🕊️ Gone Too Soon: The Truth Behind the Viral Claim About NBC and CBS Actor Francisco San Martin
Fact-check verdict: TRUE — but the viral post is misleading about when the death happened.
A dramatic image circulating online claims: “GONE WAY TOO SOON: BELOVED NBC & CBS STAR DIES AT 39 — FANS SHOCKED BY HEARTBREAKING DETAILS.” The graphic uses “Breaking News” banners and directs readers to a supposed “full story” in the comments.
The claim is based on a real tragedy. Actor Francisco San Martin, known for his work on NBC's Days of Our Lives, CBS's The Bold and the Beautiful, and The CW's Jane the Virgin, died at the age of 39.
However, there is an important correction that readers should know before sharing the post: San Martin did not die recently. He died on January 16, 2025, in Los Angeles. His death was reported publicly several days later. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that his death was a suicide.
That means the underlying claim that the actor died at 39 is true, but the presentation as a new or breaking event is misleading if the post is being circulated in 2026.
This distinction matters because social-media posts often recycle genuine stories months or even years after the original event. By adding phrases such as “breaking news,” “just happened,” or “fans shocked,” an old report can look like a current event.
The Claim: What Is Actually True?
The viral image does not name Francisco San Martin. Instead, it refers to an unnamed “NBC and CBS star” who allegedly died by suicide at 39.
That description points to San Martin.
He was best known to daytime television viewers for portraying Dario Hernandez on Days of Our Lives. He also appeared in CBS's The Bold and the Beautiful, where he played Mateo in 2017. His television résumé also included Jane the Virgin, and his film credits included Behind the Candelabra.
San Martin's death occurred on January 16, 2025. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the death and classified it as suicide. Major entertainment and news organizations subsequently reported the information, including PEOPLE, NBC News, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Deadline and the Los Angeles Times.
So there is no credible basis for saying that the death itself is fabricated.
The misleading part is the timing.
A person seeing the image without additional context could reasonably believe that an NBC/CBS actor had just died. That is not what the verified record shows. The event happened in January 2025.
Who Was Francisco San Martin?
Francisco San Martin was a Spanish-born American actor whose career crossed television, film and theater.
He was born in Mallorca, Spain, in 1985 and spent part of his childhood in Montana. According to biographical accounts, he began performing when he was young, including children's theater. During his teenage years, he returned to Spain with his family and became involved in modeling and acting. He later pursued professional opportunities in the United States.
His career was not defined by one enormous blockbuster role. Instead, he built a résumé through recognizable television appearances and supporting roles.
That is particularly important when evaluating the viral headline's description of him as a “beloved NBC & CBS star.”
San Martin certainly worked for productions associated with both networks, but describing him as one of the biggest stars of NBC and CBS would overstate his career.
He was a working actor whose most recognizable credits included Days of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful and Jane the Virgin.
His Breakthrough on Days of Our Lives
For many fans, San Martin will always be remembered as Dario Hernandez on NBC's long-running daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives.
The role represented an important milestone because it was his first major television acting opportunity. Entertainment Weekly reported that San Martin had grown up watching the program and remembered watching it as a child in Montana. Getting the opportunity to join the cast therefore represented a remarkable full-circle moment for him.
San Martin originated the role of Dario Hernandez in 2011.
The character was introduced with a complicated storyline involving theft and investigation. As is typical of daytime soap operas, the story developed through twists, family relationships and secrets.
San Martin's time on the series was relatively short, but the role gave him exposure to a large television audience.
His character later returned to the storyline with another actor taking over the role, illustrating something common in long-running soap operas: characters can continue even after the original performer leaves.
For San Martin, however, Dario remained one of the defining roles of his career.
From NBC to CBS
San Martin later appeared on another major American daytime soap opera: CBS's The Bold and the Beautiful.
In 2017, he played Mateo, an estate manager. His appearance on the CBS soap gave him another connection to the world of daytime television. PEOPLE and other outlets reported that he appeared in the series that year.
This is why the viral graphic's reference to an “NBC & CBS star” has a factual foundation.
But there is an important distinction between saying someone appeared on programs broadcast by NBC and CBS and saying that person was a major network star.
San Martin was not a network news anchor or prime-time executive. He was an actor who worked on popular television productions associated with both networks.
That distinction is worth making because sensational social-media headlines often inflate ordinary facts to create a stronger emotional reaction.
Jane the Virgin Added Another Familiar Credit
Another important part of San Martin's career was his appearance on Jane the Virgin.
He played Fabian Regalo del Cielo, a telenovela actor who became involved in Jane's story. The role gave him an opportunity to appear in a different kind of television production from the traditional daytime soap.
