Sandra Reyes, Renowned Colombian Actress, Dies Age 49

Sandra Reyes, the renowned Colombian actress, has died of breast cancer. She was 49. News of her death, which was announced yesterday in Colombian media, has been met with shock and sadness from her fans and from the entertainment world.

Despite her fragile health, prior to her death Reyes had been filming the series “Rigo,” which tells the story of the popular Colombian cyclist Rigoberto Uran. Reyes was best-known for her role as Dr. Paula in the acclaimed series “Pedro, el Escamoso” (“Cheeky Peter”).

Popular Colombian actress Sandra Reyes dies of breast cancer age 49

Reyes’ death from breast cancer was announced by Colombian media yesterday, Sunday, December 1. Tributes to the actress, who was well known by the Colombian public for her various appearances on television, have been paid by many of her co-stars, including Miguel Varoni, who appeared alongside her in “Pedro, el Escamoso” (“Cheeky Peter”), the series for which she is most known.

“Farewell my Doctor Paula… You have no idea how much I will miss her,” wrote Varoni on Instagram, in reference to Reyes’ famous character.

Colombia’s Minister of Culture, Juan David Correa, also paid tribute to Reyes, writing on social media, “the Ministry of Culture regrets the untimely death of actress Sandra Reyes: her place in youth television in the 90s, as well as her career in soap operas and dramatizations, made her one of the great Colombian actresses.”

Reyes told her co-stars of her illness earlier this year after completing the second part of the series “Pedro, el Escamoso.” However, despite her frail appearance in recent months, it was known publicly that she was suffering from cancer until the announcement of her untimely death.

A Colombian television star

Reyes was one of Colombian television’s most well-known and beloved actresses. Her charisma and talent enabled her to become an iconic figure in the nation’s entertainment industry. Born on May 31, 1975 in Bogota, Reyes began her acting career in the 1990s.

Her first big success came with the telenovela “La mujer del presidente” (“The President’s Woman”) (1997), where she played Adriana Guerrero, a role that brought her public recognition and admiration.

Later, her participation in the series “El Cartel de los Sapos” (“The Cartel of Snitches”) (2008-2010), as Amparo Cadena, a strong woman who loves power, money and luxury above all else.

Over the course of her career, Reyes demonstrated remarkable versatility and ventured into various different television genres and formats. However, she also knew how to stay true to her principles, at times moving away from the spotlight to focus on her personal and spiritual growth.

In 2020, after the Covid-19 pandemic, Reyes moved her home to Ubate, a rural municipality 80 kilometers north of Bogota. This is where her funeral, a private family event, will be held.

Related: Margalida Castro, Colombian TV Icon, Dies at 83