Nacho Martínez

Nacho Martinez (July 8, 1952 – July 24, 1996), born "Ignacio Martinez Navia-Osorio" in Asturias, Spain, was a Spanish actor.

Born in Mieres, Asturias in 1952, he began his film career as Tasio's brother in the movie Tasio directed by Montxo Armendariz in 1984. However, the character for which he will be most remembered for is the bullfighter in the film Matador, Pedro Almodóvar, where he co-starred with a very young Antonio Banderas.

From Almodóvar he also did The Law of Desire (1987) as well as High Heels (1991).

Candidate in 1986 for Fotogramas de Plata as best actor, coincided with Angela Molina in La Mitad del Cielo, by Manuel Gutierrez Aragon, and had a small role in the cult movie Viaje a Ninguna Parte, Fernando Fernan Gomez.

Along with his film career, he had a long career as a voice actor in dubbing, film and cartoons.

He died after a long illness (suffering from lung cancer) at the very young age of 44 years, which certainly cut short the career of one of the most influential Spanish actors of the 1980s.

The year 2006 he was remembered in the twentieth edition of the Goya Awards. The International Film Festival Gijon granted a National Film Award named after Nacho Martinez, this prize was awarded in 2005 to actress Assumpta Serna, who co-starred with him in Matador.

Filmography: Mi Nombre es Sombra 1996, High Heels 1991, La Viuda del Capitan Estrada' 1991, El Anonimo 1990, La Mitad del Cielo 1988, Viaje a Ninguna Parte 1986, The Law of Desire 1986, Matador 1986, Adios, Pequena 1986, Caso Cerrado 1985, Extramuros 1985, Tasio 1984

National Film Award Nacho Martinez Granted under the International Film Festival Gijon, falls annually on prominent figures of Spanish cinema:

2007, Marisa Paredes 2006, Maribel Verdú 2005, Assumpta Serna 2004, Eusebio Poncela 2003, Gonzalo Suarez 2002, Juan Echanove