Actor Gabriel Prieto Escobar died at 65, the Chilean Actors and Actresses Corporation (ChileActores) confirmed on its social media accounts this Sunday, October 11. The cause of his death has not yet been reported.
According to La Tercera, Prieto suffered severe lasting effects after contracting Covid-19 in September 2022. He was in the intensive care unit at Luis Tisné Hospital in Peñalolén and spent a month in an induced coma.
The same outlet reported that the illness caused multiple organ failure, aggravated by pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, and a marked physical decline recently.
He was discharged in 2023 and began a long rehabilitation process, sharing his progress on social media. In December of that year, he posted a video showing his progress. He said he had started walking again, although he still lacked stamina.
Prieto was born in Santiago on February 2, 1961, and studied acting at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Years later, he returned to the same school as a teacher, training several generations of actors and actresses.
"Gabriel was a theater and television actor, as well as a teacher to many generations of artists at the Catholic University, his school," ChileActores wrote in its farewell message.
The corporation also highlighted that he was one of the founders of the Teatro Aparte company, established alongside Rodrigo Bastidas, Magdalena Max-Neef and Elena Muñoz. According to the association, that space "has made an essential contribution to the Chilean arts scene".
For television audiences, his face is associated with soap operas from the 90s and 2000s. He appeared in Los Títeres, Loca Piel, Brujas, Dama y Obrero and Te doy la vida. He also had leading roles in Loco por ti, La Nany and Casado con hijos.
ChileActores also recalled the period he lived through after the pandemic: "In 2022 Gabriel became a survivor of the pandemic, generously and courageously sharing a testimony of life, love, resilience and gratitude".
"His legacy is already part of our history," the organization added in the message reported by T13.
ChileActores will announce details of the wake and funeral at a later date.
