Marcos Ordóñez, prominent Spanish writer and critic, dies at 69

Spanish writer, journalist, and theatre critic Marcos Ordóñez has died in Barcelona at the age of 69. He had been suffering from a neurodegenerative disease that eventually forced his retirement from public life.

Ordóñez was a prominent figure in Spanish cultural journalism, most notably for his long-standing weekly contributions to the Babelia supplement of El País, where he wrote until December 2021. His work was highly regarded for its literary quality and its ability to bridge the gap between academic culture and popular entertainment.

In addition to his journalism, Ordóñez was a prolific novelist and essayist. His literary works include titles such as ‘Rancho aparte’, ‘Tarzán en Acapulco’, and ‘Turismo interior’. He also authored several books focused on cinema and theatre, including biographies and studies on figures like Ava Gardner and Perico Vidal.

Beyond his writing, Ordóñez was an educator, having taught film scriptwriting and actor direction at Universitat Pompeu Fabra.