Spanish Actor Francesc Garrido Dies at 56 Due to Heart Attack

Francesc Garrido, the versatile Spanish actor widely recognized for his roles in television thrillers and cinematic projects, died on August 31, 2026, at the age of 56 following a heart attack, according to confirmations from his inner circle and the Acadèmia del Cinema reported by outlets including EL PAÍS and EFE.

Born in Barcelona in 1969, Garrido built a robust career spanning more than three decades across theater, film, and television. He trained at the Escola Superior d’Art Dramàtic de Barcelona—part of the Institut del Teatre—and further honed his craft at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. His professional stage debut arrived in 1990, setting the foundation for extensive theatrical work that included interpretations of classic works in Catalan, such as Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard and Shakespeare’s King Lear and The Tempest. In recent years, he maintained a steady presence on stage, collaborating with director Àlex Rigola at the Teatre Lliure on productions like David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross in 2024 and The Master and Margarita.

Television Breakthroughs and Memorable Film Roles

Garrido expanded his reach to the screen later in the decade, making his feature film debut in Mario Camus’s 1999 adaptation of Eduardo Mendoza’s novel La ciudad de los prodigios. EL PAÍS notes that his cinematic moment arrived with the independent film Smoking Room, which earned him a shared best actor award at the Málaga Film Festival in 2002 alongside his male co-stars. That early success paved the way for appearances in Spanish cinema, including Alejandro Amenábar’s Mar adentro, Icíar Bollaín’s Te doy mis ojos, and Agustín Díaz Yanes’s Alatriste.

On television, Garrido achieved recognition as Juan Elías, the enigmatic, amnesia-stricken lawyer at the center of the 2017 Telecinco thriller series Sé quién eres, a role that earned him a nomination at the Premios Iris. His extensive small-screen resume also includes regular appearances in Gran reserva, Isabel, Clanes, and Los sin nombre. Between 2022 and 2026, he portrayed Buendía, the methodical forensic expert in the BAC (Brigada de Análisis de Casos) team, in La novia gitana, the television adaptation of Carmen Mola’s literary trilogy.

Recent Work and Posthumous Projects

Garrido remained active in productions up until his death. His recent credits included Balandrau, viento salvaje, Willem Dafoe-starrer El anfitrión, and the third season of La novia gitana, titled La nena.

At the time of his passing, the actor had several completed projects slated for release. According to EL PAÍS, audiences will see him posthumously in the Movistar+ series Todo lo necesario, scheduled for 2027, and in Sira, Atresplayer’s upcoming miniseries sequel to El tiempo entre costuras, where he reprised his role as police commissioner Vázquez.