This is so sad!
Whether you’ve seen Go On, Dads, The Grinder, or The Kroll Show, we’re sure you recognize Tonita Castro.
Well sadly, the 63-year-old actress’ agent, Nikkolas Rey, confirmed that she passed away on Sunday after a battle with stomach cancer.
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Rey said of her client:
“She was a self-made woman in the industry. She had a gift of comedy. She would make a joke about anything.”
In the late ’70s, Tonita came to the United States from Mexico and started her career in radio. It was only as recent as 2005 that the Latino actress left radio to try her hand at acting!
In 2009, Miz Castro appeared in both Funny People and Imagine That and ended up landing a recurring roll on Matthew Perry‘s Go On from 2012-2013!
Nikkolas, who owns the Alvarado Rey Agency went on to say of his client:
“She wasn’t the maid anymore. I would ask her if she would get nervous working with people like Perry or Adam Sandler, but she had nerves of steel. She kept them on their toes and would improv with them and that’s why they liked her. That’s a gift she had and that’s why she worked with so many people.”
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Tonita went on to snag a recurring role in Seth Green and Seth MacFarlane‘s Fox comedy Dads which ran for two seasons before appearing most recently in the pilor for Rob Lowe‘s Grinder and a couple episodes of CBS‘ Lie in Pieces. Sadly, it was during her run on Pieces that the radio vet started to feel sick and she was diagnosed with cancer shortly after.
Her agent expressed his remorse for Castro’s passing saying:
“She was doing the best stuff of her career — she was getting offers. It was a big loss for me and so many people who loved her. The most important thing about her was she was so wonderful and authentic and energetic. She was always positive.”
After the news broke, several celebs including Sarah Silverman took to Twitter to share their sadness:
RIP Tonita Castro, brilliant effortless actress and radio star. Caretaker of many, beloved by all who knew her. pic.twitter.com/ntNxhPZ8QK
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) May 12, 2016
RIP Tonita Castro. She was perfect as Suela on Kroll Show & everything else. Hilarious woman & a beautiful soul. pic.twitter.com/zUCLVr4ZGq
— nick kroll (@nickkroll) May 12, 2016
Heartbroken to learn of the passing of my friend, Tonita Castro. She was a bright, funny spirit with an old soul. ❤️ https://t.co/9xGoI02h4h
— Sarah Baker (@barahsaker) May 12, 2016
Tonita Castro was alarmingly funny disarmingly sweet. Our #GoOn circle has been broken. RIP pic.twitter.com/AEaPhzFLNn
— Suzy Nakamura (@SuzyNakamura) May 12, 2016
A really sweet, funny lady. TV Actress Tonita Castro Dies At 63 https://t.co/jnzwxfUEoL via @deadline
— Mike Scully (@scullymike) May 12, 2016
RIP Tonita Castro. A wonderful actress and a better person. Audiences loved her and so did I.
— Alec Sulkin (@thesulk) May 12, 2016
Our hearts to out to all those affected by this terrible loss.
[Image via WENN.]
