Osvaldo Manuel Pérez Peñalver, Esteemed Cuban Actor and Theater Director, Passes Away

On Saturday, August 1, the Cuban arts scene suffered a significant loss with the passing of Osvaldo Manuel Pérez Peñalver, a prominent actor, storyteller, puppeteer, clown, and director of the renowned Teatro de la Palabra. The news was confirmed today by the Havana Theater Center, leaving a deep void in the artistic community.

Pérez Peñalver, alongside Daniel Alberto Hernández Acosta, co-founded Teatro de la Palabra in January 1997. This innovative project combined storytelling with puppetry, clown techniques, acting, declamation, and music, creating a unique theatrical experience that garnered acclaim both locally and internationally.

The Impact of Teatro de la Palabra

Under Pérez Peñalver’s leadership, the company became a benchmark for theatrical storytelling in Cuba and beyond. It successfully expanded its reach across Latin America and the global stage, as noted by the Havana Theater Center.

Beyond his role at Teatro de la Palabra, Osvaldo Manuel was the driving force behind the International Festival "Stories for an Ancient City." This event brought storytelling to the plazas and parks of Havana's historic center for years. The festival, backed by Teatro de la Palabra and the Havana Theater Center, celebrated its 15th edition in July 2025. It featured storytellers from Mexico, Guatemala, and Cuba, aiming to instill values of coexistence in children through the art of storytelling.

A Legacy of Accolades

Cuban theatrical storytelling has a rich tradition, solidified from the 1970s by the Oral Storytellers Section of the UNEAC's Association of Performing Artists, which awards the Juglar Prize, the sector's highest honor.

Throughout his career, Pérez Peñalver received numerous prestigious awards, including the UNEAC National Juglar Prize in 2004 and 2006, the National Storytelling Award in 2008, the Winter Words National Award in Matanzas in 2013, and the Ibero-American Chamán Award for Culture, Communication, and Storytelling in 2021, as highlighted by the Havana Theater Center.

Tributes Pour In

The news of his death prompted an outpouring of tributes on social media. The Cuban National Council for the Performing Arts publicly conveyed its condolences, and fellow artists, cultural institutions, and international colleagues joined in mourning. One collaborator shared, "Such a tragedy. We shared the stage several times. Rest in peace, dear friend." From Mexico, another user bid farewell, saying, "Farewell, companion. Thank you for your art and friendship, we will miss you from Mexico..."

Echoing the sentiment of the loss, fellow storyteller Dayana Deulofeu remarked, "Cuba's storytelling community is in mourning," while another individual lamented, "Sad news. Rest in peace, Osvaldo. You had so much more to accomplish. Light to your soul."

An Unforgettable Year of Loss

The passing of Osvaldo Manuel Pérez Peñalver adds to a series of losses that have cast a shadow over Cuban culture throughout 2026. The arts community mourned the deaths of actor Alden Knight in February, Gilberto Subiaurt López in March, Jorge Losada Moreno in April, José Emigdio Pascual Varona "Pini" in May, and actor Oscar Álvarez in June.

The Havana Theater Center concluded its farewell message with words that encapsulate Pérez Peñalver’s enduring impact: "His departure leaves an enormous void in Cuban storytelling. His fundamental tool, the word, will remain alive in every tale told, in every child who dreamed with his stories, and in every square in Havana that witnessed his magic."

Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and colleagues.