Héctor Alterio

Héctor Benjamín Alterio Onorato (21 September 1929 – 13 December 2025) was an Argentine theatre, film and television actor, well known both in Argentina and Spain. His long filmography includes performances in film such as The Truce, Rebellion in Patagonia (1974) To an Unknown God (1977), Trout (1978), The Crime of Cuenca (1980), The Nest (1980), Camila (1984), The Official Story (1985), Wild Horses (1995), Ashes of Paradise (1997), and Son of the Bride (2001).

Life and career Héctor Benjamín Alterio Onorato was born in Chacarita, Buenos Aires on 21 September 1929, to parents from Carpinone, Italy. Alterio's acting debut came in 1948 in the stage play Cómo suicidarse en primavera ('How to commit suicide in spring'). After finishing drama school, he created the Nuevo Teatro ("New Theatre") company in 1950, where he worked until 1968 and helped change the Argentine theatrical scene of the 1960s.

He also worked in Argentine cinema. His debut on the silver screen took place in Alfredo Mathé's (Every sun is bitter) in 1965. He then participated in many of the most important Argentine movies of the 1970s, including La Patagonia rebelde (The Rebel Patagonia), which was awarded a Silver Bear at the 24th Berlin International Film Festival. His voice was used in Ya es tiempo de violencia (1969), an anonymous film about the Cordobazo riots which took place the same year. The film was produced by Enrique Juárez, close to the Grupo Cine Liberación.

While in Spain in 1975, he received death threats from the Argentine Anticommunist Alliance (Triple A). He decided not to return to Argentina and remained in exile. He also obtained Spanish citizenship.

Consequently, Alterio began to work in Spanish films, including To an Unknown God (1977) and received the Best Actor award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, and The Nest (1980), for which received the Best Actor award from the Association of Latin Entertainment Critics in 1983.

After the restoration of democracy in Argentina in 1982, Alterio worked in films produced in both countries and some co-productions.

In 2004, he received an Honorary Goya Award for his lifetime body of works.

In a 2007 interview, Alterio declared himself an atheist.

For his last screen appearance, Alterio played a minor role in the television series Su majestad, which premiered in 2025.

Alterio died in Madrid on 13 December 2025, at the age of 96. His lying in repose at the was attended by family members and colleagues such as Fernando Tejero, Lola Herrera, Natalia Dicenta, Juan Diego Botto, Luisa Martín, Juana Acosta, Gustavo Salmerón, and Mariano Barroso, among others.

Roles in Academy Award-nominated films Héctor Alterio has been in five pictures that have been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film: The Truce (1974) The Nest (1980) Camila (1984) The Official Story (1985) Son of the Bride (2001)

The fourth of these films won the award at the 58th Academy Awards, and was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay. All of these films, except for The Nest, which was submitted by Spain, have been submitted to the awards by Argentina.

