MARCELINO SÁNCHEZ
there are many who walked this earth and cracked open the universe just enough for their energy to linger and leave mark only noticeable for those who exist int he subtext. one of these people was gay puerto rican actor marcelino sánchez.
marcelino was born on december 5, 1957 in cayey, puerto rico. a natural artist at heart, he studied painting before us focus was drawn to the drama of the acting world. he would go on to star in the spain production of “hair.”
marcelino’s mmarcelino’s most notable role was as “rembrandt” in the 1979 motion picture, “the warriors.” based on the sol yurick’s novel which centers on a new york gang that must fight to survive in order to make it back from the bronx to their home turf in coney island. the youngest of the gang, “rembrandt” is often described as ambiguously gay because of marcelino’s tender portrayal of the character.
in 2013 “the warriors” was named one of entertainment weekly’s list of 50 greatest cult films.
in 1980, marcelino starred in “the bloodhound gang”, a series segment in the pbs program “3-2-1.” he would star in guest roles on “chips” and “hill street blues” as well as having a minor part in the 1982 eddie murphy movie “48 hours.” unfortunately, acting opportunities were far and few in-between by the time he reached his mid-20’s.
marcelino got very sick in 1986 while living in LA. his sister & brother were there to take care of him until his death from AIDS complications on november 21, 1986, just a two weeks shy of his 28th birthday.
marcelino doesn’t have a star on the hollywood walk of fame. there isn’t even much information about him that can be easily found. so we speak his name so that history never forgets the varones we lost in the first waves of the AIDS epidemic.
marcelino’s most notable role was as “rembrandt” in the 1979 motion picture, “the warriors.” based on the sol yurick’s novel which centers on a new york gang that must fight to survive in order to make it back from the bronx to their home turf in coney island.
the youngest of the gang, “rembrandt” is often described as ambiguously gay because of marcelino’s tender portrayal of the character.
in 1980, marcelino starred in “the bloodhound gang”, a series segment in the pbs program “3-2-1.” he would star in guest roles on “chips” and “hill street blues” as well as having a minor part in the 1982 eddie murphy movie “48 hours.” unfortunately, acting opportunities were far and few in-between by the time he reached his mid-20’s.
marcelino got very sick in 1986 while living in LA. his sister & brother were there to take care of him until his death from AIDS complications on november 21, 1986, just a two weeks shy of his 28th birthday.
marcelino doesn’t have a star on the hollywood walk of fame. there isn’t even much information about him that can be easily found. so we speak his name so that history never forgets the varones we lost in the first waves of the AIDS epidemic.
In a 2013 interview with noblemania.com, “The Bloodhound Gang” co-star Nan-Lynn Nelson shared this story about her friend:
“Marcelino had actually contacted me months prior to his passing to let me know that he was sick. We met and spent an entire day together while he was here in NYC, basically to say good-bye. He had a friend to whom he had given the names of some of his friends to call upon his passing to let us know. That friend was very dutiful in carrying out his wishes. I still think of Marcelino often.”
We speak your name, Marcelino.