Raúl Rafael Carlos Juliá y Arcelay was born in San Juan on March 9.

He attended elementary school at Colegio Espíritu Santo in Hato Rey and graduated from Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola in Río Piedras.

After beginning studies at Fordham University in New York, he returned to the island where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus.

Then, recently graduated from the university and at the age of 20, returns to New York, where he is introduced to Wynn Handman, director of the American Place Theater, with whom he debuts that same year in the play “La vida es sueño,” by the Spanish playwright Pedro Calderón de la Barca.

He is discovered by legendary theatrical producer and director Joseph Papp and debuts on Broadway with the play “The Cuban Thing.”

Makes his film debut in a supporting role in “The Panic in Needle Park,” starring Al Pacino.

That same year, he received his first Tony Award nomination for his performance in William Shakespeare's “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.” Juliá became a favorite in the New York Shakespeare Festival, where he played the main characters in “Othello,” “King Lear,” “The Tempest,” “Hamlet,” “The Taming of the Shrew” (alongside Meryl Streep), “As You Like It,” and “The Cherry Orchard.”

He participated in the rock musical “Via Galactica” on Broadway, New York, where he played the character of “Gabriel Finn,” a space garbage collector. This musical transforms Broadway productions by introducing the use of trampolines and moving stages during performances.

He received his second Tony Award nomination for his performance in “Where's Charlie?.”

Marries Merel Poloway, with whom he has two sons: Raúl Sigmund and Benjamín Rafael.

Receives his third Tony Award nomination for his role in Bertolt Brecht's “The Threepenny Opera.”

Starred in the Broadway revival of the play “Dracula,” whose performance was well received by theater critics.

Returns to the movies with the film “The Eyes of Laura Mars.”

Returns to Puerto Rico to participate in the filming of the feature film “Isabel, la Negra,” with Miriam Colón, José Ferrer and Miguel Ángel Suárez, under the direction of Efraín López Neris.

Receives his fourth Tony Award nomination for his performance in the play “Nine.”

Co-starred with William Hurt in the acclaimed film “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” for which he received the National Board of Review's Best Actor Award and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. Hurt dedicated his Oscar for Best Actor, which he won for the film, to him.

That same year, Juliá gave his second and most memorable performance in Puerto Rican films, in Marcos Zurinaga's “La gran fiesta,” alongside Daniel Lugo and Cordelia González.

He is again directed by Marcos Zurinaga in the film “Tango Bar.”

He has a starring role in the popular film “Tequila Sunrise,” starring Mel Gibson, Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell.

Receives his second Golden Globe nomination for his supporting role in the film “Moon Over Parador.”

He stars in the film “Romero,” in which he plays the role of the late Monsignor Óscar Arnulfo Romero.

Co-stars in the feature film “Presumed Innocent” opposite Harrison Ford. 34 years later, the film is adapted to a television series, streaming successfully on Apple TV+ and starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

Stars in the blockbuster film “The Addams Family” as “Gomez,” alongside Anjelica Huston and Christina Ricci. The film is a worldwide success grossing over $191.5 million at the box office.

Headlines in his last Broadway performance in the musical “Man of La Mancha” as Don Quixote, alongside Sheena Easton as “Dulcinea.”

Makes a comeback as “Gomez” in the sequel “Addams Family Values.”

He returns to the big screen in the film “Street Fighter.”

That same year, he starred in the American TV movie “The Burning Season,” in which he played the role of environmental activist Chico Mendes. In this film he starred alongside Edward James Olmos, Sonia Braga, Luis Guzmán and Esaí Morales.

Raúl Juliá died at North Shore University Hospital, in New York, on October 16. He was 54 years old. His body is buried in Buxeda Memorial Park in Cupey.

For his performance in the film “The Burning Season: The Chico Mendes Story,” Juliá receives posthumously the Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards for Best Actor. His wife, Merel, accepts the Golden Globe Award on his behalf in a powerful and heartfelt speech.