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After a 42-year-old battle with illness, ‘Designated Survivor’ and ‘X-Men’ star Adan Canto passes away

Following a battle with illness, Mexican actor Adan Canto, best known for his roles in “Designated Survivor” and the superhero drama “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” has passed away. His age was forty-two.

Canto passed away on Monday from appendiceal cancer, Jennifer Allen, the actor’s publicist, verified in an email statement to USA TODAY on Tuesday.

“Adan had a depth of spirit that few truly knew,” according to Allen. “Whoever caught a glimpse of it was irrevocably altered,” “Many will be profoundly saddened by his absence.”

Canto, who was born in Mexico and reared in Texas, appeared alongside Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and Hugh Jackman in the 2014 science fiction action film “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” in which he portrayed the pyrokinetic mutant Sunspot. In 2015, the film was subsequently nominated for an Academy Award for greatest achievement in visual effects.

Canto embarked on his professional journey as a singer-songwriter when he left his residence in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico, at the age of 16 and moved to Mexico City. He subsequently embarked on an acting career, debuting on the Mexican television series “Estado de Gracia” in 2009. Later, he made his American debut on the Kevin Bacon-starring drama series “The Following,” produced by Kevin Williamson.

Canto also appeared in the 2020 sports drama “Bruised,” which was directed by Halle Berry, and the 2022 action thriller “Agent Game.”

Additionally, the actor established a notable reputation in the realm of television, securing roles on prominent series including “The Following,” “Narcos,” “Blood & Oil,” and the ABC political drama “Designated Survivor.” Arman Morales was the character that Canto most recently portrayed on the Fox criminal drama “The Cleaning Lady.”

The third season of “The Cleaning Lady” is presently in production. Due to his ailment, Canto was unable to participate in the production; however, he had high hopes of returning later in the season.

Canto, apart from her career as an actress, harbored aspirations of becoming a filmmaker.

“Before Tomorrow,” his inaugural short film, was directed by Canto and was released in 2014. According to Canto’s IMDb page, his provocative western “The Shot,” which starred Theo Rossi and was released in 2020, earned him the jury prize for best narrative short at the San Antonio Film Festival in the same year.