Carlos Badías

Cuban actor born in 1910 who had a long and history-making career on radio, films, stage and television. Tall, handsome, and versatile, he started performing on stage in the early 1930s becoming the ideal romantic leading man beloved by both public and critics. In 1937 he made his film debut in the first Cuban talkie,"La serpiente roja" directed by Ernesto Caparrós. From 1937 to 1950 Carlos was the most popular and idolized radio actor thanks to his virile voice and flawless diction. He acted in countless radio serials including the iconic soap opera "El derecho de nacer" (1948) written by Félix B. Caignet. In many of those serials he worked with Cuban actress Eva Vázquez whom he had married in 1939. The couple achieved an immense popularity on radio as well as stage and they remained together for 45 years producing a daughter named María and a son named Carlos. Mr. Badías had also father a son with actress Mercedes Díaz named Carlos Alberto who would follow in his father's footsteps.

One of Carlos' most acclaimed performances was playing Don Juan in the theatrical play "Don Juan Tenorio" by José Zorrilla, a classic that Carlos played for years in Havana theaters by public demand. At the arrival of television in 1950, Carlos made a most successful transition. He acted in some of the most popular soap operas of the 1950s including "Tensión", with wife Eva as leading lady, and "Senda prohibida" with actress María Brennes. He was also a most elegant and charismatic host of television variety shows such as "Cabaret Regalías" while continuing his superb work on radio and on occasional films in Cuba and Mexico. By then he was so popular and respected by the masses that his fellow actors choose him three times president of the Cuban Association of Actors. During his tenure as president, he negotiated with media moguls and advertising agencies resulting in improved salaries and benefits for all workers in the performing arts. Soon he reluctantly became involved in local politics and was elected by majority votes to the office of Representative of the Chamber of Congress for the province of Havana.

Cuba's life changed dramatically with the triumph of the Revolution in 1959. From the beginning Carlos and his family realized that the new regime was rapidly turning into a communist dictatorship and when he made known his opposition, he was thrown in prison and savagely beat up. The injuries he received made him unable to walk normally for the rest of his life. The government, furiously bent on destroying the Badías family, banned them from working and earning a living. In 1962 his wife Eva and children were able to flee the island and settled in Miami. However, Carlos Sr. was not allowed by Cuban authorities to reunite with his family until 1970 thanks to the intervention of Mexican actor Mario Moreno "Cantinflas", a friend of Mexico's ambassador to Cuba.

Carlos Badías would never recover from the tragedy. He arrived in Miami a broken, physically and emotionally disabled man who only went on living thanks to the love and support of his family, and the never-dying hope to see his homeland liberated. The iconic actor who made history with his now legendary performances, died quietly in Miami of cardiac arrest in 2011.