Raúl Juliá: 1940-1994: Actor, Humanitarian

In 1992 Juliá returned to the stage in a Broadway revival of Man of La Mancha. The demands of performing the musical eight times a week took a heavy toll on Juliá, and reviews were mixed. In a Chicago Tribune review, critic Richard Christiansen wrote, "Juliá's performance at this point rates at least a respectful watch … but the show already looks tired because it is not projected with the confidence and precision necessary to sustain its intermissionless length."

Julia went on to star, along side Edward James Olmos and Sonia Braga, in the 1994 HBO film The Burning Season, a movie based on the true story of Chico Mendes, a Brazilian laborer who launched a campaign to save the Amazon rain forest. The role deeply affected Julia because of its intensity. "It is astounding what emotions this man had to go through to reach his goals," Juliá told the Orange County Register. "There were intense passions, seemingly insurmountable conflicts and gut-wrenching soul-searching that faced him all along the way."

Juliá became sick with food poisoning while making The Burning Season, and had to be airlifted to Mexico City for medical treatment. Stomach surgery he had undergone earlier in the year may have exacerbated the problem, and it took an extraordinary toll on the actor. He lost 45 pounds, but took little time off to recover. After The Burning Season he immediately went to work on the action film Street Fighter, a big-screen version of the video game, in which he played the evil villain General M. Bison. The film was a departure for Juliá, who is known for his highly respected body of work. He took the role in large part at the urging of his sons, who were great fans of the video game.

Juliá was hospitalized for stomach pains after attending an opera with his wife on October 16, 1994. Later that night he suffered a stroke, or brain hemorrhage. Doctors believed he could recover, but his condition worsened until he fell into a coma and, on October 24, 1994, died from complications of the stroke. His body was flown to Puerto Rico, where a massive service was held. A number of services were also held across the United States in the following weeks. Those who knew him personally were shocked and devastated at his early death. Those who did not know him mourned the immensely talented Puerto Rican actor whose work had enriched their lives. He received posthumous Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globe, and Emmy awards for his role in The Burning Season.