Currently Streaming on Netflix
By Vanessa Wyatt
Walter Mercado’s energy radiates just as strong as his dazzling costumes adorned with shine and jewels. The Puerto Rican astrologer who was born in Puerto Rico and knew at an early age that he was “different.” As a small boy, he was perceived to be anointed with the gift of healing. An artist, encouraged by his mother to live and develop his “specialness,” he soon became a dancer, then actor and then the persona that became known the world over.
Walter Mercado’s life’s journey is captured in the documentary Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado, currently streaming on Netflix to the audience’s delight. The Puerto Rican astrologer rose to fame beginning in 1969, with the help of his first, and only manager, Bill Bakula who sought him out after seeing him in a local Puerto Rican show. He encouraged Walter’s flamboyant persona and under his guidance, Walter’s charismatic and positive daily televised horoscope readings became known and loved nationally and internationally. Mercado was watched by millions of viewers around the world during the 1980s and 1990s. Not only was he viewed in Latino households, but he crossed over into international stations.
In Mucho Mucho Amor, Walter Mercado goes into detail about his experience in how he became famous and what it was like throughout his time on TV. Mercado explains how he discovered his gift when he was a little boy, by helping a dying bird fly again. A neighbor who witnessed him saving the bird told people in his town. People would line up to see him and Mercado says he became known as “Walter of Miracles.”
After attending college, Mercado became an actor in telenovelas. One day when rehearsing, Mercado was encouraged to do an impromptu horoscope reading for each sign. Telemundo management was impressed with what they saw and offered Mercado his own show. When Mercado talks about his life in Mucho Mucho Amor, he is as much the same person as he played on screen. Fully dressed in glamorous attire and radiating joyful energy, with each question that is asked of him. Mercado is a pioneer in style and being non-binary in his appearance, he broke the boundary of gender roles.
Mucho Mucho Amor Producer, Alex Fumero explains how Walter Mercado was ahead of his time:
“He never identified as like heterosexual…he would say the future is masculine and feminine, I am a hybrid..like all these kinds of things, so he was really ahead of his time in terms of embracing this idea of like queerness and fluidity, without using those terms. How he did that, I have no idea. I have to guess that his message of love and his sort of generosity of spirit was so great that people were willing to look past it. I don’t think they actually accepted gay people or nonbinary folks…but I think they accepted him because he really gave them something they needed.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda shares his childhood experience in the film, of seeing Mercado on TV. Miranda remembers going to several households and Walter Mercado was always on. “I just think he’s this positive force, he’s literally sending positive vibes through the television at you, one astrological sign at a time,” says Miranda. Mercado was known for delivering the daily horoscope reading for each sign, with an upbeat spin. Mercado would then sign off every show with “Mucho Mucho Amor.”
Mercado was notorious for his over-the-top fashion sense and elaborate costumes. During a tour of his home, Mercado goes through his closet of lavishly decorated robes and capes. Mercado showcases how each one of his costumes is different in color, style, and decorated with; beads, hand-painted designs, crystal embellishments, jewels, and feathers. Mercado’s longtime assistant and right-hand man, Willie says that designers custom-designed custom capes specifically for him. Mercado says that “the cape that covers me and makes my image go to the heart of my audience and my people.” Mercado always focused on bringing the message of “love and peace,” in every show.
Alex Fumero came together with Director/Producers Cristina Costantini and Kareem Tabsch to bring Mercado’s life to the big screen. Get ready to be dazzled with Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado, now available to watch on Netflix.
