Adan Canto facts for kids

Adan Canto (born December 5, 1981 – died January 8, 2024) was a talented actor from Mexico. He was known for playing the superhero Sunspot in the movie X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014. He also had important roles in TV shows like The Following, Designated Survivor, and The Cleaning Lady.

Besides acting, Adan Canto also wrote and directed his own short films. His film Before Tomorrow was made in 2014. Another short film, The Shot, won several awards in 2020.

Early Life and Music

Adan Canto was born in Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico, on December 5, 1981. As a child, he would cross the border every day to go to an American Catholic school in Del Rio, Texas. He loved riding horses at his grandfather's ranch.

His mother encouraged him to perform. He started singing on stage at age 7. He grew up listening to traditional Mexican music like boleros and mariachi. He performed in his home state throughout his teenage years.

At 16, Canto left home to become a musician. He found success as a singer and songwriter in San Antonio. He then spent five years in Mexico City as the lead singer for a jazz band called Del Canto. He also wrote and produced music for Mexican films and TV shows.

From Music to Acting

Adan Canto began acting in commercials in Mexico City. Soon, he got a role in a TV series called Estado de Gracia. He later moved to stage acting. He played a main role in a play based on Pedro Almodóvar's All About My Mother.

Acting Career Highlights

In 2013, Canto started acting on American television. He played Paul Torres in the Fox drama series The Following. The next year, he joined the superhero world as Sunspot in X-Men: Days of Future Past. He also appeared in the ABC comedy series Mixology.

In 2015, Canto played A.J. Menendez in the ABC show Blood & Oil. He also had roles in Second Chance and The Catch.

A big role for him was Aaron Shore in the political drama Designated Survivor. He played a key staff member in the White House alongside Kiefer Sutherland. The show was very popular and moved to Netflix for its third season.

Adan Canto on the set of The Shot in Dripping Springs, Texas

In 2019, Canto acted with Halle Berry in her first movie as a director, Bruised.

In 2020, Canto took on a main role as Arman Morales in the Fox series The Cleaning Lady. He starred in the first two seasons of the show. Sadly, his health issues prevented him from returning for the third season. The show's third season premiere was dedicated to him.

Directing and Producing

Adan Canto also had his own production company, Canto House Pictures, which he started in 2013. He directed his first short film, Before Tomorrow, in 2014. His short film The Shot, which was a historical drama, won several awards in 2020. At the time of his passing, he was working on new film and TV projects.

His Family Life

Adan Canto met Stephanie Lindquist, an American artist, in 2012. They were working on the show The Following in New York. Their first creative project together was the short film Before Tomorrow. They got married in June 2017. They had a son in 2020 and a daughter in 2022.

Adan Canto passed away on January 8, 2024, at the age of 42. He had been battling appendiceal cancer. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood, California.

Filmography

Movies

TV Shows