Francisco San Martin, ‘Days of Our Lives’ actor, dies at 39

Francisco San Martin, a soap actor who appeared on Days of Our Lives and The Bold and the Beautiful, has died. He was 39.

The actor died Jan. 16 in Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, who confirmed that he died by suicide.

San Martin, born in Spain but raised in Montana, originated the role of Dario Hernandez on Days of Our Lives, appearing on the soap in 2011 before it was recast in 2016. It was his first TV acting role. His character was introduced as a petty thief, but it was later revealed that he arrived in Salem to investigate a cold case.

“I grew up watching Days, which was crazy,” said San Martin of his full circle casting in a 2016 interview. “When I was living in Montana when I was a kid from the age of 5 to 13, I would watch Days all the time and have these memories of Bo and Hope being trapped in an avalanche. I got such a kick out of it. I was pretty young. I would watch it every time I got back from school.”

Thus, he was starstruck “a lot” while on set. “These were the people that I used to watch when I was younger,” marveled San Martin.

The role of Dario was followed by a bit role in the 2013 romance drama Behind the Candelabra alongside Matt Damon and Michael Douglas, about the tempestuous romance between pianist Liberace and his much younger lover.

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San Martin also appeared on The Bold and the Beautiful as Mateo, an estate manager, in 2017, as well as on the CW drama series Jane the Virgin opposite Gina Rodriguez as Fabian, a telenovela actor. His final roles were in the 2022 shorts Hotter Up Close and Dot.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.