Adan Canto was a Mexican-American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, singer, songwriter, and musician.
He was born in Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico. Canto crossed the border daily as a child to attend an American Catholic school in Del Rio, Texas. He began performing on stage as a singer at the age of 7. Canto left home at the age of 16 to pursue a career as a musician. He had success as a singer/songwriter in San Antonio, Texas after collaborating with Studio M. He spent five years working as a musician in Mexico City where he performed as lead singer for the jazz band Del Canto. Canto wrote for and produced several songs for film and TV in Mexico. Canto began acting in a handful of commercials in Mexico City and was soon cast in a television series called Estado de Gracia. Canto eventually turned to the stage after being cast as a lead in the adaptation of Pedro Almodóvar's All About My Mother.
In 2013, Canto made his debut on American television, playing the role of Paul Torres on the FOX drama series The Following during its first season. He later was cast as Sunspot in the 2014 superhero film X-Men: Days of Future Past. Also in 2014, Canto was a regular cast member in the ABC comedy series Mixology. He later co-starred in the Amazon pilot Hysteria, and NBC's The Curse of the Fuentes Women. In 2015, Canto was cast as AJ Menendez in ABC primetime series Blood & Oil. He later had the recurring role in the FOX drama series Second Chance, and guest-starred on ShondaLand's The Catch. In 2016, Canto was cast in the ABC political drama series Designated Survivor, playing White House Deputy Chief of Staff, and later Chief of Staff, Aaron Shore opposite Kiefer Sutherland, Natascha McElhone, and Maggie Q. The show was renewed by Netflix for a third season which was released on June 7, 2019. In 2019, Canto was cast opposite Halle Berry in her highly anticipated directorial debut film Bruised.
In March 2020, Canto was cast in a main role of mobster Arman Morales for the FOX series The Cleaning Lady, which he starred in for two seasons. His declining health prevented him from rejoining the cast for the show's third season.
Canto died of appendiceal cancer on January 8, 2024, at the age of 42.
