Eduardo Santamarina is a Mexican actor best known for his decades-long career in telenovelas and his role as a devoted family man. Born Eduardo Hernández García Santamarina on 9 July 1969 in Veracruz, Mexico, he has built a reputation as one of Latin American television’s most enduring leading men. Beyond the screen, he is widely recognised as the father of Julia Santamarina, his daughter with actress Mayrín Villanueva. This article explores his background, acting career, family life and the details that make him a familiar face to telenovela audiences around the world.
Eduardo Santamarina: Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Eduardo Hernández García Santamarina |
| Known As | Eduardo Santamarina |
| Category | Mexican Actor |
| Born | 9 July 1969, Veracruz, Mexico |
| Height | 1.93 metres (6 ft 4 in) |
| Training | Centro de Educación Artística (CEA), Mexico City |
| Debut Role | De frente al sol (1992) |
| Notable Roles | Marisol, Rubí, Velo de novia, Libre para amarte |
| First Marriage | Itatí Cantoral (1999/2000 to 2004) |
| Children from First Marriage | José Eduardo and Roberto Miguel (twins, born 2000) |
| Second Marriage | Mayrín Villanueva (2009 to present) |
| Daughter | Julia Santamarina (born 2009) |
| Other Business Interests | Restaurant and catering company in Veracruz |
| Importance | One of Mexican television’s long-standing leading actors |
Who Is Eduardo Santamarina?
Eduardo Santamarina is a veteran actor whose career spans more than three decades in Mexican television and film. He trained at the Centro de Educación Artística (CEA) in Mexico City between 1989 and 1991, the same institution responsible for shaping many of Televisa’s leading performers.
He made his acting debut in 1992 in the telenovela De frente al sol, produced by Carla Estrada. Since then, he has become a familiar presence in Mexican and Latin American households, known for his tall stature, standing at 1.93 metres, and his commanding screen presence in romantic and dramatic roles.
Early Life and Training
Santamarina was born and raised in Veracruz, Mexico, before moving to Mexico City to pursue acting professionally. His formal training at CEA gave him a strong grounding in performance, which he carried into his earliest television roles.
His debut role in De frente al sol set the tone for a career built on telenovela leading roles, and he quickly moved on to other prominent productions that established his name within the industry.
Acting Career and Notable Roles
Eduardo Santamarina has appeared in numerous telenovelas across his career, many of which achieved significant popularity in Mexico and internationally.
Key Productions
Some of his most recognised roles include:
- Marisol (1996), one of his breakout performances
- Rubí (2004), a widely watched and internationally distributed telenovela
- Velo de novia
- Salud, dinero y amor
- Libre para amarte, where he played the antagonist
He has also worked with Telemundo in addition to his extensive Televisa credits, broadening his reach across Spanish-language television markets. His film credits include Baño de Mujeres and Ya No Los Hacen Como Antes, both released in 2002, showing his range beyond television drama.
Personal Life and Marriages
Eduardo Santamarina has been married twice, and both relationships have shaped the public understanding of his family life.
Marriage to Itatí Cantoral
He married actress Itatí Cantoral in 1999 or 2000, depending on the source. The couple welcomed twin sons, José Eduardo Santamarina Cantoral and Roberto Miguel Santamarina Cantoral, in 2000. The marriage ended in divorce, finalised in 2004, though Santamarina has remained an active presence in his sons’ lives.
Marriage to Mayrín Villanueva
Following his divorce, Santamarina began a relationship with actress Mayrín Villanueva, whom he had met in 2007 while co-starring in I Love Juan Querendón. The couple married in 2009. Their union is often described as stable and grounded, and it produced their daughter, Julia Santamarina, born the same year they married.
Who Is Julia Santamarina?
Julia Santamarina is the daughter of Eduardo Santamarina and Mayrín Villanueva, born in 2009. Unlike many children of Mexican television stars, Julia has largely grown up away from the public eye.
In 2019, Mayrín Villanueva revealed that Julia had no interest in following her parents into acting. Instead, she expressed a wish to become a veterinarian, driven by her love of animals, an interest reflected in the family’s own household of pets. Julia also has maternal half-siblings, Romina and Sebastián Poza, from her mother’s previous marriage to actor Jorge Poza, as well as paternal half-brothers from her father’s first marriage.
A Blended Family
Eduardo Santamarina and Mayrín Villanueva’s household is a blended family formed from both of their previous relationships.
Julia grows up alongside her father’s twin sons from his marriage to Itatí Cantoral and her mother’s children from her marriage to Jorge Poza. The family has occasionally appeared together at public events, including the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, offering rare glimpses into their combined family life.
Why Eduardo Santamarina Remains a Recognisable Figure
Eduardo Santamarina’s continued relevance comes from both his acting longevity and his low-key approach to fame.
He has spent over 30 years building a body of work across Mexican and Latin American television, while keeping his family life relatively private. This balance between public career and private family has contributed to sustained public curiosity about his personal life, particularly regarding his children.
Business Interests Beyond Acting
Away from acting, Santamarina owns a restaurant in Veracruz along with a catering company, showing an entrepreneurial side that runs parallel to his television career. This gives him a professional identity that extends beyond his on-screen work, rooted in his home region of Veracruz.
Conclusion
Eduardo Santamarina is a respected Mexican actor whose career has spanned more than 30 years, marked by leading roles in popular telenovelas such as Marisol and Rubí. He is also widely known as the father of Julia Santamarina, his daughter with wife Mayrín Villanueva, as well as twin sons José Eduardo and Roberto Miguel from his earlier marriage to Itatí Cantoral. While his professional life has kept him in the public eye, Santamarina has maintained a private family life, with Julia growing up largely away from the spotlight and pursuing her own interests outside acting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Eduardo Santamarina?
Eduardo Santamarina is a Mexican actor born on 9 July 1969 in Veracruz, known for leading roles in telenovelas such as Marisol and Rubí. He has worked in Mexican television for more than 30 years.
Who is Julia Santamarina’s father?
Julia Santamarina’s father is Eduardo Santamarina, the Mexican actor. Her mother is actress Mayrín Villanueva, and Julia was born in 2009.
Does Eduardo Santamarina have other children besides Julia?
Yes, Eduardo Santamarina has twin sons, José Eduardo and Roberto Miguel, from his first marriage to actress Itatí Cantoral. Julia Santamarina, his daughter with Mayrín Villanueva, is his third child.
Is Julia Santamarina an actress?
No, Julia Santamarina is not pursuing acting. In 2019, her mother confirmed that Julia wanted to become a veterinarian instead, due to her love of animals.
Who was Eduardo Santamarina married to before Mayrín Villanueva?
Before marrying Mayrín Villanueva in 2009, Eduardo Santamarina was married to actress Itatí Cantoral. Their marriage ended in divorce in 2004 after they had twin sons together.
