Mario Ernesto Sánchez dead: Only Fools and Horses and Miami Vice star dies after long illness

and Miami Vice star Mario Ernesto Sánchez has died aged 78. The actor died following a "long and painful illness" at around 3:30am.

A statement from his agent announcing the sad news confirmed: "Mario Ernesto Sánchez died today at 3:03 am as a result of a long and painful illness." Mario during his lengthy career.

He played a Colombian drug lord in the two-part special titled Miami Twice. The actor also starred in the series Miami Vice as a recurring limo driver.

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In the 2006 movie Miami Vice, he took on a different background role. His other credits include Invasion U.S.A. and The Specialist. Tributes have poured in for Mario following the sad news, which was confirmed to the South Florida newspaper, Diario Las Américas.

Ramón A. Sánchez said: “A glory of Cuba and the theater has left us: Mario Ernesto Sánchez. He is already with Lorca, Molière, Euripides and many more greats of the theater. Rest in peace Chachito and thank you very much for your legacy.”

Actress Verónica Abruza added: "Sad news. Goodbye Mario Ernesto Sánchez. My condolences to his beloved children, family and friends. I will always remember how kind you were upon my arrival in Miami; your attention, your chivalry.

"May your soul unite with the source of light and love." Miami Art Promotion issued a statement following the sad news: “The outstanding actor and director of Cuban origin Mario Ernesto Sánchez dies in Miami.

“His tireless work in the Cuban exile theater, since his early arrival in the United States, has earned him the valuable work of Teatro Avante, a group he founded, as well as the Miami International Hispanic Theater Festival, with almost 40 years of experience.

"Peace to his remains and condolences to his loved ones and friends. It also serves as a well-deserved tribute to his extensive career.”

Mario was born in 1947 in San Antonio de las Vegas, in Cuba before moving to the United States when he was 15-years-old during the Operation Pedro Pan. He founded his own Hispanic theatre, Teatro Avante, in Florida in 1979.

In 2014, he received the Legacy Award in Los Angeles for “outstanding individuals whose lifelong commitment to Latino Theater in the United States and Latin America will have a lasting impact on the field".

When accepting his award, Mario said: “[It means] that we have done a lot but we have a lot more to do. That’s all it means. I’m humbled by it but at the same time I’m very proud.

"But I always feel we haven’t done enough. We still need to create more interest in the residents of Miami for theater; that’s what we are still lacking.

“Don’t misunderstand me, I’m happy we are getting this award and it belongs to everybody who has helped Teatro Avante and the International Hispanic Theatre Festival to survive, and that includes audiences and sponsors. But I have to be honest, I think there’s still a lot that needs to be done.”

He admitted Miami "used to be a cultural desert" but added: “Miami is my home. So I stay and fight, fight for what I believe and what I believe is good for the city. So whatever it takes, for as long as it takes. I believe in theater. It does a lot of good to people, to the community."

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