01/13/2026
Georgia Latino Film Alliance is sadden to hear of our TV Dada Actor , who starred as in the first bilingual sitcom on American television, .?, died on Saturday, according to the show’s executive producer, .
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Manolo Villaverde, a beloved actor and cultural touchstone in Latino television, passed away yesterday at the age of 91, leaving an enduring legacy in American media and representation.
Villaverde is best remembered for his role in the groundbreaking PBS series ¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.?, the first bilingual situation comedy in American television history. More than a television milestone, the series marked the first time Cuban refugees of that era saw our lived realities, humor, and cultural idiosyncrasies authentically reflected on American television—from language-switching and generational tension to exile, memory, and adaptation.
Through his performance, Manolo Villaverde helped bring warmth, dignity, and humanity to stories that had long been invisible in the national media landscape. ¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.? offered recognition to a community still finding its voice in America, affirming that its experiences mattered and belonged.
Villaverde’s contribution helped pave the way for future generations of Latino actors and storytellers. His legacy endures in the doors he helped open—and in the countless Cuban-American families who, for the first time, saw themselves reflected on screen.
