Ramón Valdés

For the Puerto Rican businessman, see Ramón Valdés Cobián.
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Valdés and the second or maternal family name is de Castillo.
Ramón Valdés

Ramón Valdes as Don Ramon on the show El Chavo del Ocho.
Born Ramón Gómez Valdés de Castillo
2 September 1923
Mexico City, Mexico
Died 9 August 1988 (aged 64)
Mexico City, Mexico
Cause of death
 Stomach cancer
Other names Don Ramón, Don Moncho, Seu Madruga (Brazil), Mr. Raymond (English dub of El Chavo Animado)

Ramón Gómez Valdés de Castillo (September 2, 1923 – August 9, 1988), often credited as Ramón Valdéz, was a Mexican actor of film and television best known for his portrayal of Don Ramón in the popular sitcom El Chavo del Ocho. Prior to becoming a television star, Valdés was an extra in many films.

Life and work

At the age of two, his family moved to Ciudad Juárez, a northern border town where he and his brothers, Tin-Tan, and El Loco Valdés, polished their acting skills. The three brothers went on to become three of Latin America's most well known comedians. He was born in Mexico City. He was the uncle of Mexican pop singer Cristian Castro.

Valdés participated in more than 50 Mexican films, specializing in hyperactive underdog characters. He is most remembered, however, for playing Don Ramón in the hit television show El Chavo del Ocho. Show creator and main star Chespirito --Roberto Gómez Bolaños—was a fan of Valdés, and thought Valdés would make a perfect fit to play Don Ramón, an unemployed widower with a daughter (Chilindrina, played by María Antonieta de las Nieves); a person who had romantic interest in him (Doña Clotilde, played by Angelines Fernández); and a neighbor who slapped him across the face on every show (Doña Florinda, played by Florinda Meza). El Chavo, played by Chespirito, would sometimes call Valdés' character "Ron Damón", transposing the initial letter of both words, as some children would do; as a result, Valdés' character was known by both monikers.

Valdés also appeared on Chespirito's other hit show, El Chapulín Colorado, usually as Chapulín's antagonist, the famous Tripaseca ("Dry Gut"). In some episodes, he portrayed a character named Super Sam, an English-speaking, money-thirsty superhero dressed as Superman, clearly mocking Uncle Sam and the relatively wealthy situation of United States, when compared to average Latin American countries, as well as criticizing the American colonialism. Valdés also played El Peterete, the original partner of El Chompiras in early versions of the Los caquitos sketches.

Both El Chavo and El Chapulín became major international hits across Latin America, Spain, the United States and other non-Spanish speaking countries, giving their entire cast international fame. Ramón Valdés was no exception, he would be identified as Don Ramón (or as "Ron Damón") at many different countries he visited.

In Brazil, where the beloved character/actor (as the show itself) is culted by the 80's and 90's generation as a vintage masterpiece, he was known as Seu Madruga instead (literally: Mr. Dawn, for Madruga is short for Madrugada (dawn), following the Portuguese dubbing for El Chavo del Ocho, which, in that country, is called simply Chaves.

In 1979, he left Chespirito, but he returned to television a few years later, with fellow Chavo del Ocho and Chapulín Colorado cast member Carlos Villagrán in Federrico, also known as ¡Ah Quė Kiko!. Federrico found little success, however, and Ramón Valdés returned to work with Chespirito for a brief time in 1981. Valdés and Villagrán were replaced by Raul "Chato" Padilla, a less experimented actor who played Jaimito The Postman in the remaining Chavo del Ocho episodes.

Valdés also owned a circus, participating in circus acts.

Death

On August 9, 1988, Valdés died at age 64 after a battle with stomach cancer due to his tobacco addiction.

References

    External links