A light goes out on the TV of our childhood
The news came to us as a low blow. Ricardo de Pascual, that familiar face who appeared on our screens for decades, died at the age of 85. The Mexican artistic environment woke up in mourning this Monday.
His career spanned more than six decades, but for many of us, his legacy is etched in Chespirito’s sketches. Do you remember Mr. Calvillo, the one who wanted to buy the neighborhood? That was him. He also gave life to Mr. Hurtado and was even a waiter at Doña Florinda’s restaurant.
“The National Association of Actors regrets the sensitive death of our colleague Ricardo de Pascual”
In ‘El Chapulín Colorado’ he also left his mark with episodes that became instant classics. His versatility was impressive: he could make you laugh in a comedy and move you in a drama with no apparent effort.
Beyond Chavo
His career was not limited to the Chespirito universe. For the children of the 80s, he was a voice and presence in ‘Bubble Odyssey’. For new generations, he appeared in ‘Neighbors’, connecting eras like few actors manage.
He also had a stint in soap operas such as ‘El manantial’ and ‘Cameleones’, demonstrating that his talent transcended genres. But perhaps his most valuable contribution was off camera: as an acting teacher, he trained new generations with that experience accumulated after thousands of hours in front of the public.
In her later years, she spoke honestly about her struggle with COPD, becoming an example of resilience. His departure reminds us that those faces we grew up seeing on television are not eternal, but his work does endure.
Today we miss not only the actor, but that little piece of our collective history that went with him.
