate was extended to his wife Eva and son Carlos Alberto. In desperation, Carlos Alberto left the country illegally in 1960 and went to Miami where he joined the Brigada 2506, a group of Cuban exiles committed to liberate Cuba from the communist debacle. The group received training by United States military in Nicaragua and Carlos Alberto turned into paratrooper R-709 ready for action. Unfortunately the invasion of Cuba by the 2506 Brigade on April 17th, 1961 did not achieve its purpose. Many freedom fighters were killed while the rest were sent to prison, including Carlos Alberto. Thanks to negotiations initiated by President John F. Kennedy, the prisoners were sent back to Miami and received a hero's welcome from their compatriots at the Orange Bowl. Carlos Alberto and his parents finally reunited in Miami in 1970 when Badías senior was allowed to leave the island thanks to pressure exerted by the government of Mexico and Mexican actor Mario Moreno "Cantinflas", a long time friend of the Badías family. Carlos Alberto worked hard throughout the 1960's and 1970's to reestablish his career as an actor. He tried New York City for a while where he appeared in several plays and starred in the movie "La vendedora de amor" (1964) filmed entirely in the Big Apple. Later he moved to Puerto Rico where he signed a contract with Telemundo to act in several telenovelas (soap operas) to be taped on the island. These serials with Carlos Alberto had great success and achieved some of the highest ratings in the history of the network. Carlos Alberto's work was highly praised by critics and by a faithful public that would not miss a chapter of telenovelas such as "La renuncia", or "La mentira", based on the famous novel by Cuban writer Caridad Bravo Adams. During this time in Puerto Rico, the actor found true love and got married. The union produced two daughters but Carlos Alberto and his wife decided to raise them away from the limelight. Carlos Alberto's success echoed in Mexico and producers demanded a piece of his action. He was introduced to Mexican audiences in the telenovela "El amor tiene cara de mujer" (1971) and for the next three years he demonstrated his versatility playing totally different roles in each series. His last appearance in Mexico was in "Los que ayudan a Dios" (1973). The actor returned to his family in Puerto Rico and at some point he started turning down offers for acting assignments. Nobody can explain satisfactorily the reasons behind what seemed like a decision to abandon his career and he never clarified the issue. Most probably he wanted to settle down peacefully with his wife and daughters; others venture that he had slowly invested in several business through the years and was very successful as an entrepreneur. In time his businesses commitments expanded to Spain and he needed to spend a lot of time in that country. It was precisely in Madrid where he passed away quietly on August 31st, 2014. Those who were touched by his performances have never forgotten him, while for his fellow Cubans exiles he remains an example of true patriotism.