Actor Gerald Castillo is probably best known for roles such as A.C. Slater’s military father on the sitcom “Saved by the Bell” and as Judge Davis Wager on the soap opera “General Hospital.” Other notable credits include “Hill Street Blues,” “Knotts Landing” and “CSI.”
Castillo died on May 4, 2023. He was at his home in Houston, Texas, at the time of his death. He was 90 years old. A cause of death has not been disclosed.
Castillo was born in Chicago and began his acting career on stage. He studied at the Goodman Theater and went on to perform on stage across the country. After performing with “The Jeffersons” star Sherman Hemsley, Hemsley conviced Castillo to move to Los Angeles and pursue an acting career on screen.
Besides acting in TV shows and movies, Castillo also continued to work in the theater. He worked as a stage director at multiple different theaters across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Castillo is survived by his wife, Danya Quinn-Castillo. They had been married for 36 years. She once said of her husband, “Many of the actors he worked with remember him as a charismatic and insightful director who would jingle the change in his pocket while he pondered a scene, then leap onto the stage to work out the blocking or whisper in an actor’s ear. He was revered for providing the support and guidance that allowed actors to fully develop their characters on stage.”
Castillo moved to Houston in 2012 after retiring from his acting career. Besides his wife, he is also survived by his twin brother, grandson, granddaughter and great-grandson. His only child, his daughter Lisa Palmere, preceded him in death.
Rest in peace.