Ramón Valdés
{{Short description|Mexican actor (1924–1988)}}
{{pp-pc|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{family name hatnote|Gómez-Valdés|Castillo|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ramón Valdés
| birth_name = Ramón Esteban Gómez-Valdés y Castillo{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/ramon-valdes-acta-de-nacimiento|title=Ramón Valdés acta de nacimiento|work=FamilySearch|date=9 January 1925|access-date=19 April 2023|language=es-MX}}
| image = Ramón Valdés circa 1950s photograph.jpg
| caption = Valdés, {{circa|1950}}s
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1924|9|2}}
| birth_place = Mexico City, Mexico
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1988|8|9|1924|9|2}}
| death_place = Mexico City, Mexico
| resting_place = Mausoleos del Ángel, Mexico City
| occupation = Actor and comedian
| years_active = 1949–1988
| notable_works = Don Ramón in El Chavo del Ocho
| other_names = {{unbulleted list|Don Ramón{{cite web|url=https://peru21.pe/espectaculos/29-anos-fallecio-conocido-actor-mexicano-ramon-valdes-1-238877|title=Hace 29 años falleció el conocido actor mexicano Ramón Valdés|date=9 August 2017|access-date=12 May 2018|language=es|work=Perú.21}}|Monchito|{{nowrap|Seu Madruga}} (Brazil)|{{nowrap|Mr. Raymond}} (English dub of El Chavo Animado)}}
| family = Valdés
| children = 10
| relations = {{unbulleted list|Germán Valdés (brother)|Manuel Valdés (brother)|Cristian Castro (nephew)}}
| signature = Ramón Valdés signature.svg
}}
Ramón Esteban Gómez-Valdés y Castillo (2 September 1924 – 9 August 1988{{cite web|url=http://www.eldiariodecerri.com/2-de-septiembre-ramon-antonio-esteban-gomez-de-valdes-y-castillo/|date=2 September 2020|title=2 de septiembre – Ramón Antonio Esteban Gómez de Valdés y Castillo|language=es|access-date=23 December 2020}}) was a Mexican actor and comedian. He is best remembered for his portrayal of Don Ramón. He is also recognized as one of Mexico's best comedians.{{cite web|url=http://www.teleamazonas.com/2015/11/montaje-de-don-ramon-en-la-voz-arrasa-en-redes-sociales/|title=Montaje de Don Ramón en La Voz arrasa en redes sociales|date=8 November 2015|access-date=9 August 2018|language=es|work=Teleamazonas}}
Born in Mexico City, he was raised in a humble and large family that moved to Ciudad Juárez when he was aged two. Valdés made his acting debut at cinema in the movie Tender Pumpkins (1949), appearing along with his brother, Germán Valdés, already an actor better known as "Tin-Tan", and who introduced Ramón into the acting world. Under extra or supporting roles, he continued making appearances in films during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. Ramón and Germán had two other brothers, also actors, Manuel Valdés, better known as "Manuel "El Loco" Valdés", and Antonio Valdés, better known as "El Ratón Valdés".
In 1968, Valdés met Roberto Gómez Bolaños, better known as "Chespirito", with whom he began working on programs such as Los supergenios de la mesa cuadrada, Chespirito and El Chapulín Colorado. It was on Bolaños's sitcom El Chavo del Ocho that he gained international fame for his portrayal of Don Ramón. He left El Chavo del Ocho in 1979 but returned in 1981 for his final year on the project.
In 1982, Valdés starred with Carlos Villagrán on the Venezuelan sitcom Federrico and on Ah que Kiko in 1987.
