Argentine actor Claudio Rissi passed away yesterday in Buenos Aires at the age of 67 due to cancer. With a prolific career spanning over 40 years in cinema, television, and theater, he was primarily recognized for his work in supporting roles, although he gained popularity in series in recent years. Throughout his remarkable career, Rissi collaborated on more than 30 films, working alongside esteemed filmmakers such as Marcelo Piñeyro, Fabián Bielinsky, Adolfo Aristarain, and Damián Szifron, among others.
He won the Silver Condor Award for Best Supporting Actor three times, a prestigious accolade presented by the Argentine Critics Association. His first win came in 2001 for 76-89-03, directed by Cristian Bernard and Flavio Nardini. He was later honored in 2012 for Aballay, El hombre sin miedo, directed by Fernando Spiner, and finally, in 2018 for The Desert Bride / La novia del desierto, directed by Cecilia Atán and Valeria Pivato.
Born in the working-class neighborhood of Boedo in Buenos Aires on May 22, 1956, Rissi commenced his acting career at the age of 17. Some of his notable film credits include the British co-production Hostage (1994) by Robert Young, Guarisove, los olvidados (1995) by Bruno Stagnaro, Burnt Money / Plata quemada (2000) by Marcelo Piñeyro , Nine Queens / Nueve reinas (2000) by Fabián Bielinsky, Rosarigasinos (2001) by Rodrigo Grande, Lugares comunes (2002) by Adolfo Aristarain, Bottom of the Sea / El fondo del mar (2003) by Damián Szifron, and The Aura / El aura by Fabián Bielinsky (2005),
In 2017, he took on the role of El Gringo opposite Chilean actress Paulina García in Cecilia Atán and Valeria Pivato’s acclaimed debut feature The Desert Bride / La novia del desierto, which had its world premiere at Cannes Un Certain Regard competition.
Reflecting on his experience at Cannes, as quoted in the Argentine newspaper Página 12, Rissi declared, "Today I can say I am an actor; before I had doubts. I am an actor and I have found it again. What more do I want than to have that possibility? And it makes me happy. I am privileged. Furthermore, making a living from art is very difficult. The kid's dream was to go to Cannes; I dreamed of it for 45 years, and I got to know Europe now." Rissi’s final film credit was in the 2023 film Partida by Diego Súarez.
