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Adan Canto, ‘The Cleaning Lady’ and ‘Designated Survivor’ Star, Dies at 42

Adan Canto, the actor known for The Cleaning Lady, Designated Survivor and X-Men: Days of Future Past, died January 8, 2024, at age 42 after a private battle with appendiceal cancer.
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Adan Canto, the Mexican-American actor known for playing Arman Morales on The Cleaning Lady, Aaron Shore on Designated Survivor and Sunspot in X-Men: Days of Future Past, died on January 8, 2024, at age 42. His family and representatives said he died in Los Angeles after a private battle with appendiceal cancer, also known as cancer of the appendix.

Adan Canto’s death and cause

Canto’s death was confirmed by his family and representatives in statements reported by major news organizations. The available reporting identifies appendiceal cancer as the cause of death, but does not provide a public medical timeline. There is no reliable basis for adding details about his treatment, prognosis or the length of his illness.

His family remembered him as a person of unusual depth and emotional presence, saying that those who truly encountered that side of him were changed by it. He was 42.

Family and personal life

Canto married artist Stephanie Ann Lindquist in 2017. She was publicly known as Stephanie Ann Canto after his death. CBS News reported that the couple had two young children, Roman Alder and Eve Josephine.

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Following his death, Stephanie Ann Canto shared a public tribute describing him as her treasure and referring to a biblical passage about storing treasures in heaven. The post offered a personal remembrance alongside the statements from Canto’s family and representatives.

From music to American television

Born on December 5, 1981, in Acuña Municipality, Mexico, Canto was raised partly in Texas. Before becoming widely known as an actor, he pursued music as a singer and songwriter. IMDb’s biographical record says that he left home at 16 to pursue music, wrote and produced songs in Mexico City, and began appearing in commercials and Mexican television before moving further into acting. That account provides useful context for his career, although the most authoritative public sources focus primarily on his screen work.

His first American television role was Paul Torres on Fox’s The Following in 2013. He went on to appear in Mixology, Blood & Oil and Narcos, building a résumé that moved between comedy, political drama, crime stories and superhero action.

Arman Morales on The Cleaning Lady

Canto played Arman Morales on Fox’s crime drama The Cleaning Lady. Arman was one of the show’s principal characters during its first two seasons, and Canto was working on the third season when he died.

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Arman should not be confused with the series’ central protagonist, Thony De La Rosa. Canto’s character was a key figure in the criminal world surrounding Thony, and his performance helped give the show one of its most prominent recurring points of tension and loyalty.

The third-season premiere later included an on-screen dedication to Canto. TVLine reported that the tribute card said, “This season is dedicated to our beloved friend Adan Canto.” The dedication marked the production’s remembrance of an actor who had been part of the series from its beginning.

Aaron Shore on Designated Survivor

On the political thriller Designated Survivor, Canto played Aaron Shore, a White House deputy chief of staff who becomes an increasingly important member of the administration. The role placed him in the series’ central political and institutional storyline and introduced his work to a large international streaming audience.

Aaron Shore was more than a background adviser: he was part of the administration’s inner circle as the show dealt with presidential succession, national crises and the pressures of governing. The role showcased Canto’s ability to play controlled, intelligent characters operating under sustained pressure.

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Sunspot in X-Men: Days of Future Past

Canto portrayed Roberto da Costa, also known as Sunspot, in the 2014 film X-Men: Days of Future Past. Marvel identifies Sunspot as Roberto da Costa and describes the mutant’s solar-energy-based abilities. Although the part was smaller than Canto’s leading television roles, it remains one of his most recognizable film credits.

The film is available in established physical-media editions, including Blu-ray and DVD releases. The official 20th Century Studios home-media materials also document a Rogue Cut edition. Readers looking specifically to revisit Canto’s superhero work can look for the X-Men: Days of Future Past Blu-ray, while checking the edition and seller before purchasing because marketplace inventory changes.

Other notable credits

Canto played Colombian politician Rodrigo Lara Bonilla in Netflix’s Narcos and A.J. Menendez in ABC’s Blood & Oil. His other credited screen work included Agent Game and 2 Hearts. ABC’s official materials for Mixology identify him as Dominic, a mysterious bartender.

He also worked behind the camera. IMDb credits him as a director of the short film Before Tomorrow, and other biographical listings associate him with The Shot. The available source record supports describing directing as part of his broader creative work, but not presenting an expanded directing chronology as established fact.

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How to watch Adan Canto’s best-known roles

Availability depends on country, date and platform licensing. A U.S. JustWatch snapshot dated July 27, 2026 listed The Cleaning Lady and Designated Survivor on Netflix. The same snapshot listed Designated Survivor for digital purchase through Amazon Video, the Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. These listings should be rechecked at publication or before viewing because streaming and transactional catalogs can change without notice.

  • The Cleaning Lady: Look for Canto as Arman Morales, including his work in the first two seasons and the season-three storyline produced before his death.
  • Designated Survivor: Look for Canto as Aaron Shore, the White House deputy chief of staff who becomes a significant member of the administration.
  • X-Men: Days of Future Past: Look for Canto as Roberto da Costa/Sunspot. Blu-ray and DVD editions, including the Rogue Cut, provide a physical-media option.

For viewers who prefer a permanent copy of Canto’s political-drama work, a Designated Survivor: The Complete Series DVD is another possible option, subject to edition and retailer availability.

Tributes and legacy

Canto’s remembrance took several forms. The Television Academy included him in its in-memoriam materials and highlighted his television and film legacy. His wife’s tribute reflected the family’s private loss. And The Cleaning Lady dedicated its third season to him on screen.

Together, those tributes reflect the different parts of Canto’s career: a performer recognized by viewers through major television roles, a creative colleague remembered by a production, and a husband and father mourned by his family. His work in The Cleaning Lady, Designated Survivor and X-Men: Days of Future Past remains the clearest introduction to the range he brought to screen acting.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What was Adan Canto’s cause of death?

Adan Canto died in Los Angeles on January 8, 2024, at age 42 after a private battle with appendiceal cancer, also called cancer of the appendix. Public reporting does not establish a fuller medical timeline.

Who did Adan Canto play on The Cleaning Lady?

Canto played Arman Morales, a principal character during the show’s first two seasons. He was working on the third season when he died. Arman is not the same character as the series’ protagonist, Thony De La Rosa.

Who did Adan Canto play on Designated Survivor?

He played Aaron Shore, a White House deputy chief of staff who later becomes a significant member of the administration.

What character did Adan Canto play in X-Men: Days of Future Past?

Canto played Roberto da Costa, also known as Sunspot, a mutant with solar-energy-based abilities.

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Was The Cleaning Lady dedicated to Adan Canto?

Yes. The third-season premiere included a dedication reported by TVLine as: “This season is dedicated to our beloved friend Adan Canto.”

The Bottom Line

Adan Canto died on January 8, 2024, at 42 after a private battle with appendiceal cancer. From Arman Morales in The Cleaning Lady and Aaron Shore in Designated Survivor to Sunspot in X-Men: Days of Future Past, his screen work left a distinct mark across television and film.

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