The series was known for combining comedy, romance, melodrama and telenovela-style storytelling.
San Martin appeared in the show's third and fourth seasons, giving him another recognizable credit beyond daytime television.
For viewers who did not follow Days of Our Lives or The Bold and the Beautiful, Jane the Virgin may therefore have been their introduction to him.
His Film Work
San Martin also appeared in the 2013 television film Behind the Candelabra, directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon.
The film dramatized the relationship between legendary entertainer Liberace and Scott Thorson.
San Martin's part was not the central role, but being included in such a high-profile production was another accomplishment in his career.
His later acting credits included short films such as Hotter Up Close and Dot. Entertainment Weekly reported that these were among his final screen roles, with his most recent acting credits dating to 2022.
His career therefore extended beyond the roles that made him recognizable to soap-opera audiences.
The Circumstances of His Death
This is the most sensitive part of the story.
San Martin died on January 16, 2025, at his home in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that his death was a suicide.
Because the death involved suicide, responsible reporting should avoid unnecessary graphic descriptions of the circumstances.
The essential verified facts are enough: he died at 39, authorities investigated the death, and the medical examiner classified it as suicide.
There is no credible evidence supporting additional sensational claims about a hidden motive, secret final message, mysterious murder or other dramatic theories that sometimes appear in social-media posts.
This is especially important when discussing celebrity deaths online. A confirmed death does not automatically make every accompanying story true.
Why the Viral Post Is Misleading
The image uses several classic social-media engagement techniques.
First, it uses the words “Breaking News.”
Second, it says “Gone Way Too Soon.”
Third, it uses crying and broken-heart emojis.
Finally, it tells viewers to read more in the comments.
None of those elements is evidence.
The underlying story is real, but the presentation can create a false impression that the event has just happened.
The verified timeline tells a different story.
San Martin died on January 16, 2025. News organizations reported the death around January 20–21, 2025.
Therefore, if the graphic is being posted now as though it describes a death that happened today or this week, it should not be described as breaking news.
A more accurate headline would say:
“Francisco San Martin, ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Actor, Died at 39 in January 2025.”
That wording communicates the important information without misleading readers about the date.
What Reputable Sources Confirmed
The strongest evidence comes from multiple independent publications.
PEOPLE reported that San Martin died at his home on January 16 and cited the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office.
The Los Angeles Times also reported the death and the medical examiner's determination.
Deadline reported that the actor died January 16 at his home and identified him as the actor who originated Dario Hernandez on Days of Our Lives.
Entertainment Weekly reported his death and reviewed his television career, including Days of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful and Jane the Virgin.
The Hollywood Reporter and Variety likewise published reports about his death in January 2025.
The agreement among these independent outlets is significant.
When several established organizations report the same basic facts while citing official records, the likelihood that the underlying event is fabricated becomes extremely low.
Tributes From People Who Knew Him
News of San Martin's death was followed by tributes from colleagues and people within the entertainment community.
One of the most notable came from Camila Banus, who played Gabi Hernandez on Days of Our Lives. San Martin had played her on-screen brother Dario.
Banus shared an emotional tribute remembering him as a friend and expressing regret that she had not said certain things to him while he was alive. Her tribute reflected the shock felt by people who had worked with him.
Entertainment journalist Michael Fairman also expressed shock at the news, noting that he had regularly seen San Martin.
These personal reactions help explain why the story affected fans of daytime television.
San Martin may not have been a household name on the scale of Hollywood's biggest stars, but television careers are often built around relationships with audiences over time.
For soap-opera fans, even a performer who appears for a limited period can become associated with a memorable character.
His Death Was Later Remembered by the Daytime Television Community
One of the most significant verified developments after the original news reports came in October 2025.
At the 52nd Daytime Emmy Awards, the television community included Francisco San Martin among the performers remembered in the ceremony's “In Memoriam” segment.
PEOPLE reported that the October 17, 2025 ceremony honored numerous figures from daytime television who had died during the preceding period. San Martin was among those remembered.
That recognition is important because it demonstrates that his death was not simply an internet rumor.
He was officially remembered alongside numerous other figures connected to the daytime television industry.
For fans, such tributes can provide a more meaningful form of remembrance than sensational headlines.
Instead of focusing only on the circumstances of someone's death, an “In Memoriam” tribute allows attention to return to the person's professional contribution and the memories they left behind.
What Is the Latest Verified Information?
As of August 23, 2026, the most recent substantial verified development directly connected to San Martin's death that I could identify is the 2025 Daytime Emmy “In Memoriam” tribute.
