Halle Berry penned a heartfelt tribute to Adan Canto, who passed away, at the age 42, following a battle with appendiceal cancer on Monday.
Following the devastating news of her late X-Men costar’s death, the Oscar winner, 57, revealed she doesn’t ‘have the words just yet’ to express her heartbreak.
‘My dear sweet friend Adan just gained his wings,’ she captioned a picture of Canto. ‘Forever, forever in my heart.’
The pair most recently worked on the 2020 sports drama, Bruised, which she starred in and directed. In the film, he portrayed her character’s manager, Desi.
Mourning: Halle Berry penned a heartfelt tribute to Adan Canto, who passed away, at the age 42, following a battle with appendiceal cancer
Previously, they crossed paths professionally on the set of X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014.
Berry played the Marvel character Storm while he played the fictional superhero, Sunspot.
Her comment section was flooded with condolences from fans, who extended their ‘deepest sympathies.’
‘Condolences for your loss, Halle. May he be at everlasting peace,’ writer, Lalah Delia, commented.
Another wrote: ‘So sad I remember you both were in Bruised and X-Men Days of future past together.’
Her post came hours after the world learned of of the Mexican-American actor’s death.
He was best best known for his role as Vice President-elect Aaron Shore opposite Kiefer Sutherland in Designated Survivor.
Canto, who transitioned from a successful music career in Mexico to becoming a leading man in Hollywood, most recently starred in the TV series The Cleaning Lady, playing a lead character for the first two seasons.
Sad: Following the devastating news of her late X-Men costar’s death on Monday, the 57-year-old Oscar winner revealed he doesn’t ‘have the words just yet’ to express her heartbreak
‘Adan had a depth of spirit that few truly knew. Those who glimpsed it were changed forever,’ Canto’s reps said in statement. ‘He will be greatly missed by so many.’
Fox and WBTV – which are the network and studio behind The Cleaning Lady – also released a statement on Tuesday which read: ‘We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Adan Canto. A wonderful actor and dear friend, we were honored to have him as part of the Warner Bros. Television and Fox Entertainment families since his U.S. debut in The Following more than a decade ago.
‘Most recently, he lit up the screen in The Cleaning Lady with a powerful performance that showcased his artistry, range, depth and vulnerability. This is an unfathomable loss, and we grieve alongside his wife Stephanie, their children and loved ones. We will miss Adan dearly.’
Many took to social media to pay tribute to the talented star including one who wrote on X (formally Twitter): ‘My heart goes out to everyone on The Cleaning Lady crew and his family & friends. Really loved watching him on that show and he will be missed. RIP Adan Canto.’
Another was completely devastated by the news as they said: ‘This just knocked the breath out of my body. I am STUNNED and borderline hyperventilating. F*** cancer for taking far too many greats and so young too. RIP Adan Canto. What a tremendous talent. My heart aches for his loved ones. [dove emoji]’
The Mexican-American actor, who transitioned from a successful music career in Mexico to becoming a leading man in Hollywood, died following a battle with appendiceal cancer (pictured in their 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past)
Yet another shared: ‘I’m so heartbroken. Adan Canto was one of my favorite actors. Fell in love with him the moment he walked on the screen as Arman Morales. Literal irreplaceable talent.’
Originally from Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico, and having grown up in Texas, Canto left his hometown at 16 to explore opportunities as a musician in Mexico City.
Soon after, his focus shifted towards acting when he was discovered for a significant role in the 2013 series, The Following.
Canto talked about his transition into acting in an interview with Collider back in February 2013 as he said: ‘I never said that I wanted to be an actor when I was a kid. I didn’t know. I thought I was going to be a singer and musician.
‘That’s what I had been doing, for a huge part of my life. But music, in Mexico, just wasn’t working out. So, I fell into acting and I just fell in love with it. It was amazing! It was a great safe place to just vent. And then, I found out that I could actually do this and I saw a future in it.
‘Everything I’ve always been interested in, I could apply it, in this area. So, I just fell into it, and it worked out.’
Back in January 2022 Canto discussed what it has been like transitioning his career from Mexico to the US while trying not to be typecast.
He told Observer at the time: ‘To be honest, I don’t know if I had formed a specific strategy to navigate this. I was just honest with myself and with my team the whole way through. There were obviously certain characters or scripts that I read that I immediately went like, “Of course not! No!”
He was best best known for his role as Aaron Shore in Designated Survivor
Tributes for the actor flooded social media
‘I know the Northern Mexican culture [because] I was raised in it, so I can tell when somebody is just scrambling to come up with a reality that’s far from [the actual] reality, so I honestly stuck with the honesty within myself.
‘I didn’t want to do anything that didn’t sound or feel right, and I guess I’ve been blessed with good opportunities and I fought for other opportunities that weren’t necessarily handed over to me.’
Over the last two years, Canto played the role of gangster Arman Morales opposite Élodie Yung on The Cleaning Lady.
It was reported he was set to join Season 3, despite unable to participate in filming when it commenced in December after the strikes concluded.
Back in January 2022 Canto (pictured in May 2022) discussed what it has been like transitioning his career from Mexico to the US while trying not to be typecast as he said: ‘I didn’t want to do anything that didn’t sound or feel right, and I guess I’ve been blessed with good opportunities and I fought for other opportunities that weren’t necessarily handed over to me’
In film, Canto is likely most recognized for his portrayal of Sunspot in X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014
In film, Canto is likely most recognized for his portrayal of Sunspot in X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014
Stepping behind the camera, Canto directed his initial short film in 2014 and followed it up with another in 2020.
Canto is survived by his wife, Stephanie Ann Canto, and their two young children, Roman Alder, three, and Eve Josephine, one.
On his last Instagram post dated June 19, 2022, he shared a snap of his beautiful family, captioning it: ‘Happy Father’s Day! I’ve been blessed with mine.’
