Cantinflas By: Teresa Auld

Biography Cantinflas’ original name birth name was Fortino Mario Alfonso Moreno Reyes, although he called himself Mario Moreno. Mario was born on August 12, 1911 in Mexico City, Mexico Mario was a mexican actor, producer, and screenwriter. This is when ‘Cantinflas’ became known because that was one of his most well known characters he played. He also stared in 41 movies. Mario had six other brothers and sisters: Pedro, Jose (Pepe), Eduardo, Esperanzo, Catalina, and Roberto.

Biography (continued) Mario served as preseident of the mexican actors guild known as ANDA. Mario first entered the entertainment world as a dancer. Mario died on April 20, 1993 of lung cancer. His funeral lasted three days and hundreds of people attended it to say their final good-byes.

First Accomplishment Mario has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as ‘Cantinflas’ The stars are spaced at 6-foot intervals, each consisting of a coral-pink terrazzo five-point star rimmed with brass. Mario’s star is between Lucille Ball and Tony Martin. Mario’s star is ranked 949th out of 2488 stars (as of January 3rd, 2013) The stars are permanent public monuments to achievement in the entertainment world. The HollyWood Walk of Fame runs 1.3 miles east to west on Hollywood Boulevard from North Gower Street

Second Accomplishment Mario has won several awards including Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture Musical Or Comedy as Pepe in 1956, Special Arie for his work and good influence on Mexican Cinema and Special Award for comedy. Mario now has an award named after him for entertainers that do excellent work. People who are awarded the ‘Cantinflas Award’ are awarded them because they represent the Latino communitiy with the same humor and distinction as Cantinflas. Mario received his first award in 1952. Mario has won over seven awards in his lifetime. Mario had worked hard for the awards and getting at least one leaves a space for you in history.

Legacy Mario has a cartoon series name ‘Cantinflas’ after him and was educational. People say ‘estas cantinfleando” as in “cantinflassing” meaning if you became hard to understand, people would use this phrase. Mario also has a song called “Whipstickagostop” about him written by the band Mindless Self Indulgance. The real Acadamia Espano added that word to their dictionary. Painters such as Rufino Tamayo painted Mario as a symbol of the everyday Mexican man. Many remakes of the movies he starred in are now dedicated to him and his great acting.