# Raphael Cruz
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Raphael_Cruz
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Raphael_Cruz.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raphael_Cruz
> Source revision: 1352232672
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{short description|American actor}}
{{About|the acrobat/actor|other people named Rafael or Raphael Cruz|Rafael Cruz (disambiguation){{!}}Rafael Cruz}}
{{family name hatnote|[Cruz](/source/Cruz)||lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Raphael Cruz
| image = Raphael Cruz pic.jpg
| caption = Raphael Cruz
| birth_name =
| birth_date = September 5, 1986
| birth_place = [Vallejo, California](/source/Vallejo%2C_California), U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|1|26|1986|9|5}}
| death_place = [Paris](/source/Paris), France
| occupation = [Acrobat](/source/Acrobatics), [clown](/source/clown), [actor](/source/actor)
| known_for = [''Iris''](/source/Iris_(Cirque_du_Soleil))
}}
'''Raphael Cruz''' (September 5, 1986 – January 26, 2018) was an American acrobat, clown and actor, a Bay Area native and international contemporary circus star, one of three brothers who performed together.[{{Cite news |last=Siag |first=Jean |date=2018-02-02 |title=Mort de Raphael Cruz: la communauté cirque en deuil |url=https://www.lapresse.ca/arts/spectacles-et-theatre/cirque/201802/02/01-5152433-mort-de-raphael-cruz-la-communaute-cirque-en-deuil.php |access-date=2025-01-08 |work=La Presse |language=fr-CA}}] In 2011, Cruz played the lead role of Buster, a [Buster Keaton](/source/Buster_Keaton) inspired character, in the cinema themed [Cirque du Soleil](/source/Cirque_du_Soleil) production ''[Iris](/source/Iris_(Cirque_du_Soleil))''.[{{cite web |author=Chan, Bryan |date=September 14, 2011 |title=Cirque du Soleil performers before and after photos |url=http://framework.latimes.com/2011/09/14/cirque-du-soleil-performers-before-and-after-photos/#/0 |work=[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)}}][{{cite web |author=Lewis, Raha |date=June 16, 2011 |title=First Look: Costumes for Cirque du Soleil's 'Iris' are part of the spectacle |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2011/06/first-look-costumes-for-cirque-du-soleils-iris-a-journey-through-the-world-of-cinema-are-part-of-the-spectacle.html |work=Los Angeles Times}}][{{cite web |author=Hodgins, Paul |date=September 26, 2011 |title=Cirque's 'Iris' is a feast for the senses |url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/cirque-318993-iris-most.html |work=[Orange County Register](/source/Orange_County_Register)}}] Cruz was part of the choreography team for the opening ceremonies for the [2014 Winter Olympics](/source/2010_Winter_Olympics) in Sochi, Russia.[{{Cite web |date=2024-12-31 |title=January 2 Vallejo/Vacaville Arts and Entertainment Source: The Raphael Cruz Fund honors Vallejo Native |url=https://www.timesheraldonline.com/2024/12/31/january-2-vallejo-vacaville-arts-and-entertainment-source-the-raphael-cruz-fund-honors-vallejo-native/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Times Herald Online |language=en-US}}]
Raphael died unexpectedly at 31 years old on January 26, 2018, in Paris from undiagnosed heart ailment causing heart and lung failure.[{{cite web |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/acrobat-actor-raphael-cruz-recently-at-lookinngglass-dies-in-paris/ |title=Acrobat-actor Raphael Cruz, recently at Lookingglass, dies in Paris |author=Weiss, Hedy |website=[Chicago Sun-Times](/source/Chicago_Sun-Times) |date=January 29, 2018 |accessdate=January 29, 2018}}]
The Raphael Cruz Scholarship Fund was created in 2024 by [Club Fugazi](/source/Club_Fugazi), a performing arts theatre in San Francisco to provide [Bay Area](/source/San_Francisco_Bay_Area) youth with opportunities to be inspired by Raphael's example and follow in his footsteps.