MANILA – Veteran actor Eduardo “Eddie” Garcia passed away on Thursday afternoon, close to two weeks since he suffered a neck injury from an accident at a TV series shooting in Manila.
In a medical bulletin released by the Makati Medical Center yesterday, the multi-awarded actor succumbed at around 4:55 p.m. days after being comatose. He was 90 years old.
“We join the entire Filipino community in praying for the soul of Mr. Garcia and his dearly beloved family and friends,” the hospital said.
Dr. Tony Rebosa, who serves as the spokesperson of the Garcia family, said the family was still shocked with the actor’s passing.
“Actually gulat kaming lahat, at sa ngayon po ay ipagdasal natin ang buong pamilya ni Tito Eddie Garcia na naiwan niya,” Rebosa said.
Garcia suffered a neck injury when he tripped and fell while shooting “Rosang Agimat” TV series for GMA Network last June 8 in Tondo, Manila. He was in critical condition since then.
The veteran actor was officially diagnosed with severe cervical fracture and was placed on “do-not-resuscitate” status last June 15.
Garcia left behind an impressive legacy in a showbiz career that spanned nearly 7 decades, with over 600 films to his name as an actor and film director. Among his last films were “Rainbow Sunset” and “Hintayin Ang Langit.”
Garcia’s death came just days after he was awarded the Gawad Urian for best actor for his role as a delusional military officer who tortures students in the 2018 Cinemalaya movie “ML.”
The actor was born on May 2, 1929, in Juban, Sorsogon. After spending his early years in Juban, Garcia was stationed as a military policeman in Okinawa, Japan as part of the occupation troops of the Philippine Scouts with the United States Army for three years.
However, in 1949, President Elpidio Quirino disbanded the troops. Garcia wanted to re-enlist for the US Army, but he got sidetracked and joined the movies instead.
Garcia was convinced by George Sanderson to try-out as one of the talents for director Manuel Conde’s movie which started the remarkable showbiz career of the veteran actor./PN
