Pedro Armendariz Jr., Accomplished Mexican Actor, Dies at 71

Multiple media outlets are reporting that Pedro Armendariz Jr., one of Mexico’s most beloved and prolific actors, died Monday of cancer in New York City. He was 71.

Following Armendariz Jr’s passing, the office of Felipe Calderon – Mexico’s current president – issued a statement lamenting Pedro’s death, calling him “a great actor who reflected well on Mexico at home and abroad.”

Armendariz Jr., who kicked off his career in acting in 1965 with the film “Fuera de la Ley,” was easily one of the leading figures of Mexican films, with more than 100 movies to his credit, including Hollywood productions such as The Legend of Zorro, Once Upon a Time in Mexico and The Mexican.

The Hollywood reporter also points out the fact that Armendariz Jr., who served as the president of the Mexican Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 2006-2010, had a small part in the upcoming release of Casa de mi Padre alongside Will Ferrell and longtime Mexican friends, actors Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna.

Casa de mi Padre is slated to hit theaters in March of 2012.

Pedro Armendariz Jr. was married and divorced twice and is survived by several children.

via THR