Luis Brandoni, Argentine cinema legend and sidekick of Robert De Niro, has died at the age of 86.

In 2023, the Star+ platform released a new series: Nada. Starring Robert De Niro, who Donald Trump recently targeted, shared the lead role with Argentine actor Luis Brandoni. Portraying a food critic in the midst of a personal crisis after his chambermaid’s death, the actor shone on screen and became known to the public, especially in Europe.

However, in Argentina, Luis Brandoni was already an icon. With over 50 feature films to his name, the Buenos Aires native was one of the sacred monsters of Argentine cinema and theater. A legend that faded on Sunday, April 19. In a statement, his producer announced: “Luis Brandoni has passed away. With ‘Beto,’ a key figure of an unforgettable generation and a great promoter of national theater, exits,” as reported by AFP. The actor had been hospitalized for nearly a week due to a head hematoma after a fall at his home.

A Sacred Monster of Argentine Cinema

In Argentina, “Beto” left his mark on national cinema. Recognized four times with “Martín Fierro” awards, equivalent to the César or the Molières, the actor was a prime example of longevity as he received his last award in 2017, 47 years after the first one in 1970.

Famous in Europe for his role in Nada alongside Robert De Niro, Luis Brandoni also stood out in 2019 in the film La odisea de los giles (Heroic Losers), which received excellent reviews in France. Highly active, he notably portrayed former president Arturo Illia on stage and played the lead role in the sitcom El hombre de tu vida, alongside Guillermo Francella.

Very Active in Politics

A politically engaged actor, Luis Brandoni also had a long political career. A historic member of the Radical Civic Union (UCR), he always advocated for republican values, democracy, and civil rights. His involvement led him to leave the country in the late 1980s to escape the military dictatorship (1976-1983), after being imprisoned with his wife.

Returning to Argentina after the fall of the dictatorship, he became a cultural advisor to President Raúl Alfonsín (1983-1989), before being elected to the Chamber of Deputies, where he served until 2001. Despite his age, the actor never stopped being active and was still appearing in several theater productions in Argentina this year.