Who was Merlin Santana? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Died At Age: 26

Family:

mother: Lea Santana

Died Young Actors

Died on: November 9, 2002

place of death: Los Angeles, California, United States

Cause of Death: Murdered

Ancestry: Dominican American

U.S. State: New Yorkers

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1

What was Merlin Santana's most famous role?

Merlin Santana is best known for his role as Stanley "Bullethead" Kuznocki in the TV show "The Steve Harvey Show."
2

What year did Merlin Santana tragically pass away?

Merlin Santana passed away on November 9, 2002.
3

Did Merlin Santana have any notable guest appearances on other TV shows?

Yes, Merlin Santana made guest appearances on popular shows like "The Cosby Show," "Sister, Sister," and "Moesha."
4

What was the cause of Merlin Santana's death?

Merlin Santana was tragically shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles.
5

What impact did Merlin Santana's death have on the entertainment industry?

Merlin Santana's untimely death shed light on the issue of gun violence and its impact on young actors in the industry.

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Career

At the age of nine, Merlin Santana made his first screen appearance as an extra in the film ‘The Purple Rose of Cairo’ by Woody Allen in 1985. In 1991, he featured in a recurring role on ‘The Cosby Show’ as Stanley, the boyfriend of Rudy Huxtable, when he was 15. His performance was admired and his acting abilities were recognized. In 1993, he was cast as Marcus Dixon in an American sitcom, ‘Getting By’, which was first aired on ABC and then on NBC. However, as it could not garner good ratings, it was canceled after a year.

In November 1994, he was cast in another television sitcom ‘Sister, Sister’ as Joey, who falls in love with Tia and Tamera. In 1995, he appeared as Marcus Henry in the family drama ‘Under One Roof’, aired on CBS, which was also short-lived. He was also cast as Ohagi on ‘Moesha’, a sitcom series that was aired on the UPN network in 1996. It ran for more than five years.

In 1996, he also landed the role of Romeo on ‘The Steve Harvey Show’, which aired on The WB Television Network for six years. In 2001, he played the role of Jermaine in the movie ‘Flossin’, and in 2002, he was featured in the VH1 TV movie, ‘Play'd: A Hip Hop Story’. While ‘Half & Half’ on UPN was his last TV series, his last film was the comedy film ‘The Blues’, which was released in 2003.

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American Film & Theater Personalities

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Personal Life

Merlin Santana was born on March 14, 1976, in New York City. His parents were from the Dominican Republic. Although we do not know anything about his father, his mother was Lea Santana, who pushed him into show business to keep him away from the tough streets of New York.

Murder

On November 9, 2002, Merlin was shot in the head and killed, as he and his best friend and former child actor, Brandon Quintin Adams, were sitting in a parked car. They had just left another man's house in the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles. All of a sudden, a man named Damien Andre Gates fired the shot that penetrated the right-front passenger headrest of the car, and entered Merlin’s head, killing him on the spot.

It was reported that Monique King, who was Damien’s girlfriend, had falsely claimed that Merlin had made sexual advances towards her, which led to her boyfriend killing Merlin in rage. She also helped him escape after he shot Santana, said Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Larry P. Fidler.

Damien was convicted of first-degree murder and attempted murder of Adams, and was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences plus 70 years in prison. Brandon Douglas Bynes, who helped Damien, received a 23-year sentence. Monique was charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder. She was acquitted on two murder charges, but received 10 years in juvenile custody. Merlin was buried on November 18, 2002, at Saint Raymond's Cemetery in The Bronx, New York.

Facts About Merlin Santana

Merlin Santana was a talented musician and played the saxophone.

He was known for his love of cooking and often experimented with different recipes.

Santana was a dedicated volunteer, regularly giving his time to charitable causes in his community.

He had a great sense of humor and was known for his ability to make people laugh on set.

Santana was an avid reader and enjoyed discussing literature with friends and colleagues.

Merlin Santana Biography

You wanted to know

What was Merlin Santana's most famous role?

What year did Merlin Santana tragically pass away?

Did Merlin Santana have any notable guest appearances on other TV shows?

What was the cause of Merlin Santana's death?

What impact did Merlin Santana's death have on the entertainment industry?