Eva Vázquez

Legendary Cuban actress of stage, radio and television. The daughter and granddaughter of professional actors, Eva made her stage debut at age 4. As a teenager, she impressed both public and critics with her performance as Doña Inés in Zorrilla's play "Don Juan Tenorio" becoming a featured player at Teatro Principal de la Comedia in Havana. By 1933 she was also performing on radio as the leading lady of many soap operas. During this time she met actor Carlos Badías, they fell in love, and were married on June 20th, 1939 in what the press described as "the wedding of the year". The union lasted for 45 years and produced one son Carlos Badías Jr. The famous couple became a favorite with audiences and worked together in countless artistic endeavors. With the arrival of television in 1950, Eva starred at the powerful CMQ-TV circuit in high quality cultural programs such as "Tensión" and "Gran Teatro del Sábado". However she never abandoned her work on radio and stage, a testament to her love for acting not to mention her energy. All of these triumphs came to an end when a communist regime took over the unfortunate Caribbean island in 1959. The new government confiscated all private enterprises and everyone, including actors, became government employees. The regime started using the media for political propaganda and many refused to follow the new guidelines including The Badías-Vázquez family. Carlos Badías was tortured and sent to prison while Carlos junior fled the island to the United States. Eva stayed but was banned from work and cruelly harassed. After vainly waiting for her husband' s release from prison, she followed her son to Miami in 1962. Over eight years passed before Carlos was freed and able to travel to join his beloved Eva. The years in exile were hard but Eva managed to survive. Undaunted, she took all the gigs that the Spanish radio and television industries offered her. At one point she even took a job as a saleslady in a furniture store but always ended up acting one way or another. Her performances in "Doña Diabla", "La enemiga", "La sombra" and others at Miami-Dade County Auditorium for Pro Arte Gratelli have never been forgotten. She passed away quietly at Miami's Metropolitan Hospital at age 96 in 2011 of cardiac arrest leaving behind her son, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren who still revere her memory. Eva and husband Carlos are remembered by their countrymen everywhere for their achievements and patriotism.