Ramón Esteban Gómez-Valdés y Castillo (2 September 1924 – 9 August 1988) was a Mexican actor and comedian. He is best remembered for his portrayal of Don Ramón in the Mexican sitcom El Chavo del Ocho. He is also recognized as one of Mexico's best comedians.
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 "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, Manuel "El Loco" Valdés and Antonio "El Ratón" Valdés, also comic actors.
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 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 y Angellini and Guadalupe Castillo. He lived a quiet childhood, without being surrounded by many luxuries. He had several brothers, Germán Valdés "Tin-Tan", Manuel "El Loco" Valdés, Antonio "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.
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, 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). 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
In 1968, he met Roberto Gómez 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, where he performed along with María Antonieta de las Nieves and Rubén Aguirre. Then the program changed its name to Chespirito. It was so successful that it was on television for many years. Then came the television phenomenon El Chavo del Ocho in 1973, 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:
He also participated in El Chapulín Colorado airing in 1973 in which he portrayed multiple characters.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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.
Valdés had three wives with whom he had a total of 10 children. 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 was denied 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.
Death On 9 August 1988, Valdés died at the age of 63, after suffering a cardiac arrest caused by bone marrow cancer and prostate cancer. He was entombed at Mausoleos del Ángel in Mexico City.
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 co-workers and little known things about him.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1949Tender PumpkinsWilly1949Soy charro de levitaDon PrimitivoUncredited1949Novia a la medidaAmigo de RafaelUncredited1950The King of the NeighborhoodEl Norteño1950The Mark of the SkunkGuardiaUncredited1950Simbad el mareadoHampón con lentesUncredited1950El RevoltosoDetectiveUncredited1951Oh Darling! Look What You've Done!PanaderoUncredited1951Kill Me Because I'm Dying!Uncredited1952Las locuras de Tin TánDetectiveUncredited1952The Beautiful DreamerCavernarioUncredited1953You've Got Me By the WingGonzálezUncredited1953The Vagabond1953God Created ThemRamón; Otto 1953The Unknown MariachiDetectiveUncredited1954MulataMarineroUncredited1955Escuela de vagabundosTaxistaUncredited1955La vida no vale nadaChófer de autobúsUncredited1956Una movida chueca1956Pura vidaCaimánUncredited1956El sultán descalzoVendedor de tacosUncredited1956El vividorEl norteño1956Botas de oroUncredited1956El inocenteMecánicoExtra1957Las aventuras de Pito PérezTrailer1957Los tres mosqueteros y medioRochefort1958Escuela para suegrasAlbañilUncredited1958Refifi entre las mujeresEmpleado de don LuisUncredited1958A Thousand and One Nights1958La odalisca nº 131959Tres lecciones de amorTijerino, jefe de policíaUncredited1959El cofre del pirata1959Escuela de veranoAnastacio1959Vivir del cuentoDos pisosUncredited1960Variedades de medianocheFlaco, empleado televicentroUncredited1960Tin Tan y las modelosCocodriloUncredited1960Una estrella y dos estrelladosHipólito, mesero1960The Phantom of the OperettaPolicíaUncredited1961El pandilleroLocutor1961El duende y yo Ramón, borracho en cantina 1961Viva Chihuahua1961Escuela de valientesAndrés, caporalUncredited1961Los inocentes1961Juventud rebeldeEl ratasUncredited1962El tigre negroBandidoUncredited1962El malvado CarabelTendero1962El centauro del Norte1962Cazadores de asesinosBandidoUncredited1962Dinamita KidDamiánUncredited1962Los valientes no mueren1962¡En peligro de muerte!Hillbilly1962Ruletero a toda marchaJuez registro civilUncredited1963Los Amigos Maravilla en el mundo de la aventuraUncredited1963El tesoro del rey SalomónAlí Ben1963Vuelven los ArgumedoUncredited1963Fuerte, audaz y valiente1963Entrega inmediataOriginal XU 777 1964Buenos días, Acapulcochofer gangoso de Ricardo1964Vivir de sueños1964La sonrisa de los pobres1964Mi alma por un amorDirector de cine1964Héroe a la fuerzaPapá de Caín y Abel1964Campeón del barrioGancho1965El amor no es pecadoDon Cosme1965El padre Diablo1965Diablos en el cielo1965Mi héroe1965El pecadorMesero Juan1965El rifle implacableRoque1965Tintansón CrusoeGod Mio Mao1965Los fantasmas burlonesEmpleado carnaval1965El señor doctorPaciente VendadoUncredited1966El tragabalasSoldado1966El falso herederoJoselito el vagabundo1966Cada quién su luchaMalhechor, Badín's Henchman1966Tirando a golJuez registro civil1966¡Viva Benito Canales!LenchoUncredited1966Cargamento prohibidoHombre en cabaretUncredited1966El ángel y yoChilaquil1966El indomable1966La cigüeña distraídaEl Flaco, ladrón1967CrisolEfrain1967Retablos de la Guadalupana1967El pícaro1967Un par de roba chicosRobachico1968El caudillo1968Corona de lágrimasConductor del camión de gasUncredited1969Cuernos debajo de la camaDetective 1969Duelo en El DoradoEsbirro de PovedaUncredited1969El aviso inoportunoEl sastre1970Gregorio y su ángel 1970Los juniorsUncredited1970El cuerpazo del delitoEl gordo(segment "La rebelde")1970La hermanita DinamitaConductor de ambulancia 1970El capitán MantarrayaEl Ingeniebrio1970Chanoc en las garras de las fierasDon Arturo1970¡Ahí, madre!Entrenador de futbol1971El profePapá de MartínUncredited1971Los Beverly del PeralvilloCliente afeminado taxi1972Chanoc contra el tigre y el vampiroPata larga1972Hijazo de mi vidaza1973Entre pobretones y ricachonesUncredited1973Chanoc y las tarántulas 1974Algo es algo dijo el diablo1975Chanoc en el foso de las serpientesTsekub Baloyán1977Chanoc en la isla de los muertos1979El ChanfleMr. Moncho Reyes1979En esta primavera1979Chanoc en el circo UniónTsekub Baloyán1979El secuestro de los cien millones1981OK Mister PanchoGran Jefe Chivo Loco1983Los gatilleros del diablo1984Luis Miguel, aprendiz de pirataShort1986El más valiente del mundoFinal film role
Television Year Title Role Notes1968Los supergenios de la mesa cuadradaRamon Valdés y Tirado AlanísAnd other characters1970–1973; 1981–1982ChespiritoVarious characters1973–1979El Chavo del OchoDon Ramón1973–1979El Chapulín Colorado Súper SamTripasecaRascabuchesAlma NegraAnd various other characters1983FederricoDon Moncho1987–1988¡Ah qué Kiko!Don RamónFinal TV appearance; show ended six months before Valdes' death
References
External links
Ramón Valdés on YouTube