1. Walter Mercado Salinas, known by his stage name Shanti Ananda, was a Puerto Rican astrologer, actor, dancer, and writer, best known as a television personality for his shows as an astrologer.
22 Facts About Walter Mercado
1. 2.
Walter Mercado was born on March 9,1932, in Ponce, Puerto Rico, where he spent his early childhood.
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Walter Mercado's parents were Jose Maria Mercado, from San German, Puerto Rico, and Aida Salinas from Catalonia, Spain.
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Walter Mercado believed that he had spiritual abilities, even as a child.
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Walter Mercado attended university majoring in pedagogy, psychology and pharmacy, and used these skills to teach others, to study the human mind and to learn about the healing properties of medicinal plants.
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Walter Mercado Salinas studied singing and had a talent for dancing.
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Walter Mercado was one of the most prolific dancers in Puerto Rico.
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Walter Mercado was the dancing partner of comedian Velda Gonzalez.
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Walter Mercado worked as an actor in the 1960s Puerto Rican telenovelas Un adios en el recuerdo and Larga distancia, and had a dramatic arts school called Walter Actors Studio 64.
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Walter Mercado happened to be at the station and Ortiz asked Mercado to use the 25-minute allotment scheduled for the other guest, to make astrological predictions wearing colorful and extravagant robes.
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In 1970, Walter Mercado started his regular astrology segment in El Show de las 12.
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Walter Mercado enhanced his studies with formal study into astrology, tarot, and other occult disciplines.
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Walter Mercado was a syndicated writer in the Miami Herald.
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In 1986, Walter Mercado was awarded the title Mr Television by the Asociacion de Cronistas del Espectaculo de Nueva York.
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In January 2012, Walter Mercado lost a lawsuit against Bart Enterprises International.
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Walter Mercado was trying to prevent it from using his name and likeness in future commercial ventures.
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Walter Mercado severed ties with the company in 2006, which resulted in litigation being filed by both parties against each other.
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In January 2012, Walter Mercado was flown to Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, with cardiac problems.
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Walter Mercado said he "had gone and seen death and came back to life again".
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Walter Mercado said he wanted to work with Puerto Rican youth, he planned to establish the Shanti Ananda foundation, create a mystic center, and donated three of his capes to a museum.
21.
Walter Mercado died on the night of Saturday, November 2,2019, at the age of 88, reportedly from kidney failure, at Auxilio Mutuo Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to hospital spokeswoman Sofia Luquis.
22.
Walter Mercado is buried at Senorial Memorial Park in Cupey barrio, San Juan, Puerto Rico.