Adan Canto's Costar Italia Ricci on the Time He Made Her and Her Grandmother, Who Also Died This Year, Swoon

Sharing a photo of Adan Canto with her grandma, Italia Ricci recalled how the late 'Designated Survivor' actor "came all the way out of town from where we were shooting to support me"

Italia Ricci is remembering her late Designated Survivor costar Adan Canto as the "incredible" person he was.

In a touching tribute shared on Instagram Thursday, Ricci, 37, posted a photo of Canto with his arm around her grandmother — who she called her "sweet Nanooch" — at a 2016 charity gala. Telling the story of that night, the actress recalled how Canto "came all the way out of town from where we were shooting to support me."

"[He] spent the evening making (pretty much everyone because if you knew Adan you knew the charisma, but mostly) my sweet Nanooch laugh and swoon," Ricci continued.

"Both of these incredible people lost in the last year to the same disease they were helping to fight years before they’d hear the words themselves," she added. “Nothing about this makes sense."

Related: Halle Berry Mourns Late X-Men Costar Adan Canto After His Death at 42: 'Forever, Forever in My Heart'

Canto died of appendix cancer on Jan. 8 at the age of 42. One of his most prominent TV roles was on the political thriller Designated Survivor, where The Cleaning Lady actor and Ricci starred alongside Kiefer Sutherland from 2016 to 2019.

Sutherland, 57, was the United States president in the show, while Ricci, who played Emily Rhodes, and Canto, who starred as Aaron Shore, took on the role of his chief of staff at different times, among other political positions, during his presidency.

In a tribute of his own, Sutherland shared on Instagram: "It seems lately I have had to make too many posts like this one, but I am heartbroken by the loss of Adan Canto. He was such a wonderful spirit. As an actor his desire to do well, to be great, and then do better, was truly impressive and he will be greatly missed. I am also heartbroken for his wife, Steph and his two young children. Adan, may you rest in peace."

Related: Kiefer Sutherland Mourns Designated Survivor Costar Adan Canto After His Death at 42: 'Heartbroken'

Fellow Designated Survivor alum Kal Penn also honored Canto this week.

“Absolutely heartbreaking to lose Adan Canto,” Penn, 46, wrote on Instagram. “He was so genuine and warm, immensely talented; such a good person who was simultaneously calm and motivating. And funny. He was very, very funny. I’m so lucky to have known him. My heart goes out to Steph, the kids, and the whole family.”

Related: Paying Tribute to the Celebrities Who Have Died in 2024

Canto is survived by his wife, Stephanie Ann Canto, and two children, Roman Alder, 3, and Eve Josephine, 1.

One day after his death was announced, Stephanie shared a photo of the pair alongside the Bible verse Mathew 6:19-21, which read: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

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Concluding her tribute to Canto, Stephanie — who wed the actor in 2017 — added: "Forever my treasure Adan, see you soon 💔."

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