Frank González, the beloved and prominent actor in film, radio and television, died at sunrise on Friday, April 9 at the age of 73 as a result of a cerebral infarction, after several years away from the media. Audiovisual communication for health reasons, although he was always present in the Cuban people through characters like Elpidio Valdés, for whom he lent his voice in the animated saga of Juan Padrón.
It’s hard not to remember him in the light of those expressive phrases full of Cubality, courage and patriotism that he gave us in every new Padrón movie like “Al macheteee!”, “María Silvia!” or “That must be seen, compay!”, not to mention his successful professional career, assuming “versatility and skill, the many characters he played in various series and dramatized programs”, as noted by Uneac, in his condolences to family, friends and colleagues.
The Icaic also contributed to the pain of losing Frank, “whose voice is part of our history, culture and memory.” During his career he took part as an actor in several feature films, such as El otro Francisco (Sergio Giral, 1974); In three and two (Rolando Díaz, 1985); Baraguá (Jorge Massip, 1986), among others.
According to the ICRT website, in an interview asking about his ability to take on different voices, Frank noted, “It’s not just the ability to change the voice, but to give life to a character from a cartoon (…) It is starting with testing in a microphone until the voice is found, the timbre that works, the sound characteristics that the character must bear from his physical and psychological qualities, I would say that it is almost innate ”. This ability earned him the name of the “man with a thousand votes.”
In addition to Elpidio Valdés’ character (who undoubtedly immortalized him), Frank González voiced other Icaic works such as Filminutos, Manuel Lamar’s (Lillo) character Matojo, and in other Juan Padrón films such as Más Vampiros and La Habana.
The theater, although to a lesser extent, had him among its exponents too. And his performances are remembered in such works as The Ten Days That Shook the World with the Studio Theater Group, The Square of the Circle and Romance a Federico at the National Theater. But, without a doubt, in his more than 50 years of professional work, especially in the dramatic programming of radio and TV, and later in the cinema, Frank González found the way to leave an indelible mark on national culture.
His last public appearance was on October 24 at the José Martí Memorial, where he received the 2019 National Television Award along with other artists. He also received the Cuban Radio Microphone and the National Culture Award by the State Council of the Republic of Cuba, and the ACTUAR 2016 Award for the Work of Life presented by the Artistic Agency for Performing Arts.
His body is cremated at the request of his relatives.