Esteban Mellino
Esteban Mellino (March 13, 1945 – June 9, 2008) was an Argentine actor best known for portraying the comical character Professor Diogenes Lambetain in the television series Badia y Cia, Fashion VIP and El humor de Cafe Fashion.[1] Mellino had originally created his famous character during the 1980s for the productions of La Barra de Lambetain and Que merengue Lambetain.[1]
Early life
Esteban Mellino was born in San Telmo, Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 13, 1945. He originally studied psychology and medicine, but abandoned both in order to pursue acting.[1] He landed his first role on stage during the 1960s, and eventually appeared in dozens of plays throughout his career.[1] Mellino actually wrote several of the plays in which he appeared, including Salven a Sebastian, La nube and Angeles y Loco.[1]
Career
In 2001, Mellino adapted Angeles y Loco into a film entitled Loco, posee la formula de la felicidad (Crazy, He Has the Formula for Happiness).[1] He starred in the film alongside Jorge Luz, Fabian Gianola and Roberto Carnaghi.[1] His other film credits included the comedy, Los Matamonstruos en la mansion del terror and the drama, Las barras bravas.[1]
Mellino appeared in the telenovela, Sos mi vida (You are the One) on Artear-Canal 13 in 2006.[1] Soon afterwards, Mellino appeared in his final film role in the 2007 comedy Mas que un hombre (More than a Man), which was co-directed by Gerardo Vallina and Dady Brieva.[1]
In addition to his acting career, Mellino was a poetry writer and music composer.[1] He wrote music for the band, Alma y Vida, a jazz and rock band founded by his brother, Carlos Mellino, during the 1970s.[1] Mellino also founded and ran a charitable organization charged with helping street children, soup kitchens, schools and handicapped children.[1]
Esteban Mellino died of a heart attack in Buenos Aires on June 9, 2008, at the age of 63.