Adalberto Rodríguez (January 22, 1934 – April 16, 1995 [aged 61]), better known as Machuchal, was a Puerto Rican comedian.
Rodríguez was born in the town of Sabana Grande, in the southwest of Puerto Rico. He became very famous early on by imitating animal sounds for his elementary school peers. He acquired his stage name "Machuchal" after the barrio he lived in Sabana Grande. He liked to call himself "El alcalde de Machuchal", (the Mayor of Machuchal)this was a joke that prevailed and launched him to stardom.
Machuchal was a living example of Puerto Rico's mountain man, known as Jibaro. He would wear a straw hat and a farm worker's shirt for many years on his daily appearances on Telemundo Puerto Rico's mid day show, El Show De Las 12, the straw hat in particular being known as an identifier of Jíbaros.
He also participated in La Taberna India, (The "India" Tavern), a show that was sponsored for many years by the famous Puerto Rican beer. When La Taberna India moved to WAPA-TV in 1985, Machuchal also moved to Telemundo Puerto Rico's fiercest rival.
Machuchal was also very famous in Mexico, prompting Mexican legend Cantinflas to compliment him, saying that nobody in the world made him laugh like Machuchal did. He also participated in some movies, more notably Machuchal En Nueva York and El Agente 0.
Machuchal also worked alongside other Puerto Rican legends, such as Tommy Muniz, Jose Miguel Agrelot, Elin Ortiz, Sonia Noemí, and Eddie Miro.