Francisco San Martin, who is best known for originating the role of Dario Hernandez on Days of Our Lives, died by suicide on Thursday, Jan. 16. He was 39 years old.
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The Los Angeles Coroner’s Office confirmed to Deadline that the late soap opera actor died by hanging. He was discovered in his Los Angeles-area home.
Born in Spain on the island of Mallorca and raised in Montana, San Martin reportedly started acting at a young age. He appeared in children’s theatre before he had the opportunity to hit the small screen.
San Martin appeared on Days of Our Lives for six months in 2011. He was initially known as a petty thief who eventually revealed that he had arrived in Salem to investigate a cold case. After he was promoted, San Martin eventually moved to Argentina.
Hernandez returned to the series but was portrayed by Jordi Vilasuso from 2016-2017.
Six years after he departed from Days of Our Lives, San Martin appeared on The Bold and the Beautiful as Mateo, who was a groundskeeper of Forrester Manor. He took part in one of Sheila’s villainous schemes.
Along with the two soap operas, San Martin starred on Jane the Virgin as Fabian Regalo del Cielo, who was the telenovela of Gina Rodriguez’s Jane’s father. He appeared in the show’s third and fourth seasons. The character had a brief but messy relationship with the main character.
His last acting role was in the 2022 short film Dot.
‘Days of Our Lives’ Fans React to the Death of Francisco San Martin
Following the news that Francisco San Martin passed away, Days of Our Lives fans took to social media to pay tribute to the late actor.
“No words to describe my pain Francisco San Martin loss,” one fan wrote. “Died at very young age. My heart is full. Let [his] soul rest in peace.”
“Very, very sad. I am a bit in shock, as I saw Francisco at my gym most every day,” another fan wrote.
“He was only 39!” a fan pointed out. “His contributions to television will never be forgotten.”
According to multiple outlets, Camila Banus, who played the sister of San Martin’s Days of Our Lives character, spoke out about his passing.
“Pepe, what can I say but I love you and rest in peace, my friend,” she wrote. “Love you mucho mucho mucho. I wish I had told you more.”