Manolo Villaverde

Manolo Villaverde, a Cuban-born actor whose warm portrayal of family patriarch Pepe Peña on "¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.?" helped define the first bilingual sitcom on American television, died January 10, 2026, at his home in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was 89 years old.

Villaverde was born on August 11, 1936, in Havana. He first came to the U.S. in the 1950s, serving in the U.S. merchant marine before returning to Cuba to begin his acting career. He worked in Cuban television and theatre before political turmoil in his homeland compelled him to leave the island in 1964.

Villaverde's breakthrough came with "¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.?" a sitcom produced in Miami and broadcast from 1977 to 1980 that became a cultural touchstone for Cuban-American and wider Latino audiences. His character, Pepe Peña, anchored the show's multigenerational family as they navigated life between Spanish and English, echoing the lived experiences of many immigrant households in the United States.

Initially broadcast on Miami's public television station, the show later found a larger audience as it was broadcast on public TV stations across the U.S. In 1978, "¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.?" won three local Emmy Awards in Miami, including an acting award for Villaverde. It was a notable recognition of a program that had otherwise limited mainstream exposure at the time.

Beyond this signature role, Villaverde had a recurring role on season four of "Wiseguy," playing the father of Steven Bauer's character. The two had previously worked together on "¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.?" He also recurred on the Nickelodeon children's TV shows "Taina" and "Gullah Gullah Island."

Colleagues and fans alike remembered Villaverde for his warmth, professionalism and the dignity he brought to his craft. A Facebook tribute from the official "¿Qué Pasa, U.S.A.?" page summed up many fans' feelings: "Rest in peace Manolo Villaverde, our Pepe Peña - to all of us, he wasn't just a character: he was everyone's Cuban father, guiding us with humor, love, and unforgettable wisdom."

Villaverde also worked as a landscape painter. He is survived by his brother, Oscar.

By Legacy News Staff

(Image: Jose A. Iglesias/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)