Sebastián Ligarde


Sebastián Ligarde is an American actor and acting coach best known for his work in telenovelas and the big screen. In his four decade career he has appeared in more than 25 TV shows and over 90 films - most of them in first billing.
In 2015, Ligarde portrayed "Dr. Raimundo Acosta" in the UniMás TV series Demente Criminal, in which his former student Enrique Alejandro interpreted "Billy".

Biography

Born Amedee Gerardo Ligarde Mayaudon to Tejano-American father Amedee Ligarde Saenz, and Mexican mother Emma Armantina Mayaudon Lopez, this duo-national began his acting career in Mexico in the play Fortune and Men's Eyes in 1974. He obtained his first film role in Supervivientes de los Andes two years later. He graduated with a degree in film directing and a minor in acting from the University of Texas at Austin, and then moved to Mexico to continue his acting career. Before finding steady work in Mexico, he appeared in various USA film and television productions with Alfred Hitchcock, John Hurt, and Richard Harris.
Ligarde became known in Mexico after landing the role of Memo in the successful TV series Quinceañera in 1987. His very famous phrase "Serena Morena" has remained a public domain after two decades. From 1986 thru 2003 he remained an exclusive actor for the Mexican Television Producer Televisa. His popular roles in telenovelas such as Lo Blanco y lo Negro, Entre la Vida y la Muerte, María la del Barrio, Salomé, Tú y yo, Belinda and most recently Demente Criminal have kept him a household name. Ligarde is usually seen playing the role of a villain, degenerate, or miscreant.
He was awarded the Diosa de Plata and El Heraldo, both for Best Film Actor in El Homicida. Ligarde has also obtained four TVyNovelas Awards for Pobre Juventud, Quinceañera, Entre La Vida y La Muerte, and an Honorary Award in 2002. In 2002 the League of United Latin American Citizens named him "Sr. Internacional" for his contribution to that society and as "Honorary President of the Republic of the Rio Grande" for his contributions to the state of Texas.
In 2005, Ligarde played "Gonzalo Montero", the alcoholic antagonist in Olvidarte Jamás for Venevision. He also portrayed "Alan" and "George Smith" in their TV series Mi Vida Eres Tu.
In 2006, he became the acting coach for Venevision and made a special appearance in Acorralada.
In 2007, Ligarde played the villain "Manuel" in Telemundo's Pecados Ajenos. That same year, and for Telemundo Productions, he also made two guest appearances in the TV series Decisiones.
In 2008, he played the antagonist "Santori" in the mini-series Gabriel. This project, made by Mega-Films, reunites him with Chayanne whom he co-starred with in their first telenovela for both actors in 1986 Pobre Juventud.

Meisner Technique Teacher

Ligarde has been teaching acting at Taller de Actuación Sebastián Ligarde since 2006 in Miami. He trains actors in film acting, and is the only known "Meisner in Spanish" teacher. After 35 years as an actor he now enjoys his own acting academy and has, for now, retired from acting.
His past students include Thalía, William Levy, Jencarlos Canela, Enrique Alejandro, Elizabeth Gutiérrez, Alejandro de la Madrid, Julián Gil, Frances Ondiviela, Daniel Elbittar, and Sissi Fleitas.
In 2015, Taller de Actuación Sebastián Ligarde will also open in Houston, Texas.

Personal life

In a 2013 interview with TVyNovelas magazine, Ligarde came out as gay, saying he has been in a stable relationship for the last 20 years. He credits performer Ricky Martin, who came out in 2010, as his inspiration.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985Alfred Hitchcock PresentsTimEpisode: "Breakdown"
1986En alas de las águilasAide #1TV Mini-Series
1986Pobre juventudFreddy
1986MarionetasLuis
1987QuinceañeraGuillermo "Memo" LópezMain Antagonist
1989Lo blanco y lo negroAndrés de Castro
1990En carne propiaAbigail Múñoz
1993Entre la vida y la muerteLic. Andrés del ValleMain Antagonist
1994Prisionera de amorGerardo Ávila
1995María la del BarrioLic. Gonzalo DorantesAntagonist/Protagonist
1998Vivo por ElenaErnesto de los MonterosMain Antagonist
2000La casa en la playaSalvador Villarreal
2000Primer amor... a mil por horaAntonio Iturriaga RiquelmeAntagonist
2001SaloméDiego DuvalMain Antagonist
2001-02Mujer, casos de la vida realVarious rolesEpisode: "Amor del bueno"
Episode: "Naufragio"
2004BelindaAdolfo SemprumMain Antagonist
2004Tormenta de passionesMauricio MirandaMain Antagonist
2005Pasiones prohibidasEnrique27 episodes
2006Mi vida eres túAlan Robinson / George Smith
2006Olvidarte jamásGonzalo MonteroMain Antagonist
2007-08AcorraladaLicenciado Borges
2007DecisionesRobertoEpisode: "Bloque de hielo"
2007Pecados ajenosManuelAntagonist
2008GabrielSantori7 episodes
2010Grandes finales de telenovelasGuillermo "Memo" LópezTV Movie documentary
2015Nuestra Belleza Latina 2015HimselfCelebrity guest; Season 9
2015Demente criminalRaimundo AcostaLead role/Antagonistic protagonist
2018Mary for MayorPadre Armando