# Merlin Santana

Merlin Santana (March 14, 1976 – November 9, 2002) was an American actor and rapper. Beginning his career in the early 1990s, Santana was best known for his roles as Rudy Huxtable's boyfriend Stanley on The Cosby Show, Marcus Dixon on Getting By, Marcus Henry in Under One Roof and Romeo Santana on The WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show (1996 – 2002). He was also known for his recurring role as Ohagi on the UPN sitcom Moesha.
On November 9, 2002, Santana was shot dead in Los Angeles by 19-year-old Damien Andre Gates, ordered by Gates' girlfriend Monique King, who falsely accused Santana of making sexual advances towards her.

## Early life

Born in Washington Heights, New York City to parents from the Dominican Republic, Santana's career in show business began with a push from his parents, who wanted to keep him off the tough streets of New York. He began his career at the age of three as an advertising model for a fast food chain. His first screen appearance was as an extra in the Woody Allen film, The Purple Rose of Cairo.

## Acting career

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.
In November 1994, Santana appeared on Sister, Sister as Joey, who falls in love with Tia and Tamera (Tia and Tamera Mowry) at Rocket Burger.
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.
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, while his last film role was in the 2003 comedy film, The Blues with Deon Richmond.

## Murder and burial

On November 9, 2002, Santana was murdered while sitting in a car in Los Angeles. Santana and his friend, actor Brandon Adams, had just left an acquaintance's home in the Crenshaw District when Damien Andre Gates, 19 at the time, 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.
Santana was buried at Saint Raymond's Cemetery in The Bronx borough of New York City. He was survived by his daughter, Melinda.

### Trial and allegations against Gates

In 2003, Gates 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, who was 23 at the time and was with Gates during the shooting, received a 23-year sentence after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon.
An LAPD officer involved in the case testified that Monique King, reportedly Gates's girlfriend, only aged 15 at the time, falsely claimed that Santana made sexual advances towards her, which prompted the attack.
In January 2004, King was found guilty of second-degree murder and attempted murder, but was acquitted on two murder charges, receiving ten years in juvenile custody as a result of Santana's death.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1991 | The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez | Newsboy | |
| 1992 | In the Line of Duty: Street War | Mikie | TV movie |
| 2000 | The Smoker | - | Short |
| 2001 | Flossin | Jermaine | |
| 2002 | Showtime | Hector | |
| 2002 | Play'd: A Hip Hop Story | Mayhem | TV movie |
| 2003 | The Blues | Goya | Final film role; Posthumous release |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1991 | Major Dad | Marvin | Recurring Cast: Season 2 |
| 1991 | Law & Order | Roneld Griggs | Episode: "Mushrooms" |
| 1991–92 | The Cosby Show | Stanley | Guest: Season 7, Recurring Cast: Season 8 |
| 1993–94 | Getting By | Marcus Dixon | Main Cast |
| 1994 | Sister, Sister | Joey | Episode: "Joey's Choice" |
| 1995 | Under One Roof | Marcus Henry | Main Cast |
| 1995 | Street Gear | Derick Davis | Main Cast |
| 1995–96 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper | Calvin | Recurring Cast: Season 4 |
| 1996–99 | Moesha | Ohagi | Recurring Cast: Season 1, Guest: Season 4 |
| 1996–2002 | The Steve Harvey Show | Romeo Santana | Main Cast |
| 1997 | NYPD Blue | Warren | Episode: "A Draining Experience" |
| 2002 | JAG | Seaman Aubrey McBride | Episode: "Port Chicago" |
| 2002 | Half & Half | Dante Aldente | Episode: "The Big Pimpin' Episode" |