Carlos Villagrán
Encyclopedia
Carlos Villagrán Eslava (born January 12, 1944) is a Mexican
comedy actor and former journalist. Villagrán combined both acting and writing at first; he became known for a character named Quico.
. As a writer, he became friends with screenwriter and future co-star Rubén Aguirre
. Aguirre was hired by Chespirito (Roberto Gómez Bolaños)
to play Professor Jirafales in the upcoming El Chavo del Ocho Televisa
television series. Aguirre held a party for family and friends at his house, and Villagrán impressed him after expanding his cheeks out of proportion during one of the party's comic steps. As a matter of a fact, that movement would later become a trademark of the character he'd play in El Chavo.
Aguirre recommended Villagrán to Chespirito, and Villagrán was given the Quico character in the show. He also appeared on Chespirito's other hit show, El Chapulín Colorado
. Both of Chespirito's shows became major international hits all over Latin America
and in the United States
, Spain
, and other countries. Villagrán acquired great fame with these shows.
Villagrán left the shows in 1978, mostly because he and Chespirito were engaged in a legal battle over the rights of the Quico character. At that same time, Ramón Valdés
also left the two shows. This marked the beginning of the end for both productions, although they are still seen on many countries around the world with re-runs.
Villagrán went to Venezuela
, where he acted in various Radio Caracas Televisión
shows: El niño de papel (1981), Kiko Botones (1981), Federrico (1982), Las nuevas aventuras de Federrico (1983), and El circo de monsieur Cachetón (1985). These were not as successful as Chespirito's productions had been in Mexico. He and Valdés were reunited in Mexico when Telerey hired them to make the short-lived television show Ah que Kiko!. Chespirito was not able to prevent the name Kiko, with its different spelling, from being used in the new show. The show was successful until Valdés died of lung cancer
in 1988. For a brief time a local comic Sergio Ramos was brought in as Don Cejudo, but the chemistry was no longer there, so the show soon was taken off the air.
Like many of his co-stars in the Chespirito shows, Villagrán went on to enjoy a circus career, touring with his El circo de Kiko.
Villagrán later did what his friend Aguirre had done before, moving to Argentina
, where Chespirito had no rights over the Quico character, and playing his old character there.
In 2000, in an El Chavo del Ocho special which reunited all the actors from the series (except Valdés, Angelines Fernández
, Raúl Padilla
, and Horacio Gómez Bolaños
, who were no longer alive), Villagrán and Chespirito reconciled their differences.
Villagrán has three sons and three daughters
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
comedy actor and former journalist. Villagrán combined both acting and writing at first; he became known for a character named Quico.
Life and work
He went on to write for a local newspaper in Mexico CityMexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. As a writer, he became friends with screenwriter and future co-star Rubén Aguirre
Rubén Aguirre
Rubén Aguirre is a Mexican actor. He is best remembered for his characterization of in the Televisa's television show El Chavo del Ocho. Aguirre also participated in another well known television show of the era, El Chapulín Colorado, albeit less frequently.-Life and work:Rubén Aguirre was born...
. Aguirre was hired by Chespirito (Roberto Gómez Bolaños)
Roberto Gómez Bolaños
Roberto Gómez Bolaños is a Mexican writer, actor, director, comedian, humorist, songwriter, poet and philosopher. He is best known by his stage name Chespirito .-Life and work:...
to play Professor Jirafales in the upcoming El Chavo del Ocho Televisa
Televisa
Televisa is a Mexican multimedia conglomerate, the largest mass media company in Latin America and in the Spanish-speaking world. It is a major international entertainment business, with much of its programming airing in the United States on Univision, with which it has an exclusive contract...
television series. Aguirre held a party for family and friends at his house, and Villagrán impressed him after expanding his cheeks out of proportion during one of the party's comic steps. As a matter of a fact, that movement would later become a trademark of the character he'd play in El Chavo.
Aguirre recommended Villagrán to Chespirito, and Villagrán was given the Quico character in the show. He also appeared on Chespirito's other hit show, El Chapulín Colorado
El Chapulín Colorado
El Chapulín Colorado is a television series, created and played by Roberto Gómez Bolaños, also known as Chespirito, a successful Mexican comedian and TV show producer, which parodied superhero shows...
. Both of Chespirito's shows became major international hits all over Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
and in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and other countries. Villagrán acquired great fame with these shows.
Villagrán left the shows in 1978, mostly because he and Chespirito were engaged in a legal battle over the rights of the Quico character. At that same time, Ramón Valdés
Ramón Valdés
Ramón Gómez Valdés de Castillo often credited as Ramón Valdéz, was a Mexican actor. He was born in Mexico City...
also left the two shows. This marked the beginning of the end for both productions, although they are still seen on many countries around the world with re-runs.
Villagrán went to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, where he acted in various Radio Caracas Televisión
RCTV
Radio Caracas Televisión Internacional is a Venezuelan cable television network headquartered in the Caracas neighborhood of Quinta Crespo. It was sometimes referred to as the Canal de Bárcenas. Owned by Empresas 1BC, RCTV Internacional was inaugurated as Radio Caracas Televisión on 15 November...
shows: El niño de papel (1981), Kiko Botones (1981), Federrico (1982), Las nuevas aventuras de Federrico (1983), and El circo de monsieur Cachetón (1985). These were not as successful as Chespirito's productions had been in Mexico. He and Valdés were reunited in Mexico when Telerey hired them to make the short-lived television show Ah que Kiko!. Chespirito was not able to prevent the name Kiko, with its different spelling, from being used in the new show. The show was successful until Valdés died of lung cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 1988. For a brief time a local comic Sergio Ramos was brought in as Don Cejudo, but the chemistry was no longer there, so the show soon was taken off the air.
Like many of his co-stars in the Chespirito shows, Villagrán went on to enjoy a circus career, touring with his El circo de Kiko.
Villagrán later did what his friend Aguirre had done before, moving to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, where Chespirito had no rights over the Quico character, and playing his old character there.
In 2000, in an El Chavo del Ocho special which reunited all the actors from the series (except Valdés, Angelines Fernández
Angelines Fernández
Angelines Fernández was a Spanish-born actress of Mexican film and television, best-known for portraying "Doña Clotilde" on the Televisa sitcom El Chavo.Fernández struggled as an actress in Spain. She flew to Mexico in 1947...
, Raúl Padilla
Raul Padilla
Raúl "Chato" Padilla was a Mexican actor, and a member of Chespirito's comedy troupe, famous for his character in El Chavo del Ocho, Jaimito el Cartero . Padilla joined the show in 1979 following the departure of Ramon Valdez, gradually taking over the sorts of roles Valdez used to play...
, and Horacio Gómez Bolaños
Horacio Gómez Bolaños
Horacio Gómez Bolaños was a Mexican actor and brother of the more famous Roberto Gómez Bolaños . On the TV show El Chavo del 8, he played the character Godinez. Although Horacio appeared in many of his brother's productions, he preferred to handle the business aspects...
, who were no longer alive), Villagrán and Chespirito reconciled their differences.
Villagrán has three sons and three daughters