Several celebrities and fans mourned the Spanish actor and paid tribute to him on social media following the news of his death
José de la Torre, best known for starring on Netflix’s series Toy Boy, has died at the age of 37, according to several news outlets.
The Spanish actor died on Thursday, Dec. 5, and a funeral service was held one day after his death in Spain, according to reports from Montilla Digital, Variety and the New York Post.
His cause of death was not revealed, however, his death comes months after he shared that he had been diagnosed with a “serious illness” that was undisclosed on his social media in June, according to the outlets. Shortly after his revelation, he appeared to step back from appearances in public and on social media.
PEOPLE was unable to reach out to a representative for de la Torre.
His last post on Instagram was made on June 3, in which he could be seen celebrating Barceló Desalia 2024 in the Canary Islands with friends. At the time, de la Torre appeared to be healthy and could be seen sharing several photos smiling and enjoying the festivities at the event.
Following the news of his death, several fans commented on the post saying that they were “shocked” to have heard the news of his death. One fan wrote in Spanish that she didn’t “believe it!! RIP 🕊.”
Another wrote in a translated message below the post that de la Torre was “so young, so handsome, so full of life [and] such a good actor. I can’t believe it, rest in peace José and may heaven welcome you with open arms.”
Several Spanish stars also paid tribute to the actor, including Luisa Martín, who wrote on Instagram, per the New York Post, “It breaks my heart to think I’ll never hear your voice again, but I’ll keep talking to you. Love you endlessly, José.”
Singer Pablo Alborán also shared on social media, per the outlet, “I can’t believe you’re gone so soon. I’m devastated by your departure. I’m sending kisses to all of your family and friends.”
“We’ll never forget you Jose. Wherever you are, I’m sure you’re wearing a Hawaiian shirt, a killer moustache, and those sunglasses like the ones we wore that day,” he added.
The Netflix actor was born in 1987 in Montilla, Córdoba, Andalucía, Spain and knew at an early age that he wanted to enter the world of acting, as he trained at the Higher School of Dramatic Art in Málaga. He made his acting debut in Toy Boy on Netflix in 2019, and starred in the show until 2021.
After the success of Toy Boy, he also starred in Vis a Vis: El Oasis and Amar es para Siempre. He also dabbled in theater, starring in Cuento de Navidad directed by Cristina García Pinto and Pablo García and Paisaje con Argonautas directed by Celia Dolci.
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Following the news of de la Torre’s death, tributes began to pour in.
“I can’t believe you’re gone so soon. I’m devastated by your departure. I’m sending kisses to all of your family and friends,” Spanish singer Pablo Alborán wrote via Instagram.
“We’ll never forget you Jose. Wherever you are, I’m sure you’re wearing a Hawaiian shirt, a killer moustache, and those sunglasses like the ones we wore that day.”
Following the news of de la Torre’s death, tributes began to pour in.
“I can’t believe you’re gone so soon. I’m devastated by your departure. I’m sending kisses to all of your family and friends,” Spanish singer Pablo Alborán wrote via Instagram.
“We’ll never forget you Jose. Wherever you are, I’m sure you’re wearing a Hawaiian shirt, a killer moustache, and those sunglasses like the ones we wore that day.”
“The happiness of arriving in the Canary Islands, seeing your friends, grab a mojito and start singing until your voice breaks,” de la Torre captioned the series of party pictures. “That’s been Desalia 2024.”
He added, “And that’s thanks to the team behind @ronbarcelospain who goes above and beyond every year.”
De la Torre is survived by his parents, Antonio de la Torre Hidalgo and Maria Jose Delgado Espejo, and his sister, Marina.
The model and actor was famously known for playing Iván on Netflix’s “Toy Boy.” The Spanish thriller about a stripper who’s desperate to prove his innocence for a crime he didn’t commit ran for two seasons from 2019 to 2021.
De la Torre only made his acting debut two years before landing the role.
He made his debut in the police drama “Serve and Protect” as Goyo. De la Torre was also featured in “Vis a Vis: El Oasis” and “Amar es para siempre,” both released in 2020.