Life and career
= 1924–1968: Childhood, early career and multiple films =
Ramón Esteban Gómez Valdés y Castillo was born on 2 September 1924, in Mexico City, a son of Rafael Gómez-Valdés Angellini and Guadalupe Castillo.{{cite web|url=http://www.chavodel8.com/actores/ramon-valdes.php|title=Ramón Valdés biografía|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202025822/http://www.chavodel8.com/actores/ramon-valdes.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2007}} He lived a quiet childhood, without being surrounded by many luxuries.{{cite web|url=https://www.biografias.es/famosos/ramon-valdes-castillo.html|title=Biografía de Ramón Valdés Castillo|access-date=15 May 2018|language=es|work=Biografias.es}} He had several brothers, Germán Valdés "Tin Tan", Manuel "El Loco" Valdés, Antonio Valdés "El Ratón Valdés", Guadalupe, Angela, Cristóbal, Antonio and Armando. He was nicknamed "El Moncho". At the age of two, his family moved to Ciudad Juárez.{{cite web|url=http://www.chespirito.org/actores_ramon.htm|title=La historia de Ramón Valdés|access-date=15 May 2018|language=es|work=Chespirito.org}}
In his youth, Valdés earned his living in multiple activities and trades, and due to this instability, he sometimes faced economic problems. At the same time he began his artistic career thanks to the support of his brother Germán ("Tin Tan"), who took him to act with him in different projects, so he participated in more than 50 films of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. His film debut took place on Tender Pumpkins (1949).{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040197/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast|title=Tender Pumpkins (1949)|access-date=15 May 2018|publisher=IMDb}} He continued appearing on multiple movies as an extra or with supporting roles till he met Roberto Gomez Bolaños (Chespirito) in 1968.
= 1968–1980: Meeting with Chespirito and career success =
File:Hermanos Valdés en 1958.jpg (plaid shirt), Germán (gray suit, center) and Manuel (black suit, last in the second row from the right) in 1958]]
In 1968, he met Roberto Gomez Bolaños (Chespirito) on the program Sábados de la fortuna, Bolaños saw the talent of Váldes and he made him part of the cast of comedians for his new television project called Los supergenios de la mesa cuadrada,{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480321/|title=Los supergenios de la mesa cuadrada (1968)|access-date=15 May 2018|publisher=IMDb}} where he performed along with María Antonieta de las Nieves and Rubén Aguirre. Then the program changed its name to Chespirito.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0229890/|title=Chespirito (1980–1995)|access-date=15 May 2018|publisher=IMDb}} It was so successful that it was on television for many years. Then came the television phenomenon El Chavo del Ocho in 1973,{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0229889/|title=El Chavo del Ocho (1972–1979)|access-date=15 May 2018|publisher=IMDb}} where he played Don Ramón, achieving more success and recognition than he had experienced before. It is said that his character was similar to Váldes in real life. Coworker Rubén Aguirre stated:
{{cquote|Ramón Valdés was hard to work with. There were always delays in the tapings because Don Ramón would be late.}}
He also participated in El Chapulín Colorado airing in 1973 in which he portrayed multiple characters.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0229888/?ref_=nv_sr_1|title=El Chapulín Colorado (1973)|access-date=15 May 2018|publisher=IMDb}}
= 1980–1988: Return with Chespirito and final projects =
After quitting the part of Don Ramón in El Chavo del Ocho, Valdés continued making films until 1986.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0883850/|title=Ramón Valdés|access-date=15 May 2018|publisher=IMDb}}
He returned to television in 1981, performing in "Chespirito" as his former characters. He also returned to "El Chavo del Ocho", this being kept as a secret until the moment of recording.{{cite web|url=https://www.publinews.gt/gt/espectaculos/2017/05/16/revelan-detras-emotiva-escena-don-ramon-regresa-vecindad-chavo-8.html|title=Revelan la verdad detrás de la emotiva escena donde Don Ramón regresa a la vecindad de "El Chavo del 8"|author=Ana Lucía Valladares|date=16 May 2017|access-date=15 May 2018|language=es|work=Publinews}} According to the history behind his return on one of the episodes in the series, Váldes entered the set to surprise La Chilindrina (María Antonieta de las Nieves) and such was the surprise of the actress, that the tears shed during that scene were real. Valdés only stayed one more year in the production as at the end of that year he left the program forever.
