Walter Mercado, the internationally syndicated Puerto Rican astrologer who captivated Latino families around the world with his extravagant televised readings of horoscopes, died on Saturday in San Juan. He was in his late 80s.

His death, at the Auxilio Mutuo hospital, was confirmed by Sofia Luquis, a hospital spokeswoman. The cause was kidney failure, his niece Betty Benet Mercado said.

For 15 years, during the final segment of the Spanish news program “Primer Impacto,” Mr. Mercado, a former dancer and actor, would look into the camera and dramatically read the horoscopes of the 12 zodiac signs, rolling his r’s with gusto and elegantly twirling his hands for emphasis. He found his way into homes in Latin America and the Caribbean as well as in the United States, reaching an estimated 120 million viewers a day.

In sequined capes, blazers and vests, often festooned with baubles and brooches, Mr. Mercado let viewers know whether it was going to be a good month or a bad one, or if they simply had to ponerte las pilas, or get to work.