'One Life to Live' and 'Call of Duty' star Kamar de los Reyes dies from cancer on Christmas Eve

Kamar de los Reyes who starred as Antonio Vega in the soap opera “One Life to Live,” and took on the villainous role of Raul Menendez in the video game “Call of Duty: Black Ops II” died Christmas Eve from cancer in Los Angeles, according to a Monday report published Variety magazine.

The San Juan, Puerto Rico native was 56.

De los Reyes was raised in Las Vegas where he studied acting and dancing and began his acting career after moving to Los Angeles to pursue his drama related ambitions in the late 1980s.

His career took an upswing in 1994 when he landed the role as the Chicano boxer, Pedro “Roadman” Quinn in the off-Broadway show “Blade to the Heat” and a year later worked with Star Trek’s Patrick Stewart in a 1995 production of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.”

He quickly received accolades for his acting abilities from major newspapers such as The New York Times. In a Nov. 4, 1994, review, Times theater critic David Richards praised the actor for his performance in “Blade to the Heat.”

“The most arresting figure, however, is Mr. de los Reyes. More than any words he utters, the actor's haunted eyes, sunken cheeks and shaved head convey the extent of Pedro's torment. In repose, he's almost spectral. In the ring, he's like a short circuit, and his silent scream of triumph is a guaranteed spine-tingler,“ Richards wrote of de los Reyes nearly three decades ago.

That same year, De los Reyes landed his first major part, by getting a role on the legendary ABC soap Opera “One Life to Live.”

For three years until 1998, the Puerto Rican native played Antonio Vega, a character who was wrongly imprisoned for murder after acting in self-defense.

In 2001, De los Reyes starred in a television film, “The Way She Moves,” starring Annabeth Gish and fellow soap opera star Daniel Cosgrove. He also starred in the drama-romance film “Love and Suicide” and in Toni Braxton's music video. “Spanish Guitar.”

He has also made several guest appearances on crime thriller television shows such as  “CSI: Miami” and “Law & Order.”

In the popular 2012 video game “Call of Duty: Black Ops II,” de los Reyes played Nicaraguan terrorist and arms dealer Raul Menendez who is responsible for igniting another Cold War in the year 2025.

He brought back the character in future versions such as “Call of Duty: Black Ops IV” and “Call of Duty: Vanguard.”

De los Reyes also played in major films with Hollywood stars.

Some of those credits include “The Cell” starring Jennifer Lopez, “Nixon,” starring Anthony Hopkins, and the action spy thriller, “Salt” which starred Angelina Jolie.

In “Nixon” the Puerto Rican actor played one of the convicted Watergate burglars, Eugenio Martinez, a member of the Cuban exile community who was later pardoned in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan.

His other credits included playing the role of “Jobe” on shows such as “Sleepy Hollow,” and “Ryan Caradine” in “The Rookie.”

De los Reyes had upcoming roles in Hulu’s “Washington Black” and Marvel’s show “Daredevil: Born Again,” according to Variety.

De los Reyes is survived by his wife, actress Sherri Saum and his sons Caylen, Michael and John.