Adan Canto, Designated Survivor and Cleaning Lady star, dies at 42

Adan Canto, the actor known for his work on such TV and film projects as Designated Survivor, The Cleaning Lady, and X-Men: Days of Future Past, died Monday from complications of appendiceal cancer. He was 42.

His representatives confirmed the news to EW and said in a statement, "He will be greatly missed by so many."

Born in Mexico and raised in Texas, Canto first pursued a career in music. After penning several songs for films and TV shows in Mexico, he branched out into acting. Canto appeared in a stage adaptation of Pedro Almodóvar's All About My Mother before landing his first TV gig on Estado de Gracia in 2009.

He made his American acting debut with a 10-episode stint on the Kevin Bacon-led thriller The Following and went on to play White House Chief of Staff Aaron Shore on Designated Survivor, real-life politician Rodrigo Lara Bonilla on Narcos, and mobster Arman Morales on The Cleaning Lady. Canto's other TV credits included Blood & Oil, Second Chance, Mixology, and The Catch.

In addition to playing the powerful mutant Sunspot in X-Men: Days of Future Past, Canto appeared in the movies Amanda and Jack Go Glamping, 2 Hearts, Bruised, The Devil Below, and Agent Game. He directed two short films, Before Tomorrow and The Shot.

Warner Bros. Television and Fox Entertainment issued a joint statement saying they were "heartbroken" to learn of Canto's death, remembering him as "a wonderful actor and dear friend." They added, "This is an unfathomable loss, and we grieve alongside his wife Stephanie, their children and loved ones. We will miss Adan dearly."

Canto is survived by his wife, Stephanie Ann Canto, and two children, Roman Alder and Eve Josephine.

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