This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/walter-mercado-flamboyant-puerto-rican-astrologer-dies/2019/11/03/7255f66e-fe66-11e9-8501-2a7123a38c58_story.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Walter Mercado, flamboyant Puerto Rican astrologer, dies Walter Mercado, flamboyant Puerto Rican astrologer, dies
(1 day later)
Walter Mercado, a flamboyant astrologer and television personality whose daily TV appearances entertained many across Latin America and the United States for more than a decade, died Nov. 2 at a hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was 87 or 88, according to conflicting news reports and public records.Walter Mercado, a flamboyant astrologer and television personality whose daily TV appearances entertained many across Latin America and the United States for more than a decade, died Nov. 2 at a hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was 87 or 88, according to conflicting news reports and public records.
The cause was kidney failure, said Sofía Luquis, a spokeswoman at Auxilio Mutuo Hospital. He had been living in the suburb of Cupey and was hospitalized several days before his death.The cause was kidney failure, said Sofía Luquis, a spokeswoman at Auxilio Mutuo Hospital. He had been living in the suburb of Cupey and was hospitalized several days before his death.
Mr. Mercado was born in Ponce, one of Puerto Rico’s largest cities. He worked briefly for TV stations based in the U.S. territory before moving to South Florida. There, he gained fame for his daily horoscope segment on Spanish-language television, delivered in dramatic fashion with an exaggerated trilling of the “r” sound.Mr. Mercado was born in Ponce, one of Puerto Rico’s largest cities. He worked briefly for TV stations based in the U.S. territory before moving to South Florida. There, he gained fame for his daily horoscope segment on Spanish-language television, delivered in dramatic fashion with an exaggerated trilling of the “r” sound.
He favored long and colorful brocades and huge gemstone rings, which he flashed while pointing to viewers. His catch phrase to his audience: “Above all, lots and lots of love.”He favored long and colorful brocades and huge gemstone rings, which he flashed while pointing to viewers. His catch phrase to his audience: “Above all, lots and lots of love.”
Mr. Mercado never publicly stated his sexuality, but he was an icon in the gay community as someone who challenged the conservative television culture in Latin America. “He endows the drag queen with papal authority,” Diana Taylor, a New York University professor of performance studies and Spanish, wrote in a 2003 critique.Mr. Mercado never publicly stated his sexuality, but he was an icon in the gay community as someone who challenged the conservative television culture in Latin America. “He endows the drag queen with papal authority,” Diana Taylor, a New York University professor of performance studies and Spanish, wrote in a 2003 critique.
Alex Fumero, a Los Angeles-based filmmaker who has spent two years working on a documentary about Mr. Mercado, said the astrologer was an unlikely icon in the Latino community.Alex Fumero, a Los Angeles-based filmmaker who has spent two years working on a documentary about Mr. Mercado, said the astrologer was an unlikely icon in the Latino community.
“This is a culture that’s been dominated by machismo and homophobia for a very long time. For someone who so brazenly played with gender and sexuality and always remained something of a mystery … he was really brave,” Fumero said in a phone interview. “This is a culture that’s been dominated by machismo and homophobia for a very long time. For someone who so brazenly played with gender and sexuality and always remained something of a mystery . . . he was really brave,” Fumero said in a phone interview.
However, Mr. Mercado also faced some legal battles.However, Mr. Mercado also faced some legal battles.
In 1998, he got in trouble for endorsing alleged health and beauty products and was named in a class-action lawsuit that accused him of misleading people into buying beads with supposed special powers. The president of the jewelry company, Unique Gems International, was later sentenced to 14 years in prison for defrauding 16,000 people in a $90 million scam.In 1998, he got in trouble for endorsing alleged health and beauty products and was named in a class-action lawsuit that accused him of misleading people into buying beads with supposed special powers. The president of the jewelry company, Unique Gems International, was later sentenced to 14 years in prison for defrauding 16,000 people in a $90 million scam.
In October 2010, Mr. Mercado announced he was changing his name to Shanti Ananda. That same year, he stopped shooting his segment for Univision, the Spanish-language TV channel. Months later, he began to deliver daily horoscopes through El Nuevo Herald newspaper in Miami.In October 2010, Mr. Mercado announced he was changing his name to Shanti Ananda. That same year, he stopped shooting his segment for Univision, the Spanish-language TV channel. Months later, he began to deliver daily horoscopes through El Nuevo Herald newspaper in Miami.
Mr. Mercado was hospitalized in December 2011 in Puerto Rico following a cold that turned into pneumonia. His health condition worsened, and he was transferred to a hospital in Ohio. It was later revealed that he had suffered a heart attack.Mr. Mercado was hospitalized in December 2011 in Puerto Rico following a cold that turned into pneumonia. His health condition worsened, and he was transferred to a hospital in Ohio. It was later revealed that he had suffered a heart attack.
In 2014, he launched the website Passion Latinos, offering horoscopes, online dating and an array of products called “Captivating” — including fragrances, candles, soaps and body lotions aimed at promoting prosperity, sex, health, peace and love. In 2014, he launched the website Passion Latinos, offering horoscopes, online dating and an array of products called Captivating — including fragrances, candles, soaps and body lotions aimed at promoting prosperity, sex, health, peace and love.
— Associated Press— Associated Press
Read more Washington Post obituariesRead more Washington Post obituaries
Bernard Slade, Tony-nominated playwright who created TV’s ‘Partridge Family,’ dies at 89Bernard Slade, Tony-nominated playwright who created TV’s ‘Partridge Family,’ dies at 89
William J. Hughes, 10-term New Jersey congressman, dies at 87William J. Hughes, 10-term New Jersey congressman, dies at 87
Vladimir Bukovsky, Soviet dissenter who revealed abuses of communist system, dies at 76Vladimir Bukovsky, Soviet dissenter who revealed abuses of communist system, dies at 76