Raphael Cruz  Raphael Cruz (September 5, 1986 - January 26, 2018) was an American acrobat, clown, and actor. Cruz is known for having played the lead role of Buster, a Buster Keaton inspired character, in the cinema themed Cirque du Soleil production "Iris". Cruz died in Paris on January 26, 2018 from heart and lung failure.