Iconic Mexican comedian 'Chespirito' dies at 85

November 29, 2014 07:55 am | Updated 09:23 am IST - MEXICO CITY

Roberto Gomez Bolanos, the iconic Mexican comedian

Roberto Gomez Bolanos, the iconic Mexican comedian

Roberto Gomez Bolanos, the iconic Mexican comedian who wrote and played the boy television character “El Chavo del Ocho” that defined a generation for millions of Latin American children, died on Friday at age of 85.

Known as “Chespirito”, he changed comedy in Latin America, taking his inspiration from Laurel and Hardy as well as Mexico’s other transcendent comedian who eventually made it to Hollywood, Cantinflas.

“Nicknames are the most essential in life, more valuable than names,” the actor said in 2011.

On Friday, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto tweeted, “Mexico has lost an icon whose work has transcended generations and borders.”

Born on Feb. 21, 1929, he trained as an engineer, but he was dedicated to writing from a young age.

Talented both on the screen and behind it, he achieved smashing success in 1970 with the creation of “Chespirito,” a television show that included segments about “The Crimson Grasshopper.”

The goofy superhero dressed in a red bodysuit and hood with antennae that helped him detect danger miles away. He completed the outfit with yellow shorts and boots, giving him the look of a red bumblebee. The character, whose superpowers included shrinking to the size of a pill and dodging enemies, constantly repeated his signature phrases, “You didn’t count on my cleverness” and “All the good people, follow me.”

In 1971, Gomez Bolanos wrote and acted as “El Chavo del Ocho” (“The Boy from the Eight“), a reference to the channel that broadcast the show.

“El Chavo” proved so popular that reruns are still shown in multiple countries in Latin American and on Spanish language television in the United States. Many Latin Americans, living under dictatorships during the height of the show, found his underdog triumphs heroic in the face of authority.

In a 2005 interview with the Mexican newspaper La Jornada, Gomez Bolano said he always wrote with working class people in mind.

“There are writers who pour out words, concepts that sound really important but that basically say nothing,” he said. “I always tried to be as concise as possible, all to try and reach everyone, but especially the simple people, those who needed to be reached more than anyone else.”

Proof of his wide popularity came >when he opened a Twitter account in 2011 with a simple message- “Hello. I’m Chespirito. I’m 82-years-old and this is the first time I tweet. This is my debut. All the good people, follow me!”

In less than two months, he had 1 million followers. By the time of his death, there were 6.6 million.

Gomez Bolanos is survived by his second wife, actress Florinda Meza, as well as six children from his first marriage and 12 grandchildren.

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