Sergio Calderón dies aged 77: Pirates of the Caribbean and Men in Black star passes away after career spanning six decades
Legendary actor Sergio Calderón has died at the age of 77.
The star – famed for his work in films such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Men In Black – passed away in a Los Angeles hospital on Wednesday.
His family confirmed the death in a statement, revealing Calderón passed away from natural causes.
Calderón had a career spanning six decades and in an interview just days before his death, he admitted he ‘loves’ playing villainous characters.
He told The Los Angeles Times: ‘I love to play those types of characters, because people really hate me.’
Sergio Calderón dead aged 77: Pirates of the Caribbean and Men in Black star passed away from natural causes on Wednesday (pictured with Johnny Depp)
He added: ‘They tell me in the streets how much they hate me. But to me, that is my success. Because that means I was able to convince people with what I performed.’
Calderón was born in a small tropical village in Mexico and moved to Mexico City aged 10 where he developed a love of performing after taking part in a poetry reading.
He landed his first acting role in 1970, featuring in The Bridge in the Jungle, which was shot in Mexico.
Calderón moved to the States in 1979 after getting his Screen Actors Guild card for his role in the comedy, The In-Laws.
One of his best known roles was as Captain Vallenueva, where he starred alongside Johnny Depp in the 2007 movie Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World’s End.
He also famously played the ‘head on a stick’ held by an alien in the 1997 movie, Men in Black.
In a recent interview, Calderón revealed he was thrilled whenever he was recognised on the street, revealing a woman once told him that his performance in Have You Seen My Son? left her in flood in tears.
‘If I can make them cry and I can make them laugh, then maybe I’m a good actor,’ he said.
Devastated fans took to Twitter to pay tribute after his passing.
They wrote: ‘I’m so sad Sergio Calderón has passed. I just read that wonderful article about him in the LA Times too 🙁 I always think of him as El Cajon the river pirate from The A-Team. #rip’;
‘Rest in Peace, Sergio. I look forward to hearing memorials from your peers.’; ‘Sergio Calderon another fine talent and his great spirit and legacy lives.’
Calderón is survived by his wife, Karen Dakin; his children Patrick Calderón-Dakin and Johanna Calderón-Dakin; and his grandchildren Krishnaavi, Emiliano and Victoria.
Iconic: He famously played the ‘head on a stick’ held by an alien in 1997 movie, Men in Black
Villainous: Calderón had a career spanning six decades and in an interview just days before his death, he admitted he ‘loves’ playing villainous characters (pictured in July 2022)
