Merlin Santana
Film & Theater Personalities

Merlin Santana Net Worth

Merlin Santana was an Afro-Latino-American television actor, best known for his roles in 'The Steve Harvey Show', 'The Cosby Show', 'Under One Roof', and 'Getting By'. He began his career in show business at the age of three, modelling for a fast food chain advertisement. His career was cut short in 2002 when he was shot in the head by Damien Andre Gates, who had falsely accused Santana of making sexual advances towards his girlfriend, Monique King. Santana died instantly at the age of 26.
Merlin Santana is a member of Film & Theater Personalities

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Actor
Birth Day March 14, 1976
Birth Place New York City, New York, United States, United States
Age 44 YEARS OLD
Died On November 9, 2002(2002-11-09) (aged 26)\nLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Birth Sign Aries
Cause of death Homicide
Resting place Saint Raymond's Cemetery
Occupation Actor, Rapper
Years active 1991 – 2002

💰 Net worth: $2 Million (2024)

Merlin Santana, a well-known actor in the United States, is believed to have a net worth of approximately $2 million by the year 2024. Born and raised in New York City, Santana began his acting career at a young age, making his mark in the entertainment industry through his impressive talent and dedication. He gained popularity for his roles in various movies and television shows and was widely recognized for his role as Romeo Santana in the hit series "The Steve Harvey Show." Despite his untimely death in 2002, Santana's contributions to the acting world have left a lasting impact, and his estimated net worth reflects his success and achievements.

Biography/Timeline

1991

In 1991, Santana landed a recurring role on The Cosby Show as Stanley, the boyfriend of Rudy Huxtable and the rival of Rudy's friend Kenny (Deon Richmond). He was then cast as Marcus Dixon in the short-lived sitcom, Getting By, starring Cindy Williams and Telma Hopkins. Deon Richmond was cast as his brother Darren, due to their interaction on The Cosby Show.

1994

In November 1994, Santana appeared on Sister, Sister as Joey, in which he falls in love with Tia and Tamera (Tia and Tamera Mowry) at Rocket Burger.

1995

In 1995, Santana was cast as Marcus Henry in the short-lived CBS family drama Under One Roof, co-starring with James Earl Jones, Joe Morton and Vanessa Bell Calloway. Between 1996 and 1999, he played the role of Ohagi on Moesha.

1996

In 1996, he landed the role of Romeo Santana on The Steve Harvey Show. In 2001, he played the role of Jermaine in the movie Flossin. In 2002, he appeared in the VH1 TV movie, Play'd: A Hip Hop Story with Toni Braxton. That same year, Santana had a role in the Eddie Murphy comedy Showtime. His last television acting role was on the UPN series, Half & Half; his last film role was a 2003 comedy film, The Blues with Deon Richmond.

2002

On November 9, 2002, Santana was shot in the head and killed as he and his best friend, former child actor Brandon Quintin Adams were in a car leaving another man's home in the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles. Damien Andre Gates fired the shot that entered through the trunk of the vehicle in which Santana was a Passenger. The bullet penetrated the right-front Passenger headrest and entered Santana's head, killing him instantly. Damien was convicted of the first-degree murder of Santana and the attempted murder of Adams and was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences plus 70 years in prison. Brandon Douglas Bynes received a 23-year sentence after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon, even though none of the shots fired from his revolver entered the vehicle. An officer involved in the case testified that Monique King, reportedly Gates's girlfriend and aged 15 at the time of Santana's death, falsely claimed that Santana made sexual advances towards her, which prompted Gates' and Bynes' attack. King was found guilty of second-degree murder and attempted murder but acquitted on two murder charges, receiving ten years in Juvenile custody. Santana was 26 years old at the time of his death. He was buried on November 18, 2002, at Saint Raymond's Cemetery in The Bronx, New York.

Some Merlin Santana images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.