Erdwin Fernández Honors Late Friend Carlos Massola: "Braver Than Many, Yet Often Forgotten"

On Thursday, Cuban actor Erdwin Fernández Collado paid a heartfelt tribute to his late friend and fellow actor Carlos Massola, who passed away in July 2024. Fernández expressed his sorrow that Massola's name often fades from memory when recalling those artists who boldly opposed the Cuban regime from within the island.

In a Facebook post, Fernández Collado highlighted Massola's remarkable courage. During his final years, Massola openly criticized the Cuban crisis, demanded the release of political prisoners, and held the authorities accountable for the country's dire situation.

"Today, when we mention Cuban actors and artists who, from within Cuba (because the 'gordo' never had the chance to come and go), raised their voices against the dictatorship, many forget or overlook him, sometimes unintentionally," wrote Fernández Collado, who has been residing in Miami for about three years.

The actor emphasized that Massola never resorted to euphemisms or toned down his words to avoid consequences, despite being in Cuba and lacking the freedom to leave the country.

"Massola didn't write 'clever,' soft, or convoluted pieces to avoid 'getting into trouble.' He was direct and brutally honest, speaking live and without scripts, 'calling a spade a spade and the dictatorship, dictators,' without mincing words," Fernández recalled.

For Fernández Collado, this made Massola's stance even more significant. "That was the 'gordo,' a friend braver than many I know and yet the most forgotten," he affirmed.

Massola: A Daring Voice from Within Cuba

Carlos Massola, born in Havana on February 27, 1962, carved out an extensive career in Cuban cinema, television, and theater. Audiences remember him for roles in productions like "Tras la Huella" and "Tierra Brava," as well as films such as "Juan de los Muertos" (2011) and "El Benny" (2006).

However, in the later years of his life, Massola gained attention for reasons beyond his acting roles: he chose to publicly speak out about the harsh realities faced by Cubans without leaving the island.

In August 2023, Massola made headlines with a poignant protest, displaying his nearly empty refrigerator to highlight the food shortages affecting his home as well.

Months later, he directly challenged Miguel Díaz-Canel regarding political prisoners and called for their release. In December of the same year, after watching the film "Plantadas," he openly expressed hope for political change in Cuba: "One day, this dictatorship will fall."

In January 2024, just months before his death, Massola met with activists and families of political prisoners in Havana, showing solidarity with those suffering under repression.

A Life Ended Amid Hardship

Massola died on July 3, 2024, at the age of 62, amidst precarious circumstances and after enduring severe health issues. His death was attributed to hypovolemic shock, as confirmed by a family doctor.

Days before his passing, Massola sent a chilling audio message describing his condition, suffering from bloody vomiting and severe diarrhea. He also recounted a fall that left him stranded on the floor for hours.

His daughter, Jessenia Massola Sablón, later reported that it took about seven hours for the funeral car to arrive and collect her father's body. In accordance with his wishes, Massola's remains were cremated.

The struggles that marked his final years persist for his family. In late July 2026, Jessenia publicly sought assistance after part of her home's floor in San Miguel del Padrón, Havana, collapsed. The incident occurred while digging a makeshift well due to ongoing water supply issues in the area.

More than two years after Massola's passing, Fernández Collado aimed to preserve not only his memory but also the cost of speaking truthfully in a country where criticizing the authorities can have personal and professional repercussions.

He concluded his message with a vow not to let Massola's name be forgotten when discussing Cuban artists who dared to denounce the regime from within the island.

"That's why, Massola, wherever there's talk of an ACTOR who raised his voice from Cuba, I will mention you, because to Caesar what is Caesar's, but to my 'gordo' Massola, the courage and recognition he deserves... above many, above us," Fernández concluded.