Gonzalo Suárez, a Spanish writer, filmmaker and actor, died Tuesday at his home in Madrid at age 92, according to family sources cited by the Spanish Film Academy.
Born in Oviedo in 1934, Suárez worked across multiple creative disciplines throughout his career. He directed approximately 18 feature films, along with nine to ten short films, medium-length works and television productions. He also published around 25 books and worked as a sports journalist under the pseudonym Martín Girard, in addition to occasional acting roles.
Suárez received the Goya Award for Best Direction in 1988 for "Remando al viento," a film about Mary Shelley that starred Hugh Grant, Elizabeth Hurley, José Luis Gómez and Aitana Sánchez-Gijón. The film won six awards. Other notable films directed by Suárez include "El detective y la muerte" (1994), "Don Juan de los infiernos," "Parranda," "Epílogo" and "Aoom."
In February of this year, at the 40th edition of the Goya Awards held in Barcelona on February 28, Suárez received the Goya de Honor in recognition of his career trajectory. The Spanish Film Academy described him as a "multifaceted creator" who experimented with all genres and worked from diverse artistic perspectives.
Beyond cinema, Suárez adapted major literary works for television, including "Los pazos de Ulloa" by Emilia Pardo Bazán and "La Regenta" by Leopoldo Alas "Clarín." His literary works included titles such as "Rocabruno bate a Ditirambo," "El asesino triste," "Ciudadano Sade" and "Trece veces trece."
Throughout his career, Suárez received numerous accolades including the National Cinematography Prize in Spain, the Silver Shell at the San Sebastián Film Festival for "Remando al viento," the Gold Medal for Merit in the Fine Arts and the Luis Buñuel Prize.
The Spanish Film Academy and the Association of Artists and Performers AISGE both issued statements mourning his death. The Ministry of Culture also expressed condolences, recalling Suárez as one of the most prominent figures in Spanish cinema.