In 1982, Valdés returned to television with Carlos Villagrán on the Venezuelan show Federrico and on ¡Ah qué Kiko! in 1987 with these two being his final projects.{{cite web|url=http://larepublica.pe/espectaculos/359554-don-ramon-27-anos-de-la-partida-del-icono-latino|title=Don Ramón: 27 años de la partida del ícono latino – FOTOS|date=9 August 2015|access-date=20 December 2017|language=es|work=La República}}
Other media
In 1984, Váldes starred in a musical program entitled "Aprendiz de Pirata" (Spanish for "Pirate Apprentice") with Luis Miguel in which he performed his song "Tú No Tienes Corazón" of his 1984 album Palabra de honor.{{cite web|url=https://www.debate.com.mx/show/Cuando-Don-Ramon-trato-a-Luis-Miguel-como-a-El-Chavo-del-8-20170522-0162.html|title=Cuando Don Ramón trató a Luis Miguel como a El Chavo del 8|first=Inzunza|last=Francisco|date=22 May 2017|access-date=10 August 2018|language=es|work=debate}}{{cite web|url=https://www.debate.com.mx/show/serie-luis-miguel-cantante-comediante-ramon-valdes-aprendiz-de-pirata-20180503-0182.html|title=Así trató Don Ramón a Luis Miguel cuando trabajaron juntos|first=Barrios|last=Carlos|date=3 May 2018|access-date=4 February 2019|language=es|work=debate}}
Personal life
Valdés was a Roman Catholic of Spanish and Italian descent who owned a circus. According to Valdés, he had a falling out with Chespirito after he refused to lend Valdés 20,000 pesos he needed to buy a house.{{cite web|url=http://chespirito.org/articulos_especiales_salida_de_ramon_valdes.htm|title=Se desgrana la mazorca|access-date=12 May 2018|language=es|work=Chespirito.org}}
Valdés had three wives with whom he had a total of 10 children.{{cite web|url=https://www.debate.com.mx/show/Don-Ramon-y-10-datos-que-te-dejaran-totalmente-sorprendido-20150907-0069.html|title=Don Ramón y 10 datos que te dejarán totalmente sorprendido|first=Aragon|last=Hatdadiel|date=7 September 2015|access-date=21 December 2017|language=es|work=debate}} One of his wives was the singer Araceli Julián.
Valdés kept a strong friendship with Angelines Fernández, an actress on El Chavo del Ocho, better known on the show as Doña Clotilde "La Bruja del 71". At Valdés's funeral, Fernández stood in front of his coffin, crying inconsolably due to his death. Valdés was also good friends with María Antonieta de las Nieves. A persistent rumor remains that Fernández, who showed an unrequited strong romance for Valdés's character was actually in love with Valdés in real life, but this has remained unconfirmed by those close to them.
He was the uncle of Mexican pop singer Cristian Castro; his brother Manuel "El Loco" Váldes was Castro's father.{{cite web|url=https://mx.hola.com/actualidad/201611025910/cristian-castro-manuel-loco-valdez-veronica-fotos-imagenes/|title=Cristian Castro conoció a su padre, Manuel 'El Loco' Valdés, a los 31 años: "Me daba mucho miedo"|date=2 November 2016|access-date=15 May 2018|language=es|work=¡Hola!}}
Death
{{multiple image
|align = right
|direction = vertical
|width = 220
|image1 =
|alt1 =
|caption1 = Valdés's crypt with wrong birthdate at Mausoleos del Ángel in Mexico City
|image2 =
|alt2 =
|caption2 = Inscription at Ramón Valdés's crypt
}}
Valdés was a heavy tobacco smoker and people close to him stated that it was not unusual to see him with a cigarette in the recording sets.
On 9 August 1988, Valdés died of stomach cancer at age 63. The cancer had spread to his spinal cord. Valdés was entombed at Mausoleos del Ángel in Mexico City,{{cite web|url=https://peru21.pe/espectaculos/internacional/ultimos-dias-don-ramon-chavo-8-murio-ramon-valdes-mexico-cancer-estomago-cancer-chavo-ocho-nnda-nnlt-495528-noticia/|title=Don Ramón: ¿de qué murió Ramón Valdés? Así vivió sus últimos días el actor de 'El chavo del 8'|access-date=4 Jun 2023|language=es|work=Perú 21|date=12 August 2019 }}{{cite web|url=https://depor.com/mexico/fama/asi-fue-la-muerte-de-ramon-valdes-el-chavo-del-8-don-ramon-mexico-celebs-nnda-nnlt-noticia/|title=Así fue la muerte de Ramón Valdés '|access-date=4 Jun 2023|language=es|work=Depor|date=9 August 2021 }} the same cemetery where Angelines Fernández rests.
Legacy
Valdés is remembered as one of the most beloved actors from El Chavo del Ocho for portraying Don Ramón.
