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Walter Mercado, Celebrity Astrologer, Dies at 87

Walter Mercado, Celebrity Astrologer, Dies at 87: Walter Mercado, the internationally syndicated Puerto Rican astrologer who captivated Latino families across the world with his extravagant televised readings of horoscopes, died on Saturday at the Auxilio Mutuo Hospital in San Juan. He was 87 years old. His death was confirmed by Sofia Luquis, a hospital spokeswoman on Sunday. She said, “Mercado died from kidney failure at the Auxilio Mutuo Hospital in San Juan late Saturday. He had been living in the suburb of Cupey and had spent several days in the hospital before his death.”

Aida Levitan, who helped organize an exhibition in August at the HistoryMiami museum to honor Mercado, said, “He is one of those people who used his celebrity and power to reach millions in order to inspire people with good messages.”

Levitan recalled in a phone interview with the AP, “It’s not easy at the age of 88 to face 500 people trying to take pictures. He never lost his cool. He used all his gifts and talents for the good of mankind, and that’s what makes him so appealing.”

Mercado was born in Ponce, one of Puerto Rico’s largest cities. He worked briefly for TV stations based in the U.S. Caribbean territory before moving to South Florida.

There, he gained fame for his daily horoscope segment on Spanish-language TV, delivered in a 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 catchphrase to his audience was, “Above all, lots and lots of love.”

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.

While Mercado began his career as an actor and dancer, his turn as an astrologer launched when he was asked to fill in on a Telemundo program in 1969 after a scheduled guest failed to show up. According to CNN,

The show’s producer asked Mercado to fill in for the guest by reading the horoscope. According to the foundation, the station was flooded with calls asking for Mercado to return and he launched a new career in astrology.

In 1970, Mercado began presenting a regular astrological segment on Telemundo Puerto Rico. From then on, he focused solely on astrology. He was broadcast in the 1980s on several television networks across Latin America and the United States.

Diana Taylor, a New York University Tisch School of Performing Arts professor, wrote in a 2003 critique, “He endows the drag queen with papal authority.”

Alex Fumero, a Los Angeles-based filmmaker who was working on a documentary about Mercado said, “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.”

He recalled being struck by Mercado’s large collection of books in his home.

Adding that Mercado also was extremely kind, Fumero said, “He can talk to you about Anna Karenina. He’s a real intellectual in that sense. He was one of the most loving people. Being around him, you felt good.”

Mr. Mercado also published annual magazines with his predictions for the coming year. He wrote several books including “Beyond the Horizon: Visions of the New Millennium,” in 1997, and “El Mundo Secreto de Walter Mercado,” in 2010.

Mr. Tabsch said, “In 2010, Mr. Mercado began using the name Shanti Ananda professionally because of the lawsuit, but a few years later, after a settlement, he reverted to Walter Mercado.”

In 2014, Mercado launched a website called passionlatinos.com that offered horoscopes, online dating and an array of products called “Captivating,” which included fragrances, candles, soaps and body lotions aimed at prosperity, sex, health, peace, and love.

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