It is a decade since the death of Rubén Aguirre, the actor who immortalized Professor Jirafales in El Chavo del 8. His character, an angry but kind-hearted teacher, remains in the collective memory of Latin America.
From agronomist to television star
Aguirre studied agricultural engineering in Monterrey, but in the 1950s he emigrated to Mexico City to dedicate himself to broadcasting and acting. The turning point came in 1968, when he met Roberto Gómez Bolaños, Chespirito. Together they created characters that marked generations: Professor Jirafales, Sergeant Refugio Pazguato, Lucas Tañeda and Rufino Rufián, in programs such as El Chapulín Colorado and El Chavo del 8.
After the team split in 1995, Aguirre continued active. She participated in the soap opera Soñadoras (1998) and was the official voice of the contest Atinale al precio. He then toured with circuses that featured him as the main attraction.
The legacy of Professor Jirafales
A car accident in 2007 forced him to retire in 2013. His wife lost a leg and he suffered a spinal injury that caused chronic pain. In 2015 he published After you, a book where he addressed the ins and outs of Chespirito and the disputes over the rights of the characters.
Aguirre died on June 16, 2016, two days after turning 82, due to complications from diabetes and pneumonia. His mark endures in tributes such as the animated series El Chapulín Colorado (2015), an action figure in 2019, the video game Street Chaves II (2022) and the series Chespirito: Sin queriendo. Even Bad Bunny included a sketch on Saturday Night Live where Jon Hamm played Aguirre.