= Posthumous documentary =
On 17 May 2019, a trailer on Valdés' official YouTube account was released for Con permisito dijo Monchito (Spanish for, Excuse me, said Little Moncho), a documentary featuring Valdés's life with unpublished material, interviews with fans and fellow co-workers and little known things about him.{{cite web|url=https://larepublica.pe/espectaculos/1474135-chavo-ocho-don-ramon-expuesto-documental-material-inedito-vida-ramon-valdes-youtube-carlos-villagran-edgar-vivar-mexico-video|title=Don Ramón tendrá documental sobre su vida con material inédito del actor [VIDEO]|date=23 May 2019|access-date=3 June 2019|language=es|work=La República}}
Filmography
File:Don Ramón Graffiti in Managua.jpg of Valdés as Don Ramón, located in Managua, Nicaragua]]
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1949
|Willy | |
| 1949
|Soy charro de levita |Don Primitivo |Uncredited |
| 1949
|Novia a la medida |Amigo de Rafael |Uncredited |
| 1950
|El Norteño | |
| 1950
|Guardia |Uncredited |
| 1950
|Simbad el mareado |Hampón con lentes |Uncredited |
| 1950
|El Revoltoso |Detective |Uncredited |
| 1951
|Oh Darling! Look What You've Done! |Panadero |Uncredited |
| 1951
| |Uncredited |
| 1952
|Las locuras de Tin Tán |Detective |Uncredited |
| 1952
|Cavernario |Uncredited |
| 1953
|González |Uncredited |
| 1953
| | |
| 1953
|Ramón; Otto | |
| 1953
|Detective |Uncredited |
| 1954
|Marinero |Uncredited |
| 1955
|Taxista |Uncredited |
| 1955
|Chófer de autobús |Uncredited |
| 1956
|Una movida chueca | | |
| 1956
|Pura vida |Caimán |Uncredited |
| 1956
|El sultán descalzo |Vendedor de tacos |Uncredited |
| 1956
|El vividor |El norteño | |
| 1956
|Botas de oro | |Uncredited |
| 1956
|Mecánico |
| 1957
|Trailer | |
| 1957
|Los tres mosqueteros y medio |Rochefort | |
| 1958
|Escuela para suegras |Albañil |Uncredited |
| 1958
|Refifi entre las mujeres |Empleado de don Luis |Uncredited |
| 1958
| | |
| 1958
|La odalisca nº 13 | | |
| 1959
|Tres lecciones de amor |Tijerino, jefe de policía |Uncredited |
| 1959
|El cofre del pirata | | |
| 1959
|Escuela de verano |Anastacio | |
| 1959
|Vivir del cuento |Dos pisos |Uncredited |
| 1960
|Variedades de medianoche |Flaco, empleado televicentro |Uncredited |
| 1960
|Tin Tan y las modelos |Cocodrilo |Uncredited |
| 1960
|Una estrella y dos estrellados |Hipólito, mesero | |
| 1960
|Policía |Uncredited |
| 1961
|El pandillero |Locutor | |
| 1961
|El duende y yo |Ramón, borracho en cantina | |
| 1961
|Viva Chihuahua | | |
| 1961
|Escuela de valientes |Andrés, caporal |Uncredited |
| 1961
|Los inocentes | | |
| 1961
|Juventud rebelde |El ratas |Uncredited |
| 1962
|El tigre negro |Bandido |Uncredited |
| 1962
|El malvado Carabel |Tendero | |
| 1962
|El centauro del Norte | | |
| 1962
|Cazadores de asesinos |Bandido |Uncredited |
| 1962
|Dinamita Kid |Damián |Uncredited |
| 1962
|Los valientes no mueren | | |
| 1962
|¡En peligro de muerte! |Hillbilly | |
| 1962
|Ruletero a toda marcha |Juez registro civil |Uncredited |
| 1963
|Los Amigos Maravilla en el mundo de la aventura | |Uncredited |
| 1963
|El tesoro del rey Salomón |Alí Ben | |
| 1963
|Vuelven los Argumedo | |Uncredited |
| 1963
|Fuerte, audaz y valiente | | |
| 1963
|Entrega inmediata |Original XU 777 | |
| 1964
|Buenos días, Acapulco |chofer gangoso de Ricardo | |
| 1964
|Vivir de sueños | | |
| 1964
|La sonrisa de los pobres | | |
| 1964
|Mi alma por un amor |Director de cine | |
