Actor Faces Personal Loss, Reflects on Homeland

**Jorge Cao** shares the pain of losing his daughter and his feelings about Cuba.

For over a decade, **Jorge Cao**, the celebrated Cuban actor residing in Colombia, has largely kept his personal life private. However, he recently revealed a deeply painful event: the death of his daughter, **Maricel Luz**, after a battle with cancer.

A Month of Grief

**Cao** shared that his daughter **Maricel Luz** passed away a month and a half ago in Cuba, following a battle with an aggressive form of cancer. He revealed the information during an interview on the program I know everything.

The actor, known for roles in popular series such as The law of the heart and Gavilanes Passion, expressed the profound difficulty of the situation. According to the American Cancer Society, the likelihood of surviving cancer five years after diagnosis is 68% Source 2024.

Unable to Say Goodbye

Due to work commitments and long-standing difficulties in entering Cuba, **Cao** was unable to travel to be with his daughter during her final weeks or attend her funeral. He has not been to Cuba for over 15 years.

The actor poignantly described his grief: “I could not move from here, I was busy, I could not stop, I could not accompany her in its end, to her burial; therefore, I made the duel from here and I still do it. It’s something I still can’t talk about.”

Saying Farewell to Cuba

The loss has deepened **Cao**’s feelings about returning to Cuba, a country he has not visited in many years. He stated that this personal tragedy has solidified his decision to remain in Colombia, where he feels at home.

“Fifteen years ago I am not to Cuba and now I think I will never return again. Almost all my family is no longer in this plane, my last loss was my daughter a month and a half ago and now it is not urgent. For many years I needed to walk the streets of Havana or sit on the Malecon wall. I’m already very used to climbing the mountain and see Bogotá from above,” **Cao** explained.

Embracing Colombia

**Cao** emphasized his deep connection to Colombia, where he has spent over three decades of his acting career. He considers Colombia his home and intends to continue his work there.

“I am part of this country, of this story. And I have continued to develop my career another 30 years – in Colombia there are 32-. So, here we are. I am part of this town. Of his anguish, his sadness and his joys. I am not an actor who is involved anywhere. Hidden, no, I am an actor who is on the street,” he said.

Concluding his thoughts, **Cao** affirmed, “Colombia has been my second homeland. I love Colombia and I love its people and its people love me.”

The actor’s openness has resonated with many, drawing an outpouring of support and messages of strength across social media platforms during this challenging time.