Legendary astrologer Walter Mercado who predicted that Bill Clinton would become president and Madonna would land Evita role, dies aged 87

  • Beloved Puerto Rican astrologer Walter Mercado, 87, whose predictions were a staple of Latin American TV for 50 years, has died at a hospital in San Juan
  • Mercado died from kidney failure late Saturday, said a spokeswoman for the Auxilio Mutuo Hospital
  • The astrologer was in bad health last month and this past week hospitalized
  • Mercado, who was born in Ponce in a household steeped in religious and spiritual beliefs, worked briefly for TV stations based in Puerto Rico
  • He later moved to South Florida where he gained fame for his daily horoscope segment on Spanish-language TV, delivered in a dramatic fashion 

Walter Mercado, the beloved astrologer and television personality whose predictions were a staple of Latin American television for half a century, has died aged 87.

Mercado died from kidney failure at the Auxilio Mutuo Hospital in San Juan late Saturday, said a hospital spokeswoman.

The spokeswoman was not authorized to release more details, including how many days he had been in there and whether he had moved back to Puerto Rico from South Florida. 

Walter Mercado, the beloved astrologer and television personality whose predictions were a staple of Latin American television for half a century, has died. He was 87

Walter Mercado, the beloved astrologer and television personality whose predictions were a staple of Latin American television for half a century, has died. He was 87

Among Walter Mercado's predictions was Bill Clinton winning the presidential election in 1992

Among Walter Mercado's predictions was Bill Clinton winning the presidential election in 1992

Mercado also correctly predicted that Madonna would land the part of Eva Peron in the 1996 film version of the Broadway musical 'Evita'

Mercado also correctly predicted that Madonna would land the part of Eva Peron in the 1996 film version of the Broadway musical 'Evita'

The astrologer was in bad health last month and this past week hospitalized, said Fernan Vélez, host of 'Dando Candela'.

Mercado, who was born in Ponce in a household steeped in religious and spiritual beliefs, worked briefly for TV stations based on the island common wealth before moving to South Florida.

There, he gained fame for his daily horoscope segment on Spanish-language TV, delivered in a dramatic fashion with an exaggerated trilling of the 'r'' sound. His predictions included Bill Clinton winning the 1992 US presidential election. 

The astrologer also correctly predicted Madonna would land the part of Eva Peron in the 1996 film version of the Broadway musical 'Evita', Sister Teresa's death a year later and the birth of one of Julio Iglesia's sons.

Mercado poses for a portrait in 2001 in Los Angeles. In 1998, Mercado got in trouble for endorsing alleged health and beauty products

Mercado poses for a portrait in 2001 in Los Angeles. In 1998, Mercado got in trouble for endorsing alleged health and beauty products

He favored long and colorful brocades, wore elaborate robes and sported huge gemstone rings, which he flashed while pointing to viewers.

His catch phrase to his audience was 'Mucho, mucho Amore,' which translated from Spanish is 'Lots and lots of love'.

Mercado never publicly stated his sexuality, but he was an icon in the gay community as someone who challenged the conservative television culture in Latin America.

'He endows the drag queen with papal authority', Diana Taylor, a New York University Tisch School of Performing Arts professor, wrote in a 2003 critique.

In 1998, Mercado got in trouble for endorsing alleged health and beauty products.

He was named in a class-action lawsuit that accused him of misleading people into buying beads with supposed special powers. The president of the jewelry company, Unique Gems International, was later sentenced to 14 years in prison for defrauding 16,000 people in a $90 million scam.

Mercado favored long and colorful brocades, wore elaborate robes and sported huge gemstone rings, which he flashed while pointing to viewers. He is pictured posing for portrait in 2001

Mercado favored long and colorful brocades, wore elaborate robes and sported huge gemstone rings, which he flashed while pointing to viewers. He is pictured posing for portrait in 2001

The Mucho Amore: 50 Years of Walter Mercado' exhibition at the HistoryMiami museum in August in August featured samples of Mercado's colorful and sometimes flamboyant wardrobe

The Mucho Amore: 50 Years of Walter Mercado' exhibition at the HistoryMiami museum in August in August featured samples of Mercado's colorful and sometimes flamboyant wardrobe

In October 2010, Mercado announced he was changing his name to 'Shanti Ananda'.

That same year, he stopped shooting his segment for the Univision Spanish-language TV channel. Months later, he began to deliver daily horoscopes through El Nuevo Herald newspaper in Miami.

Mercado was hospitalized in December 2011 in Puerto Rico following a cold that turned into pneumonia. 

His health condition worsened, and he was transferred to a hospital in Ohio. It was later revealed that he had suffered a heart attack.

Mercado commanded huge adoration from his fans, including many who were on hand when his career was celebrated this summer at a Miami museum exhibit. 

The astrologer even arrived seated upon a throne that was carried into the 'Mucho, Mucho Amore: 50 Years of Walter Mercado' exhibition at the HistoryMiami museum in August.

In a video he made about the exhibition, Mercado almost seems to predict his time was coming, by letting his fans known how he wanted to be remembered.

'Walter Mercado means love, peace and understanding, means compassion,' he says in the video message to his followers. He signs off with the supporters, by letting them know, 'They can do the same thing if they put their heart in what they are doing'.

Mercado makes his entrance to the 'Mucho, Mucho Amore: 50 Years of Walter Mercado' exhibition at the HistoryMiami museum in August while seated on a throne to a huge adoration from fans

Mercado makes his entrance to the 'Mucho, Mucho Amore: 50 Years of Walter Mercado' exhibition at the HistoryMiami museum in August while seated on a throne to a huge adoration from fans