| 1964
|Héroe a la fuerza |Papá de Caín y Abel | |
| 1964
|Campeón del barrio |Gancho | |
| 1965
|''El amor no es pecado' |Don Cosme | |
| 1965
|El padre Diablo | | |
| 1965
|Diablos en el cielo | | |
| 1965
|Mi héroe | | |
| 1965
|El pecador |Mesero Juan | |
| 1965
|El rifle implacable |Roque | |
| 1965
|Tintansón Crusoe |God Mio Mao | |
| 1965
|Los fantasmas burlones |Empleado carnaval | |
| 1965
|El señor doctor |Paciente Vendado |Uncredited |
| 1966
|El tragabalas |Soldado | |
| 1966
|El falso heredero |Joselito el vagabundo | |
| 1966
|Malhechor, Badín's Henchman | |
| 1966
|Tirando a gol |Juez registro civil | |
| 1966
|¡Viva Benito Canales! |Lencho |Uncredited |
| 1966
|Cargamento prohibido |Hombre en cabaret |Uncredited |
| 1966
|El ángel y yo |Chilaquil | |
| 1966
|El indomable | | |
| 1966
|La cigüeña distraída |El Flaco, ladrón | |
| 1967
|Crisol |Efrain | |
| 1967
|Retablos de la Guadalupana | | |
| 1967
|El pícaro | | |
| 1967
|Un par de roba chicos |Robachico | |
| 1968
|El caudillo | | |
| 1968
|Corona de lágrimas |Conductor del camión de gas |Uncredited |
| 1969
|Cuernos debajo de la cama |Detective | |
| 1969
|Duelo en El Dorado |Esbirro de Poveda |Uncredited |
| 1969
|El aviso inoportuno |El sastre | |
| 1970
|Gregorio y su ángel | | |
| 1970
|Los juniors | |Uncredited |
| 1970
|El cuerpazo del delito |El gordo |(segment "La rebelde") |
| 1970
|La hermanita Dinamita |Conductor de ambulancia | |
| 1970
|El capitán Mantarraya |El Ingeniebrio | |
| 1970
|Chanoc en las garras de las fieras |Don Arturo | |
| 1970
|¡Ahí, madre! |Entrenador de futbol | |
| 1971
|El profe |Papá de Martín |Uncredited |
| 1971
|Los Beverly del Peralvillo |Cliente afeminado taxi | |
| 1972
|Chanoc contra el tigre y el vampiro |Pata larga | |
| 1972
|Hijazo de mi vidaza | | |
| 1973
|Entre pobretones y ricachones | |Uncredited |
| 1973
|Chanoc y las tarántulas | | |
| 1974
|Algo es algo dijo el diablo | | |
| 1975
|Chanoc en el foso de las serpientes |rowspan="2"|Tsekub Baloyán | |
| 1977
|Chanoc en la isla de los muertos | |
| 1979
|El Chanfle |Mr. Moncho Reyes | |
| 1979
|En esta primavera | | |
| 1979
|Chanoc en el circo Unión |Tsekub Baloyán | |
| 1979
|El secuestro de los cien millones | | |
| 1981
|OK Mister Pancho |Gran Jefe Chivo Loco | |
| 1983
|Los gatilleros del diablo | | |
| 1984
|Luis Miguel, aprendiz de pirata | |Short |
| 1986
|El más valiente del mundo | |Final film role |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1968
|Los supergenios de la mesa cuadrada |Ramon Valdés y Tirado Alanís |And other characters |
| 1970–1982
| |Various characters |
| 1973–1980
| |
| 1973–1979
| Súper Sam |And various other characters |
| 1983
|Don Moncho | |
| 1987–1988
|Final TV appearance; show ended six months before Valdes' death |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0KDFMd_R1ptRC60PtdPGWg Ramón Valdés] on YouTube
- {{IMDb name}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Valdes, Ramon}}
Category:20th-century Mexican male actors
Category:Deaths from stomach cancer in Mexico
Category:Golden Age of Mexican cinema
Category:Mexican male film actors
Category:Mexican male television actors
Category:Mexican male comedians
Category:Male actors from Mexico City
Category:Mexican people of Italian descent
Category:Mexican people of Spanish descent
Category:20th-century Mexican comedians
Category:Mexican Roman Catholics