Merlin Santana

An Image and ALMA award nominee who rose to fame on The Steve Harvey Show before co-starring with Eddie Murphy in the #92;action comedy Showtime, actor Merlin Santana's career was cut tragically short by a seemingly random act of violence. Born to Dominican Republic immigrants in New York City, Santana was encouraged by his mother to pursue a career in show business as a means to keep the talented youngster off the streets. Following early work as a fast food chain advertising model, Santana landed a recurring role on the enduring #92;sitcom The Cosby Show. Although he co-starred in the #92;sitcom Getting By in the early '90s, it was The Steve Harvey Show that found the actor nominated by the Image awards and ALMA and truly coming into his own as an actor. Sadly, his blossoming career was ended with a bullet as he sat in a parked car in South Los Angeles in November 2002. A woman was arrested in connection to the crime shortly thereafter. Santana was 26. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

• Also Credited As:
  Merlin Santana
• Born:
  March 14, 1976 in New York City, New York, USA
• Died:
  November 9, 2002.
• Job Titles:
  Actor, Musician, Model/spokesperson for Neverbroke clothing

Milestones

• 1992 Obtained a small part in the made for television movie In The Line Of Duty: Street War
• 1993 Co-starred in the sitcom Getting By
• 1995 Cast in the short-lived television drama Under One Roof
• 1996 Received breakout role as Romeo on the hit sitcom The Steve Harvey Show
• 2001 Co-starred in the feature Flossin, which was directed by Todd Bridges
• 2002 Cast as Hector in the Robert DeNiro and Eddie Murphy comedy feature Showtime
• 2002 Co-starred in the hip hop drama loosely based on the events that led to the death of Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G feature Play d: A Hip Hop Story
• Began career as an advertising model or fast food chains
• Began his acting career as an extra in Woody Allen s Purple Rose of Cairo.
• Had reoccuring role on The Cosby Show