Selected filmography

Todo sol es amargo (1966) Cómo seducir a una mujer (1967) Don Segundo Sombra (1969) – Gaucho in Black El santo de la espada (1970) – Gen. Simón Bolívar La fidelidad (1970) El habilitado (1971) Argentino hasta la muerte (1971) Y que patatín, y que patatán (1971) La mafia (1972) – Paolatti Paño verde (1973) Los siete locos (1973) – Gregorio Barsut La Piel del amor (1973) – Luis Las Venganzas de Beto Sánchez (1973) – Coronel Sagasti Los golpes bajos (1974) Quebracho (1974) La Patagonia rebelde (1974) – Cmdr. Zavala La tregua (1974) – Martín Santomé El Amor infiel (1974) – Morales Cría Cuervos (1976) – Anselmo Pascual Duarte (1976) – Esteban Duarte Diniz La menor (1976) Fango (1977) – Carlos Asignatura pendiente (1977) – Rafa Secretos de alcoba (1977) – Carlos A un dios desconocido (1977) – José La guerra de papá (1977) – Papá (Pablo) Marian (1977) – Alfredo El mirón (1977) – Roman – husband Las truchas (1978) – Gonzalo Las palabras de Max (1978) – Julián Arriba Hazaña (1978) – Hermano Director Borrasca (1978) – Alberto Pineda La escopeta nacional (1978) ¿Qué hace una chica como tú en un sitio como éste? (1978) Serenata a la luz de la Luna (1978) Tres en raya (1979) – Padre de Carlos Tiempos de constitución (1979) F.E.N. (1979) – Alfredo Memorias de Leticia Valle (1980) – Alberto El crimen de Cuenca (1980) – Isasa El Nido (1980) – Don Alejandro En mil pedazos (1980) – Armando Novaes Tiro al aire (1980) Otra vez adiós (1980) Los viernes de la eternidad (1981) – Don Gervasio Urquiaga Kargus (1981) Tac-Tac (1981) – Leonardo Gala Volver (1982) Asesinato en el Comité Central (1982) – Sepúlveda Corazón de papel (1982) – D. Arcadio Nieto La vida, el amor y la muerte (1982) – Regino Antonieta (1982) – Leon Il quartetto Basileus (1983) – Alvaro La mujer del juez (1984) – Marcial / Paz's lover El señor Galíndez (1984) – Beto Camila (1984) – Adolfo O'Gorman De grens (1984) – Andras Menzo Los chicos de la guerra (1984) – Padre de Pablo La rosales (1984) Zama (1984) Contar hasta diez (1985) La historia oficial (1985) – Roberto Adiós, Roberto (1985) Flesh + Blood (1985) – Niccolo A la pálida luz de la Luna (1985) – Miguel Gil de Larios Manuel y Clemente (1986) – Serafin Puzzle (1986) – Luis Contar hasta diez (1986) El hombre de la deuda externa (1987) – Pedro Sofía (1987) – Padre de Pedro Mi General (1987) – General Víctor Mendizábal La veritat oculta (1987) – Alfons Garriga Barbablu Barbablu (1987) – Federico El verano del potro (1989) – Federico Continental (1990) – Ruda Yo, la peor de todas (1990) – The Viceroy Gentile Alouette (1990) Don Juan in Hell (1991) – Padre de Don Juan Tango (1993) – Feroz Lobo as boludas (1993) El detective y la muerte (1994) – G.M. King of the River (1995) – Juan Caballos salvajes (1995) – José Tatiana, la muñeca rusa (1995) – Diego Cenizas del paraíso (1997) – Judge Costa Makantasis Pequeños milagros (1997) – Padre de Rosalía Memorias del ángel caído (1997) – Julio Asesinato a distancia (1998) – Bilverio Punes Diario para un cuento (1998) – Pablo Las huellas borradas (1999) – Don José Un dulce olor a muerte (1999) – Justino Héroes y demonios (1999) – Jorge Romans La mujer más fea del mundo (1999) – Dr. Werner Suenas en la mitad del mundo – Cuentos ecuatorianos (1999) Los libros y la noche (1999, Documentary) I Know Who You Are (2000) – Salgado Plata quemada (2000) – Losardo Esperando al Mesías (2000) – Simón Cabeza de tigre (2001) – Santiago de Liniers Sagitario (2001) – Gustavo El hijo de la novia (2001) – Nino Belvedere Vidas privadas (2001) – padre de Carmen Nobel (2001) – Alberto Noche de reyes (2001) – Sr. Garriga Fumata blanca (2002) – Cardinal Giovanello El Último tren (2002) – El Profesor Apasionados (2002) – Coco Kamchatka (2002) – Grandfather Nudos (2003) – Cipriano Mera Utopía (2003) – Samuel Cleopatra (2003) – Roberto Le intermittenze del cuore (2003) – Saul Mortara Noviembre (2003) – Yuta En ninguna parte (2004) – Antonio Semen, una historia de amor (2005) – Emilio A Tram in SP (2008) – Lucas Awaking from a Dream (2008) – Pascual Intruders (2011) – Old Priest Como estrellas fugaces (2012) – Generale Kamikaze (2014) – Lionel Fermín glorias del tango (2014) – Fermin Las consecuencias (2021) – César padre

Awards Won: Argentine Film Critics Association Awards: Silver Condor for Best Supporting Actor, for La maffia, 1973. Donostia-San Sebastián International Film Festival: Prize San Sebastián, Best Actor, for To an Unknown God, 1977. Association of Latin Entertainment Critics: Best Actor, for The Nest, 1980. Valladolid International Film Festival: Best Actor, for The Last Train, 2002. Cinema Writers Circle Awards: CEC Award Best Supporting Actor, for Son of the Bride, 2002. Goya Awards: Honorary Goya Award, 2004. Max Award for Best Actor, for I, Claudius, 2005 Nominated Argentine Film Critics Association Awards: Nominated for four Silver Condors (1998, 2001, 2002, and 2003).