The Spanish actor, diagnosed with a serious illness in June 2024, stepped away from the spotlight to focus on treatment and his health.
José de la Torre passed away on December 5, 2024, at the age of 37, with heartbroken friends sharing heartfelt tributes in his memory.
Jose de la Torre attends “Toy Boy” premiere at Teatro Principal in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, on September 6, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
De la Torre battled a mysterious illness for months after revealing his diagnosis in June. He began receiving treatment later that month and stepped away from the spotlight to prioritize his health.
Sadly, he succumbed to the illness and was laid to rest on December, 6 in Montilla, Spain. The Netflix actor was loved by his colleagues and friends, who shared their tributes on social media.
Spanish actress Luisa Martín paid tribute to De la Torre by sharing a touching Instagram post featuring a photo of the actor smiling warmly. She wrote, “I don’t think about you in the past baby! No because I know you’ll keep organizing every dinner and every space. Fly as high as you know you are light, a very bright light ✨✨✨✨✨that will illuminate us all.”
Martin also expressed deep sorrow over his loss, vowing to keep his memory alive and cherishing the bond they shared.
Lolita Flores, a Spanish actress and singer, shared her condolences on Instagram, reflecting on the profound sadness surrounding De la Torre’s passing. She remarked on the brief moments they shared, expressing heartbreak over his untimely death and the pain felt by those who loved him deeply.
She penned, “How hard it is for me to accept that you are gone, without even knowing you. I met you in the play Salome.” Flores added, “I did not have time to love you, but I did have time to know you. Consoling your parents and your sister will be difficult, heaven awaits you with open arms, how sad, you have gone too soon, too soon.”
De la Torre, who was born in Montilla in 1987, was educated at the Higher School of Dramatic Art in Málaga. He starred in the Netflix series “Toy Boy,” which ran for two seasons from 2019 to 2021. The series was a hit, remaining on the top-watched list for weeks in several countries.
The actor also featured in “Amar es para siempre,” “Vis a Vis: El Oasis,” and “Servir y proteger.” Aside from acting, De la Torre modeled for various high-profile fashion, jewelry, and accessory brands.
De la Torre embarked on his acting journey with no prior experience in theater or film. “From a very small age, I found refuge in the cinema. But not so much in interpretation, at least at first. I was a child who kept watching movies, simply to entertain me and that caught me and sowed in me the seed that would later become the desire to want to dedicate myself to it,” he recalled.
The actor’s first-ever performance was during his entrance exams for the Higher School of Dramatic Art, where he confidently delivered lines from “Romeo and Juliet,” a moment that marked the start of a promising career.
De la Torre recalled, “I was the only one in my class who hadn’t been part of a company or hadn’t done a play before at school or high school. The first time I recited a text in front of an audience was for the entrance exams for the school, but I felt as if I had been doing it all my life … and it was wonderful.”
The lines from “Romeo and Juliet” also ignited his passion for performance and solidified his commitment to becoming an actor. Despite his lack of background, his natural talent and desire for acting set him on a trajectory that quickly elevated him in the industry.
De la Torre described his time at the Higher School of Dramatic Art as finding a place where he truly belonged. He expressed deep appreciation for the teachers at the school, crediting them with instilling in him a profound love and respect for the craft of acting.
The actor also shared how studying the craft of performance of arts was beneficial to him, “My training began in the field of textual interpretation and that’s where you realize that, in this world, you have to be as versatile as possible. Perfection doesn’t exist in this profession, but hard work, dedication and effort do.”
De la Torre believed in giving one’s best, using every available resource to contribute meaningfully to every project.
He noted he was proud of all the work he had done leading to his big break with Netflix. “It may sound like a cliché but it’s the truth. From a small show in class, to a workshop at school, to a micro-theater, to a dramatized reading, a musical, a series… I’ve been happy in all of them,” he gushed.
Jose de la Torre attends “Toy Boy” photocall at Palacio de Congresos Europa in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, on September 6, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
The actor described the lengthy and challenging casting process he went through to secure the role of Iván in “Toy Boy.” He shared that the process spanned several tests over six months, with the first one leaving him unsure of what it was for.
He approached each test without expectations, allowing himself to flow with the scenes. It wasn’t until he learned he had been chosen that he shared the news, recalling the emotional moment when he hugged his grandmother and cried.
Jose de la Torre attends “Toy Boy” premiere at Teatro Principal in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, on September 6, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
Known for his hard work and unwavering commitment to his craft, De la Torre untimely passing leaves a void in both the world of acting and the hearts of those who admired his relentless pursuit of excellence.
