Colombian actor Carlos Munoz, considered one of the country’s television pioneers, died on Monday aged 72.

The actor was known and loved for his roles in soap operas “San Tropel” and “Old Horse” that defined a generation.

Having started out in radio from the age of nine, Munoz began his television career in 1954, the year that television arrived in Colombia.

He received a lifetime achievement award in March 2015 at the India Catalina prizes.

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According to Colombian magazine Semana, from the moment he made his television debut he was “unstoppable,” playing a role in all the country’s most groundbreaking television dramas.

On four occasions he won the India Catalina best actor award and in 2001 he was presented with a prize for the actor of the century.

Munoz would often comment on the difficulties faced by Colombia’s artistic community.

“The situation today continues to be the same as in the past because we don’t have social benefits, medical services, redundancy pay, or retirement pay, or pensions, nothing,” he once said.

“While in countries like Argentina and Venezuela the governments have understood that actors, artists in general and sportsmen are the nice face of the nation and are spoilt and coddled, in this country we continue as we always were. Today I have a 70-year-old career and I have nothing,” he added.

Colombians mourned the loss of the star, with President Juan Manuel Santos saying, “One of the greats of TV has left us: the dearest Carlos Munoz, great actor and valuable human being. We will miss him and we accompany his family.”