Colombian actor Germán Quintero, whose career spanned more than four decades in television, film and theater, died yesterday in Bogotá at age 72. His face was familiar to generations of viewers thanks to his appearances in widely popular productions, including Escobar, el patrón del mal (Escobar, The Drug Lord) and Pasion de gavilanes (Hidden Passion), two series that reached audiences far beyond Colombia’s borders.
Quintero built a career playing supporting roles in historical dramas, series about drug trafficking and telenovelas. Although he rarely took center stage, his presence in some of Colombian television’s best-known productions helped bring to life stories reflecting different facets of the country’s society.
His career also offers a window into the evolution of an audiovisual industry that has found one of its main avenues for international expansion through its series and telenovelas.
Colombian actor German Quintero, known for ‘Escobar’ & ‘Pasion de gavilanes,’ dies
Although the exact cause of his death has not been disclosed, local Colombian media have reported possible health complications related to respiratory and cardiac conditions.
In any case, shortly after news of his death broke, several institutions publicly expressed their condolences, including Colombia’s Ministry of Culture. “We deeply regret the passing of maestro German Quintero, an outstanding actor and director in theater, film and television. His exceptional talent brought memorable characters to life for generations of viewers, leaving an indelible mark and a significant legacy in the history of acting in Colombia,” the ministry said in an official statement.
Lamentamos profundamente el fallecimiento del maestro Germán Quintero, un destacado actor y director de teatro, cine y televisión. Su talento excepcional dio vida a personajes memorables que acompañaron a generaciones de espectadores, dejando una huella imborrable y un gran legado en la historia de la actuación en Colombia.
Desde el Ministerio de Cultura, extendemos nuestras sinceras condolencias a sus familiares, amigos y colegas del sector audiovisual y escénico.
— MinCultura Colombia (@mincultura) October 16, 2026
Born in Bogota, Quintero made his television debut in 1984 with El Bogotazo, a five-episode miniseries directed by Jorge Ali Triana. He portrayed writer Jorge Zalamea, a prominent figure in Colombian culture, in a production centered on one of the most consequential events in the country’s modern history. That role marked the beginning of a career that would span more than 40 years.
He subsequently appeared in productions such as La quinta hoja del trébol and La fuerza del poder, adaptations of works by screenwriter Fernando Gaitan, as well as Sueños y espejos and Guajira. These early projects helped establish him as a regular presence on Colombian television, demonstrating his ability to work across different genres and narrative styles.
During the 1990s and 2000s, Quintero expanded his filmography with titles such as Cara o sello: Dos rostros de mujer, Montecristo, Pecados capitales and La saga: negocios de familia. He also appeared in El cartel de los sapos, a series about drug trafficking and the criminal networks that shaped some of the most violent years in Colombia’s recent history.
From the journalist who challenged Pablo Escobar to ‘Pasión de gavilanes’
One of his most notable roles came in 2012, when he joined the cast of Escobar, el patron del mal, the Caracol Television production that chronicled drug lord Pablo Escobar’s rise and fall. The series became one of Colombia’s best-known television dramas, reaching a wide audience across Latin America and other international markets.
Quintero portrayed Guillermo Cano Isaza, a journalist and editor of the Colombian newspaper El Espectador who was murdered in December 1986 by gunmen linked to the Medellin Cartel. Cano had publicly denounced drug trafficking and its growing influence over the country’s politics and institutions. His assassination became one of the most emblematic cases of violence against the press in Colombia.
Quintero’s role in the production allowed him to be part of a story that went beyond the drug lord himself to portray those who stood up to his power. The series helped introduce international audiences to one of the most turbulent periods in Colombian history.
In 2022, Quintero once again reached an international audience with the second season of Pasion de gavilanes. Originally released in 2003, the telenovela had become one of the biggest hits in Colombian television fiction, attracting fans across Latin America and other Spanish-speaking markets.
In the second season, he played Martin Acevedo, the grandfather of the Elizondo sisters. The character showcased another side of his work, distinct from the historical and crime dramas in which he had previously appeared.
His roles in both productions reflect the range of a career built across very different genres, from stories inspired by drug-related violence to family and romantic dramas that have helped popularize Colombian telenovelas abroad.
A legacy that also extended to film
Quintero’s career was not limited to television. He appeared in Colombian films such as La milagrosa, La gente de bien and Nadie sabe para quién trabaja. In 2017, he took another step in his career by making his feature-film directorial debut with Como te ves, me vi, broadening his involvement in the audiovisual industry.
Over more than four decades, he worked on productions exploring different periods, conflicts and social realities in Colombia. His career was closely tied to an industry in which many performers move between television, film and theater, and supporting characters play an essential role in bringing stories to life.
News of his death prompted an outpouring of grief among those close to the actor. His family posted a farewell message on social media expressing their sorrow over the loss. Reports of his death indicated that he died following health complications.
Beyond the two productions that brought him international recognition, Quintero will also be remembered in his home country for his sustained body of work, which helped bring to life stories recognized both in Colombia and abroad. His death marks the loss of a familiar face in Colombian television, but his legacy endures through a career associated with some of the most representative productions in the country’s television history.