The arts community is rallying around Canadian actor Maria Del Mar after the hit-and-run death of her former child-actor son.
Gabriel del Castillo Mullally, 25, was killed early Sunday when a driver plowed into a group of pedestrians on the sidewalk near Danforth and Woodbine Aves.
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It is believed there was an altercation between the car driver and a group of young adults before the hit-and-run took place.
“I am living my worst single nightmare … I will not rest, ever,” Del Mar posted to social media, adding that the person who drove into her child, “will be found and prosecuted.”
Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene at 4 a.m. as they said the driver purposefully drove into people standing on the sidewalk.
The driver allegedly made two attempts to run people over, hitting del Castillo Mullally the second time he drove his car up onto the sidewalk.
Toronto Police are treating the death as a homicide.
A GoFundMe was started to help his mother pay for funeral and other expenses.
Del Mar has been public on social media about her struggle with cancer over the last few years. On Jan. 26, she posted about her cancer recurring, saying, “There is no time for embarrassment, shame, ego or misplaced discretion. We all have to stand up to this giant disease to do our part for those that come after us. I do this for my children.”
Del Mar and her former husband, writer Guy Mullally, also have a daughter who is a university student.
Toronto filmmaker Gail Harvey said Monday that her friend Del Mar has been sick and unable to work, but very brave, as she coped with cancer.
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Harvey described Del Mar — an award-winning actress — as “brilliant” and spoke of the times they’ve worked together, with Harvey directing Del Mar in such film and TV projects as Cold Sweat, Terminal City and Looking Is The Original Sin.
The actress is also known from her work in Street Legal, 24, Blue Murder, Murdoch Mysteries and dozens of other projects.
Harvey, who has known Del Mar’s son since he was a little boy, said del Castillo Mullally was a gifted young man who played classical piano from childhood.
He also had a stint as a child actor.
His mother has been in hospital since Sunday — both physically sick and emotionally devastated — and now, said Harvey, appears to have contracted C. difficile.
The GoFundMe message for Maria Del Mar reads:
“Our friend and arts community member Maria Del Mar, who has endured a lot these last few years has received the horrific news that her son was murdered in an intentional hit-and-run on The Danforth. Please help this mother financially through this unthinkable time.”