Current biographical and entertainment databases continue to list him as deceased, with January 16, 2025, recorded as his date of death. Contemporary searches do not show a credible 2026 report announcing a new event involving his death.
This is important when evaluating the viral graphic.
If someone encounters it in 2026, the correct interpretation is not “an NBC and CBS actor has just died.”
Instead, the correct interpretation is that the post is recycling a real story from January 2025.
There is currently no verified evidence that Francisco San Martin died in 2026.
Why Old Celebrity Death Stories Keep Returning
Social-media platforms make it easy for old stories to circulate again.
A post originally published in January 2025 can be copied, redesigned and uploaded months later. The new version may remove the original publication date.
The result is a post that looks current even though nothing about the underlying event has changed.
This phenomenon is particularly common with celebrity deaths.
The headline may say “BREAKING,” while the photograph may have been taken years earlier and the original article may have been published long before.
The best defense is simple: check the date.
If a supposedly breaking celebrity death story is real, reputable publications will generally have current reporting about it.
For San Martin's case, the major reports are clearly dated January 20–21, 2025.
That date immediately changes how the viral post should be understood.
A Lesson in Responsible Sharing
The story also illustrates why emotional language should not replace verification.
A headline such as “GONE WAY TOO SOON” is understandable when remembering someone who died young. But when paired with “Breaking News,” it can unintentionally mislead readers.
There is also an ethical consideration when the death involved suicide.
People should avoid turning a suicide into entertainment, speculation or clickbait.
A respectful article can acknowledge the official finding without dwelling on graphic details or inventing explanations that authorities and family members have not provided.
It is also important not to assume that a person's public career reveals everything about their private life.
An actor may appear successful, happy and energetic on television while still experiencing private difficulties that audiences know nothing about.
Therefore, speculation about why someone died should be avoided unless reliable sources have established those facts.
Remembering the Actor Rather Than the Headline
The most useful way to remember Francisco San Martin is through his work.
He was an actor who pursued opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic.
He grew up partly in Montana after being born in Mallorca, returned to Spain during his adolescence, worked in modeling and acting, and eventually built a career in American television and film.
He became part of the Days of Our Lives world as Dario Hernandez.
He later appeared on The Bold and the Beautiful.
He played Fabian on Jane the Virgin.
He appeared in Behind the Candelabra.
And he continued working on smaller productions, with acting credits extending into 2022.
For fans who knew him through one of those productions, those performances are likely to remain his most meaningful legacy.
Final Fact-Check Verdict
After comparing the viral claim with reporting from established news and entertainment organizations, the conclusion is clear.
The central claim is TRUE.
Francisco San Martin was a real actor who appeared on NBC's Days of Our Lives and CBS's The Bold and the Beautiful. He also appeared in Jane the Virgin and Behind the Candelabra. He died at the age of 39 in Los Angeles on January 16, 2025. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that his death was a suicide.
However, the viral post is MISLEADING if it presents the event as current breaking news.
The death did not happen in August 2026. It happened in January 2025.
The use of “Breaking News,” without a clear date, can cause readers to believe that something has happened recently when the underlying report is more than a year old.
The most significant later recognition located in credible reporting was San Martin's inclusion in the 2025 Daytime Emmy Awards' In Memoriam tribute, demonstrating that the daytime television community continued to remember him after his death.
The best approach, therefore, is neither to dismiss the post as completely fake nor to share it as breaking news.
It is more accurate to say:
“The claim is based on a real death, but the viral post is outdated. Francisco San Martin died at 39 on January 16, 2025, not in 2026.”
That distinction protects readers from misinformation while still allowing the actor's career and legacy to be remembered respectfully.
🕊️ Final Thought
Francisco San Martin's story is ultimately more than a shocking headline.
Behind the viral graphic was a working actor who spent years pursuing his craft, appeared in several recognizable television productions, and built a connection with viewers through characters such as Dario Hernandez and Fabian Regalo del Cielo.
His death at 39 was a genuine tragedy, and the entertainment community remembered him after his passing.
But remembering someone does not require turning an old tragedy into “breaking news.”
The most respectful tribute is to tell the truth: Francisco San Martin died in January 2025, his death was officially ruled a suicide, and his work continues to be remembered by fans and colleagues.
For anyone sharing this story, adding the date January 16, 2025 is one of the simplest ways to prevent an old report from becoming new misinformation.
Fact-check rating: 🟢 TRUE — with an important date correction.
Content note: This article discusses suicide in a factual, non-graphic way. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or struggling with suicidal thoughts, seek help from local emergency services or a qualified crisis-support service.
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