Actor Julio Oscar Mechoso has died of a heart attack on Saturday, November 25, family confirms. He was 62 years old.
Mechoso was known for his roles in the films Little Miss Sunshine, The Legend of Zorro and Jurassic Park III. Mechoso also appeared on multiple TV shows including Grey’s Anatomy, The Big Bang Theory, Coach and Seinfeld. Most recently, he guest-starred in an episode of CBS’ Madam Secretary.
Mechoso’s frequent costar Andy Garcia wrote a letter after his longtime friend passed that was posted online.
‘How can one express the extreme loss of someone so close to you, the extreme emptiness that one feels now and forever,’ Garcia wrote. ‘A sudden loss is always unjust, but in the case of Julio Oscar Mechoso, my friend, my soul mate it is greater than that, as I have lost the truest of friends. Julio is a unique and extraordinary artist. I say is, because his artistry will carry on and will be present in all that will witness it. That will never die.’
Garcia continued, ‘I always wanted Julio with me in any work that I was doing. Because Julio always elevated the film. Working with him was for me an effortless privilege. We got off on each other, we laughed and we cried together. He was an actor’s actor. We all knew what he was capable of delivering and it was always quite extraordinary.’
Our thoughts are with his family and friends in this difficult time!
This article originally appeared on New Idea.