Sergio Calderon, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and ‘Men in Black’ actor, dead at 77
Sergio Calderon, whose dozens of acting credits included roles in “Men in Black” and the third “Pirates of the Caribbean” film, died Wednesday at age 77.
“He was in the hospital previously with a bout of pneumonia, not sure that was the cause,” a representative told Entertainment Weekly, noting the actor was “surrounded by family.”
Calderon broke into the entertainment industry during the early 1970s, appearing in movies made in Hollywood, Europe and his native Mexico. His early films included 1971′s “Duck, You Sucker!” — a Zapata Western starring Rod Steiger and James Coburn — and acclaimed 1976 Mexican drama “Canoa: A Shameful Memory.”
Calderon later portrayed the character Jose — a human head on a stick — in 1997′s “Men in Black,” the original entry to the alien comedy franchise starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones.
Last July, Calderon celebrated the 25th anniversary of the film, tweeting “Men in Black” was “one of the greatest movies I worked in” and a “wonderful opportunity.”
His portrayal of a pirate lord in 2007′s “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” was also among Calderon’s most memorable works. In 2017, he tweeted a photo in his pirate get-up alongside Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richard, who also appears in the film.
“If someone tries to take your gun, it better be someone like #KeithRichards,” Calderon wrote at the time. “A true #Legend!”
Most recently, Calderon appeared in episodes of three shows last year, including “Better Things” on FX and Peacock’s “The Resort.”