Héctor Alterio


Héctor Benjamín Alterio Onorato was an Argentine theatre, film and television actor, well known both in Argentina and Spain. His long filmography includes performances in film such as The Truce, Rebellion in Patagonia ''To an Unknown God, Trout, The Crime of Cuenca, The Nest, Camila, The Official Story, Wild Horses, Ashes of Paradise, and Son of the Bride''.

Life and career

Héctor Benjamín Alterio Onorato was born in Chacarita, Buenos Aires on 21 September 1929, to parents from Carpinone, Italy. Alterio's acting debut came in 1948 in the stage play Cómo suicidarse en primavera. After finishing drama school, he created the Nuevo Teatro company in 1950, where he worked until 1968 and helped change the Argentine theatrical scene of the 1960s.
He also worked in Argentine cinema. His debut on the silver screen took place in Alfredo Mathé's in 1965. He then participated in many of the most important Argentine movies of the 1970s, including La Patagonia rebelde, which was awarded a Silver Bear at the 24th Berlin International Film Festival. His voice was used in Ya es tiempo de violencia, an anonymous film about the Cordobazo riots which took place the same year. The film was produced by Enrique Juárez, close to the Grupo Cine Liberación.
While in Spain in 1975, he received death threats from the Argentine Anticommunist Alliance. He decided not to return to Argentina and remained in exile. He also obtained Spanish citizenship.
Consequently, Alterio began to work in Spanish films, including To an Unknown God and received the Best Actor award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival, and The Nest, for which received the Best Actor award from the Association of Latin Entertainment Critics in 1983.
After the restoration of democracy in Argentina in 1982, Alterio worked in films produced in both countries and some co-productions.
In 2004, he received an Honorary Goya Award for his lifetime body of works.
In a 2007 interview, Alterio declared himself an atheist.
For his last screen appearance, Alterio played a minor role in the television series Su majestad, which premiered in 2025.
Alterio died in Madrid on 13 December 2025, at the age of 96. His lying in repose at the was attended by family members and colleagues such as Fernando Tejero, Lola Herrera, Natalia Dicenta, Juan Diego Botto, Luisa Martín, Juana Acosta, Gustavo Salmerón, and Mariano Barroso, among others.

Roles in Academy Award-nominated films

Héctor Alterio has been in five pictures that have been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film:
The fourth of these films won the award at the 58th Academy Awards, and was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay. All of these films, except for The Nest, which was submitted by Spain, have been submitted to the awards by Argentina.

Selected filmography

Todo sol es amargo Cómo seducir a una mujer Don Segundo Sombra – Gaucho in BlackEl santo de la espada – Gen. Simón BolívarLa fidelidad El habilitado Argentino hasta la muerte Y que patatín, y que patatán La mafia – PaolattiPaño verde Los siete locos – Gregorio BarsutLa Piel del amor – LuisLas Venganzas de Beto Sánchez – Coronel SagastiLos golpes bajos Quebracho La Patagonia rebelde – Cmdr. ZavalaLa tregua – Martín SantoméEl Amor infiel – MoralesCría Cuervos – AnselmoPascual Duarte – Esteban Duarte DinizLa menor Fango – CarlosAsignatura pendiente – RafaSecretos de alcoba – CarlosA un dios desconocido – JoséLa guerra de papá – Papá Marian – AlfredoEl mirón – Roman – husbandLas truchas – GonzaloLas palabras de Max – JuliánArriba Hazaña – Hermano DirectorBorrasca – Alberto PinedaLa escopeta nacional ¿Qué hace una chica como tú en un sitio como éste? Serenata a la luz de la Luna Tres en raya – Padre de CarlosTiempos de constitución F.E.N. – AlfredoMemorias de Leticia Valle – AlbertoEl crimen de Cuenca – IsasaEl Nido – Don AlejandroEn mil pedazos – Armando NovaesTiro al aire Otra vez adiós Los viernes de la eternidad – Don Gervasio UrquiagaKargus Tac-Tac – Leonardo GalaVolver Asesinato en el Comité Central – SepúlvedaCorazón de papel – D. Arcadio NietoLa vida, el amor y la muerte – ReginoAntonieta – LeonIl quartetto Basileus – AlvaroLa mujer del juez – Marcial / Paz's loverEl señor Galíndez – BetoCamila – Adolfo O'GormanDe grens – Andras MenzoLos chicos de la guerra – Padre de PabloLa rosales Zama Contar hasta diez La historia oficial – RobertoAdiós, Roberto Flesh + Blood – NiccoloA la pálida luz de la Luna – Miguel Gil de LariosManuel y Clemente – SerafinPuzzle – LuisContar hasta diez El hombre de la deuda externa – PedroSofía – Padre de PedroMi General – General Víctor MendizábalLa veritat oculta – Alfons GarrigaBarbablu Barbablu – FedericoEl verano del potro – FedericoContinental – RudaYo, la peor de todas – The ViceroyGentile Alouette Don Juan in Hell – Padre de Don JuanTango – Feroz Loboas boludas El detective y la muerte – G.M.King of the River – JuanCaballos salvajes – JoséTatiana, la muñeca rusa – DiegoCenizas del paraíso – Judge Costa MakantasisPequeños milagros – Padre de RosalíaMemorias del ángel caído – JulioAsesinato a distancia – Bilverio PunesDiario para un cuento – PabloLas huellas borradas – Don JoséUn dulce olor a muerte – JustinoHéroes y demonios – Jorge RomansLa mujer más fea del mundo – Dr. WernerSuenas en la mitad del mundo – Cuentos ecuatorianos Los libros y la noche I Know Who You Are – SalgadoPlata quemada – LosardoEsperando al Mesías – SimónCabeza de tigre – Santiago de LiniersSagitario – GustavoEl hijo de la novia – Nino BelvedereVidas privadas – padre de Carmen Nobel – AlbertoNoche de reyes – Sr. GarrigaFumata blanca – Cardinal GiovanelloEl Último tren – El ProfesorApasionados – CocoKamchatka – GrandfatherNudos – Cipriano MeraUtopía – SamuelCleopatra – RobertoLe intermittenze del cuore – Saul MortaraNoviembre – YutaEn ninguna parte – AntonioSemen, una historia de amor – EmilioA Tram in SP – LucasAwaking from a Dream – PascualIntruders – Old PriestComo estrellas fugaces – GeneraleKamikaze – LionelFermín glorias del tango – FerminLas consecuencias – César padre

Awards

Won:
Nominated