At 70, Humberto Zurita reflects on the great love story and career he built alongside Christian Bach
At 70 years old and with a career spanning more than four decades in acting and production, Humberto Zurita affectionately remembers the crucial moments of his artistic and personal life. The renowned Mexican actor pays tribute to the memory of the late Argentine actress Christian Bach, whom he defines as the true love of his life and his soulmate.
Originally from Torreón, Coahuila, Humberto Zurita grew up in a large family of ten siblings. Although acting was not a common discipline in his family environment, he discovered his calling during middle school while participating in a local staging of the rock opera *Tommy*. Determined to formalize his artistic training, he moved to Mexico City in 1976 to enroll in the University Theater Center (CUT), where he trained under the guidance of director Héctor Mendoza. In theater, Zurita stood out in classic and contemporary productions such as *King Lear*, *Madame Butterfly*, and *The Assistant*.
His foray into television in the late 1970s with the telenovela *Muchacha de barrio*, alongside Ana Martín, marked the beginning of a successful era on the small screen. However, it was his portrayal of Alberto Limonta in *El derecho de nacer* (1981) that catapulted him to stardom in Mexico and Latin America. Later, in 1983, he demonstrated his acting versatility by co-starring in the play *P.S. Your Cat Is Dead* (*P.D. Tu gato ha muerto*) alongside Manuel Ojeda.
Alongside his work in front of the camera, Zurita expanded his aspirations into executive production. Together with his brother Gerardo Zurita, he founded the company ZUBA, through which he spearheaded major television projects. In 1996, they produced the hit *Cañaveral de pasiones*, a production that launched the careers of actors such as Juan Soler and Patricia Navidad. The following year, in 1997, Zurita made the decision to part ways with Televisa to join TV Azteca. Under his production banner, he developed *El candidato*, considered the country's first interactive political telenovela, as well as *Azul tequila*—starring Bárbara Mori and exported to the United Kingdom—and the supernatural drama *La chacala*. In cinema, he produced the feature film *Bésame en la boca*, starring Paulina Rubio, and served as president of the National Association of Performers (ANDI) between June 2001 and June 2007.
The actor's personal life was inextricably linked to actress Christian Bach. Their first contact occurred indirectly when he saw her photograph in *Teleguía* magazine while on a work tour. They later met in person in 1980 on the set of the melodrama *Soledad*. After developing a close friendship during theater tours and both being single at the same time, their professional relationship evolved into a romance.
On February 3, 1986, the couple married at the Church of San Agustín in Polanco. The popularity both achieved through the telenovela *De pura sangre* drew a massive crowd of fans outside the church, requiring a security presence. The union, with actor and producer Ernesto Alonso serving as best man, was consolidated with the birth of their two sons, Sebastián and Emiliano, who later continued the family tradition in acting. As a couple, they shared iconic television projects such as *Encadenados*, in addition to residing between Miami and Mexico City.
In 2017, the couple announced their temporary retirement from the stage to hand over the leadership of their projects to their children and spend more time as a family. In February 2019, after 33 years of marriage, Christian Bach passed away at the age of 59 due to respiratory failure. Since then, Zurita has kept her legacy alive through constant public tributes, reflections on lasting affection, and support for the actress's initiatives, such as her eyewear line managed in collaboration with Elisa and Armando.
