Cristina Sanz, who appeared in all four seasons of A&E’s Emmy-winning 2015-2019 reality series Born This Way that chronicled the lives of adults living with Down syndrome, died Monday, July 6, after suffering cardiac arrest in Long Beach, California. She was 36.
Her death was announced by parents Mariano and Beatriz Sanz on Instagram.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that our daughter, Cristina, passed away Monday morning,” they wrote. “She suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while at her Day Program and was rushed to the hospital. Despite the doctors’ best efforts to stabilize her heart, she did not survive.”
Born This Way, produced by Bunim/Murray Productions, debuted on A&E in 2015 and quickly won over critics and audiences with its honest and empathetic portrayals of the challenges and achievements of seven adults with Down syndrome. Sanz and castmate Angel Callahan became fan favorites as the show chronicled their romantic relationship that culminated in a 2018 wedding. (The couple reportedly separated sometime after the Covid pandemic shutdown.)
The groundbreaking series won three Primetime Emmy Awards including Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program (2016); Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program (2017); and Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program (2017).
In a statement to the press, A&E said, “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Cristina Sanz, who touched the hearts of many through her time on Born This Way. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to her family and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with her.”
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In her Born This Way cast bio, Sanz was described as “a romantic.”
“Her nearly five-year relationship with her boyfriend, Angel, is somewhat of a marvel among the cast,” the bio stated. “Her close-knit family hails from Spain, and Cristina enjoys learning the language and cooking traditional Spanish meals. She fully plays the part of the big sister to her two younger brothers, always teasing them about dating and work.
“Cristina,” it continued, “always impresses her parents with her maturity and compassion and is the first to help someone in need. She hopes to continue to take her relationship to the next level and have an independent life with Angel.”
In their announcement of her death, Sanz’s parents expressed gratitude that that were “able to be by her side at the end.
“Her death was a total shock and unexpected,” they wrote. “We will forever treasure the gift of her life. We will all carry in our hearts the wonderful ‘Cristina moments’ that she gave us.”
Complete information on survivors was not immediately available.
