Mario Moreno "Cantinflas" was a
prolific Mexican physical
comedian (
actor/
writer/
producer/
singer) born August 12,
1911 in
Mexico City, Mexico. Aside from the 50+ roles he played in Mexican cinema,
American audiences would come to know him as "Passepartoute" in
Around the World in 80 Days (1956).
It is unknown how exactly Moreno took his stage name, but the two most probable explanations are that he either:
- Changed his name simply to avoid disgrace to his family (who looked down on show business as a profession)
- Derived his name from the comment "En la cantina, tu inflas!" ("In the bar room, you talk big!") made by a heckler at one of his early shows.
Much of Cantinflas' multi-million dollar earnings were donated to Mexican charity such as high-quality low-income housing for poverty-stricken Mexicans.
Cantinflas married Valentina Ivanova in 1936 and remained her spouse until her death in January of 1966.
On April 20, 1993, Cantinflas died at the
ripe old age of 81. Due to his
charitable nature and good spirits, he was
hailed a
national hero in Mexico and a period of
official mourning immediately followed his death.
Credits:
Barrendero, El (1981) .... Napoleón
Patrullero 777, El (1977) .... Diogenes Bravo
Ministro y yo, El (1976) .... Mateo Melgarejo 'Mateito'
... aka Minister and Me, The (1976) (USA: literal English title)
Conserje en condominio (1973) .... Úrsulo
Don Quijote cabalga de nuevo (1972) (as Mario Moreno Cantinflas) .... Sancho Panza
... aka Don Quijote cabalga de nuevo (1972) (Mexico) (Spain)
... aka Don Quixote Rides Again (1972) (USA: informal literal English title)
Profe, El (1971) .... Sócrates García
... aka Professor, The (1971) (International: English title)
Great Sex War, The (1969) .... Gen. Marcos
... aka Make Love Not War (1969) (Europe: English title)
Quijote sin mancha, Un (1969) .... Justo Leal y Aventado
... aka Quixote Without La Mancha, A (1969) (USA)
Por mis pistolas (1968) .... Fidencio
... aka With My Guns (1968)
Su excelencia (1966) (as Mario Moreno 'Cantinflas')
Señor doctor, El (1965) (as Mario Moreno 'Cantinflas') .... Salvador Medina/Chava
Padrecito, El (1964) (as Mario Moreno 'Cantinflas') .... Padre Sebastián
Agente XU 777 (1963) (as Mario Moreno 'Cantinflas') .... Feliciano
... aka Entrega inmediata (1963) (Mexico)
Extra, El (1962) (as Mario Moreno 'Cantinflas')
... aka Extra, The (1962) (International: English title)
Analfabeto, El (1961) .... Inocencio Prieto y Calvo
... aka Illiterate One, The (1961) (International: English title)
Pepe (1960) .... Pepe
Sube y baja (1959) (as Mario Moreno 'Cantinflas')
... aka Ups and Downs (1959)
Ama a tu prójimo (1958)
... aka Housewife to Your Neighbor (1958) (International: English title)
Bolero de Raquel, El (1957) (as Mario Moreno Cantinflas)
Around the World in Eighty Days (1956) .... Passepartout
Abajo el telón (1955)
... aka Drop the Curtain (1955) (International: English title)
Caballero a la medida (1954) (as Mario Moreno 'Cantinflas')
Señor fotógrafo, El (1952)
... aka Mr. Photographer (1952) (International: English title)
Si yo fuera diputado (1952) (as Mario Moreno 'Cantinflas')
Bombero atómico, El (1950) (as Mário Moreno 'Cantinflas')
Siete machos, El (1950) .... Margarito/El Siete machos
Portero, El (1950) (as Mario Moreno 'Cantinflas')
... aka Puerta, joven (1950) (Mexico)
Mago, El (1949) (as Mario Moreno 'Cantinflas')
... aka Magician, The (1949/I) (USA)
Supersabio, El (1948) (as Mario Moreno "Cantinflas") .... Cantinflas
¡A volar joven! (1947)
... aka Puerta joven (1947) (Mexico)
Soy un prófugo (1946) (as Mario Moreno Cantinflas)
Carnaval en el trópico (1946)
... aka Fiesta en Veracruz (1946) (Mexico)
Día con el diablo, Un (1945)
Gran Hotel (1944) (as Mario Moreno 'Cantinflas')
Romeo y Julieta (1943) .... Romeo
... aka Romeo and Juliet (1943)
Circo, El (1942)
Tres mosqueteros, Los (1942)
... aka Three Musketeers, The (1942) (International: English title)
Gendarme desconocido, El (1941) (as Mario Moreno 'Cantinflas')
... aka Unknown Policeman, The (1941) (International: informal title English title)
Ni sangre, ni arena (1941)
... aka Neither Blood Nor Sand (1941) (International: English title)
Cantinflas boxeador (1940)
Cantinflas ruletero (1940) (as Mário Moreno 'Cantinflas')
Cantinflas torero (1940)
Cantinflas y los censos (1940)
Cantinflas y su prima (1940)
Cantinflas jengibre contra dinamita (1939)
Siempre listo en las tinieblas (1939)
Signo de la muerte, El (1939) .... Cantinflas
Águila o sol (1938) .... Polito Sol
¡Así es mi tierra! (1937) .... El Tejón
... aka Such Is My Country (1939) (USA)
No te engañes corazón (1936)
... aka Don't Fool Thyself, Heart (1937) (USA: literal English title)
(And he was a body rocker)
Sources:
http://www.
imdb.com
Mindless Self Indulgence -
Whipstickagostop