José Marroquín Leal

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José Marroquín Leal

Birth name	José Marroquín Leal
Born	April 1, 1933 Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
Died	February 6, 1998 aged 64 Monterrey, Nuevo León, México
Notable roles	Pipo

José Trínidad Marroquín Leal (April 1, 1933 - February 6, 1998) was a clown known as "Pipo" who had a TV show for children in Monterrey. He was known as "El Rey de los Payasos" (King of the clowns) and hosted his show since the 1960s until his death in the 1990s.

He was Director of the School of Drama of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León. Through this position, he developed a friendship with TV host Horacio Alvarado Ortiz which later served him start his career in mass media.

In 1961, XHX-TV bought the licensing rights to make the Mexican version of Bozo the Clown, and José Marroquín was invited to play the role of Bozo. After much deliberation, José Marroquín accepted. The show aired in Mexico on December 18, 1961. During this show, the segment "Aventuritas" (little adventures) was started, a segment that would later evolve into the much remembered "Aventuritas de Pipo".

José Marroquín continued playing Bozo the Clown until the license expired in 1963. The network decided not renew the license due to its high cost. José Marroquín, and other executives at the network, decided to create a new clown and concept. Creative Artists Francisco Castillo and Carlos Velazquez were supervised by Marroquín to originate this new concept.

In January 20, 1964, the show and the clown "Pipo" where born. His costume consisted of orange hair, oversized shoes, and a round, red "pip-pip" nose. It aired for the first time in front of a packed live audience. It was an instant hit, and it became a tradition for small children in Monterrey to tune in to "Pipo" every afternoon.

José Marroquín later created other characters for the show, including "Profesor Pilocho", intended to be Pipo's guidance.

The "Aventuritas de Pipo" segment was also very popular. On every show "Pipo" and the "Profesor Pilocho" would have an adventure somewhere, sometimes going back several centuries to the Wild West, or even visiting the jungle looking for a very unique Tarzan, always stepping against "the malitos" ("the little bad guys").

The show aired for 34 years in Channel 2 until José Marroquín's death.

His death movilized hundreds of people in Monterrey to mourn him deeply. A park in Guadalupe, Nuevo León has been named in his honor.