Object Details
Artist
Alexis Rodríguez-Duarte, born 1962
Stylist
Tico Torres, born 1961
Sitter
Walter Mercado, 9 Mar 1932 - 2 Nov 2019
Exhibition Label
Born Ponce, Puerto Rico
Known for his glimmering capes, Walter Mercado was a popular television personality in Latin America and the United States. Originally a dancer and an actor, Mercado’s career took off in the 1970s when he filled in for an astrologer on a Puerto Rican program. His impromptu performance was a hit and paved the way for him to create and produce his own show.
When Mercado’s astrology programs were being broadcast by Univisión (1994–2010), he reached more than 120 million viewers daily. His predictions also appeared in newspapers and magazines, and his voice could be heard on the radio. For fans, Mercado was more than an astrologer; he was a trustworthy source on matters ranging from everyday life to politics. His non-conforming persona, particularly with regard to gender, made him an icon for LGBTQ+ communities. Always one to promote peace and understanding, Mercado signed off each show with “Mucho, mucho amor.”
Nacido en Ponce, Puerto Rico
Conocido por sus destellantes capas, Walter Mercado fue un popular personaje de la televisión en Latinoamérica y Estados Unidos. Se inició como actor y bailarín, pero saltó a la fama en la década de 1970 luego de sustituir a un astrólogo en un programa puertorriqueño. La improvisada actuación fue un éxito y le abrió el camino para crear y producir su propio show.
Cuando sus programas de astrología se transmitían por Univisión (1994–2010), llegaba a diario a más de 120 millones de televidentes. Sus predicciones aparecían en periódicos y revistas, además de escuchársele en la radio. Para sus seguidores, Mercado era más que un astrólogo; era una voz de confianza en asuntos que iban desde lo cotidiano hasta la política. Su imagen anticonvencional, sobre
todo en materia de género, lo convirtió en ícono de las comunidades LGBTQ+. Fomentando siempre la paz y la compresión, concluía todos sus programas deseando “Mucho, mucho amor”.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Date
1998 (printed 2016)
Object number
NPG.2017.2
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Copyright
© 1998, Alexis Rodríguez-Duarte
Type
Photograph
Medium
Gelatin silver print
Dimensions
Image: 27.1 × 26.4cm (10 11/16 × 10 3/8")
Sheet: 35.7 × 27.8cm (14 1/16 × 10 15/16")
Place
United States\Florida\Dade\Miami
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Interior
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair
Costume\Jewelry\Ring
Nature & Environment\Plant
Home Furnishings\Lighting Devices\Lamp
Home Furnishings\Curtain
Walter Mercado: Male
Walter Mercado: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Actor
Walter Mercado: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Dance\Dancer
Walter Mercado: Arts and Culture\Recreation\Astrologer
Walter Mercado: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Television\TV personality
Portrait
Link to Original Record
Record ID
npg_NPG.2017.2