Ramón Valdés
Encyclopedia
Ramón Gómez Valdés de Castillo (September 2, 1923 – August 9, 1988) often credited as Ramón Valdéz, was a Mexican
actor. He was born in Mexico City
. His nephew is Cristian Castro
, Mexican pop singer.
, 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.
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 was a fan of Valdés, and he thought Valdés would make a perfect fit to play Don Ramón, who had 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
). The Chavo character played by Gómez 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.
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 quit Chespirito's productions, but he returned to television a few years later, with fellow Chavo del Ocho and Chapulín Colorado cast member Carlos Villagrán
in Federrico
. 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 8 episodes.
Valdés also owned a circus, participating in circus acts.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
actor. He was born in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. His nephew is Cristian Castro
Cristian Castro
Cristian Castro is a Grammy Award-nominated Mexican pop singer. He is referred to as "Christian Castro" or "Cristian."- Biography :...
, Mexican pop singer.
Life and work
When he was two, his family moved to Ciudad JuárezCiudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez , officially known today as Heroica Ciudad Juárez, but abbreviated Juárez and formerly known as El Paso del Norte, is a city and seat of the municipality of Juárez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Juárez's estimated population is 1.5 million people. The city lies on the Rio Grande...
, a northern border town where he and his brothers, Tin-Tan, and El Loco Valdés
Manuel Valdés
Manuel "El Loco" Valdés is a Mexican actor and comedian, member of the Valdés family. He is the brother of Ramón Valdez , from the sitcom "El Chavo", and Germán Valdez...
, polished their acting skills. The three brothers went on to become three of Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
's most well known comedians.
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 was a fan of Valdés, and he thought Valdés would make a perfect fit to play Don Ramón, who had a daughter (Chilindrina, played by María Antonieta de las Nieves
María Antonieta de las Nieves
María Antonieta de las Nieves is a Mexican actress of voice-over, film, and television; best known for her portrayal of "La Chilindrina" in the Televisa sitcom, El Chavo del Ocho...
), a person who had romantic interest in him (Doña Clotilde, played by Angelines Fernández
Angelines Fernández
Angelines Fernández was a Spanish-born actress of Mexican film and television, best-known for portraying "Doña Clotilde" on the Televisa sitcom El Chavo.Fernández struggled as an actress in Spain. She flew to Mexico in 1947...
) and a neighbor who slapped him across the face on every show (Doña Florinda, played by Florinda Meza
Florinda Meza
Florinda Meza García de Gómez is a Mexican actress of film and television; she is also a writer, director, and producer. She started her career when Roberto Gómez Bolaños cast her in El Chavo as "Doña Florinda"...
). The Chavo character played by Gómez 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
El Chapulín Colorado
El Chapulín Colorado is a television series, created and played by Roberto Gómez Bolaños, also known as Chespirito, a successful Mexican comedian and TV show producer, which parodied superhero shows...
, usually as Chapulín's antagonist, the famous Tripaseca ("Dry Gut
Intestine
In human anatomy, the intestine is the segment of the alimentary canal extending from the pyloric sphincter of the stomach to the anus and, in humans and other mammals, consists of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine...
"). In some episodes, he portrayed a character named Super Sam, an English-speaking, money-thirsty superhero dressed as Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
, clearly mocking Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam is a common national personification of the American government originally used during the War of 1812. He is depicted as a stern elderly man with white hair and a goatee beard...
and the relatively wealthy situation of United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, when compared to average Latin American countries, as well as criticizing the American colonialism.
Both El Chavo and El Chapulín became major international hits across Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and other non-Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
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
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, 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
Dawn
Dawn is the time that marks the beginning of the twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the presence of weak sunlight, while the sun itself is still below the horizon...
]), following the Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
dubbing for El Chavo del Ocho, which, in that country, is called simply Chaves.
In 1979, he quit Chespirito's productions, but he returned to television a few years later, with fellow Chavo del Ocho and Chapulín Colorado cast member Carlos Villagrán
Carlos Villagrán
Carlos Villagrán Eslava is a Mexican comedy actor and former journalist. Villagrán combined both acting and writing at first; he became known for a character named Quico.-Life and work:...
in Federrico
Federrico
Federrico is a Venezuelan sitcom produced in 1982 and starred by Carlos Villagrán, Ramón Valdés, Simón García, Maribel Ponte and Nancy Soto. An spin-off of the series was produced in 1983 under the name of Las nuevas aventuras de Federrico ....
. 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 8 episodes.
Valdés also owned a circus, participating in circus acts.