Raphael Cruz

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Raphael Cruz
Raphael Cruz pic.jpg
BornSeptember 5, 1986
Vallejo, California, United States
DiedJanuary 26, 2018(2018-01-26) (aged 31)
Paris, France
Nationality American
Occupation(s) Acrobat, clown, actor

Raphael Cruz (September 5, 1986 - January 26, 2018) was an American acrobat, clown and actor, a Bay Area native and international contemporary circus star, one of three brothers who performed together. [1]

After training in San Francisco’s Pickle Family Circus and then Montreal’s National Circus School, Cruz had many brilliant performances with Montreal's The 7 Fingers and Cirque du Soleil, and the Chicago’s Lookingglass Theatre Company. [2] In 2011, Cruz played the lead role of Buster, a Buster Keaton inspired character, in the cinema themed Cirque du Soleil production Iris . [3] [4] [5] Raphael was part of the choreography team for the opening ceremonies for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. [6]

Raphael died unexpectedly at 31 years old on January 26, 2018, in Paris from undiagnosed heart ailment causing heart and lung failure. [1]

The Raphael Cruz Scholarship Fund was created in 2024 by Club Fugazi, a performing arts theatre in San Francisco to provide Bay Area youth with opportunities to be inspired by Raphael's example and follow in his footsteps. [6]

References

  1. 1 2 Weiss, Hedy (January 29, 2018). "Acrobat-actor Raphael Cruz, recently at Lookingglass, dies in Paris". Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  2. ↑ Siag, Jean (2018-02-02). "Mort de Raphael Cruz: la communauté cirque en deuil". La Presse (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  3. ↑ Chan, Bryan (September 14, 2011). "Cirque du Soleil performers before and after photos". Los Angeles Times .
  4. ↑ Lewis, Raha (June 16, 2011). "First Look: Costumes for Cirque du Soleil's 'Iris' are part of the spectacle". Los Angeles Times.
  5. ↑ Hodgins, Paul (September 26, 2011). "Cirque's 'Iris' is a feast for the senses". Orange County Register .
  6. 1 2 "January 2 Vallejo/Vacaville Arts and Entertainment Source: The Raphael Cruz Fund honors Vallejo Native". Times Herald Online. 2024-12-31. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
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