Apocalypto star Gerardo Taracena dies at 55
Published on February 3, 2026 at 10:13 AM by Evance Kapito
Renowned Mexican actor Gerardo Taracena, widely recognized for his unforgettable role as the fierce warrior Middle Eye in the 2006 film Apocalypto, has died at the age of 55.
The Mexican Academy of Film Art and Sciences announced the death in a statement on Sunday, February 1, 2026. The organization described Taracena as a “fundamental actor in Mexican cinema” whose performances left an “intense, honest, and profoundly human mark.”
“His work and his unforgettable face will remain in the memory of our cinema,” the Academy stated.
Born in Mexico City in 1970, Taracena’s career spanned over three decades across theatre, dance, and film. While he gained global fame through Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto, he was also a staple of high-profile international television.
To modern streaming audiences, Taracena was well-known for his role as drug smuggler Pablo Acosta in Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico. His other notable credits include appearances in Man on Fire, Sin Nombre, Sound of Freedom, and the series Queen of the South.
Within Mexico, Taracena was a highly decorated performer, earning three Ariel Award nominations Mexico’s equivalent of the Oscars. He won the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in the 2005 film The Violin.
While the Academy did not officially state a cause of death, reports from Mexican media outlets, including El Heraldo de México, indicate the actor suffered a sudden heart attack at his home.
The Asociación Nacional de Actores (ANDA), Mexico’s actors’ guild, also paid tribute to the late star, expressing deep regret over the departure of their colleague and joining his family and friends in grief.
Taracena’s final on-screen credit was in the Amazon Prime series Cometierra, which premiered in 2025. He reportedly leaves behind several posthumous roles in upcoming projects yet to be released.
