The renowned Spanish actor Manolo Solo has died at the age of 62 from cancer, as reported by the Film Academy. With more than 30 years of career, he participated in plays, films and national series. With Late for angerin 2017, he won the Goya for Best Supporting Actor for the role of Santi Triana. Of his latest projects, the interpretation of the military man and former minister Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado in the miniseries stood out. Anatomy of a moment, and the character of Fernando in the film A Portuguese villahis last Goya nomination, in 2026.
Saints Triana. Late for anger (2016)
The actor played Santi Triana in the film Late for anger directed by Raúl Arévalo. The secondary character was the owner of the bar where a large part of the story takes place, where Curro (the main character, played by Luis Callejo) and his family went. Thanks to that role, with a brief appearance, he won the Goya for Best Supporting Actor in the 31st edition, held in 2017.
Fernando. A Portuguese villa (2025)
Fernando, his character in A Portuguese villa, by Avelina Prat, was a quiet geography teacher, devastated by his past, who adopted that name – the real one was Manuel – to work as a gardener in a rural house in Portugal, where he befriends the owner, played by María de Medeiros. With this role he was nominated for the Goya as leading actor.
Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado. Anatomy of a moment (2025)
Manuel Solo played one of the three men who did not hide on February 23, 1981 in the attempted coup d’état by Antonio Tejero. His character in the miniseries Anatomy of a moment It was Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado, Army general and vice president of Adolfo Suárez’s government, who faced the coup plotters. In this regard, he told EL PAÍS, when the series premiered, that it was exciting to highlight the loyalty that his character had with Suárez: “On the paternal side, he did his best to take care of him and at the same time, as a soldier, he obeyed all his orders.”
Miguel Garay. close your eyes (2023)
In close your eyesthe film by Víctor Erice, gave life to Miguel Garay, a film director who lived in a house near the sea after having not been able to finish a film because its leading actor (played by José Coronado) had disappeared. The story takes place three decades after the event, when a television program revives the case and involves the character of Solo. With this film he earned his second Goya nomination for best leading actor.
mirrors The good boss (2021)
He was the right hand of Julio Blanco, played by Javier Bardem in the film The good boss. His character was called Miralles, and he worked in an industrial scale factory for his childhood friend. This role, which functions as Bardem’s conscience, earned him his third Goya nomination for best supporting actor, in addition to winning the Carmen Award from the Andalusian Film Academy in 2021.
Judge Pablo Ruz. B, the movie (2015)
Judge Pablo Ruz was the judge of the National Court of Spain who instructed the Gürtel case and the Bárcenas case. Manolo Solo performed it in B, the moviedirected by David Ilundain and based on the play Ruz-Bárcenas, written by Jordi Casanovas and directed by Alberto San Juan, in which he played the same character. The work is a transcription of the testimony given by Luis Bárcenas (Pedro Casablanc), former treasurer of the PP, before Judge Ruz in July 2013. With this role he won the Actors’ Union award for best supporting actor and achieved his first Goya nomination in this same category.
