Since he was a teenager, he began to venture into the artistic world by appearing in radio and television programs and later in the theater. He stood out for his brilliant work as an actor, writer and director. Several of his plays have reached great popularity and have been presented during long seasons in the capital's theaters. Among Héctor Quintero's most outstanding plays is El premio flaco, which won the Grand Prix of the International Theater Institute in 1968. This play has been translated into several languages and performed in various cities on several continents. Another very relevant creation of his is Contigo pan y cebolla, presented several times in Cuba and in different Latin American countries. Héctor Quintero was part of renowned Cuban theater companies such as the Milanés, the Conjunto Dramático Nacional, Teatro Estudio and the Teatro Musical de La Habana.  In the latter he served as General Director for twelve years. During that period, the group presented many plays that were very well received by the public and critics. He died in Havana on April 6, 2011.