Fernando Díaz de Mendoza y Aguado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fernando Díaz de Mendoza
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Díaz de Mendoza as a young man
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Fernando Díaz de Mendoza y Aguado
7 June 1862 |
| Died | 20 October 1930 (aged 68) Vigo (Pontevedra), Spain
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| Spouse(s) | 1. Ventura Serrano Domínguez (1866 - 1890) 2. María Guerrero Torija (1867 - 1928) |
| Children | Fernando Díaz de Mendoza Serrano (1889 - 1937) Fernando Díaz de Mendoza y Guerrero (1897 - 1942) Carlos Díaz de Mendoza (1898 - 1960) |
Fernando Díaz de Mendoza y Aguado (born June 7, 1862 – died October 20, 1930) was a famous Spanish actor, theatre producer, and theatre director. Many people thought he was one of the best actors of his time.
Contents
Fernando Díaz de Mendoza's Life Story
Early Years and Family Background
Fernando Díaz de Mendoza was born in Jumilla, a town near Murcia in southeastern Spain. His family was very important and wealthy. He had several noble titles, like Marquis de San Mamés and Count of Balazote. His friends often called him Fernando Fontanar, after one of his family's titles. As a young man, he enjoyed activities like hunting and parties, which were common for people of his status.
Starting His Acting Career in Madrid
In 1880, Fernando moved to Madrid. There, he met other important people from noble families. In 1885, something exciting happened. A wealthy duchess named Antonia Domínguez decided to build a theatre. She wanted it to be a fun place for her aristocratic friends. The theatre was named Ventura, after her daughter.
The Ventura Theatre opened on January 30, 1887. It quickly became a popular spot for Madrid's high society. Fernando Díaz de Mendoza played the main role in the first play, "El loco de la Guardilla." He was so good that he received many standing ovations.
During that first year, Fernando became a popular star. Famous writers and politicians praised his acting. At the end of the season, Fernando married Ventura Serrano Domínguez, the duchess's daughter and owner of the theatre. They were a very rich couple.
Sadly, Fernando's wife passed away in 1890, shortly after their son, Fernando Díaz de Mendoza Serrano, was born. Over the next few years, he spent most of his large fortune. By 1892, he needed to work for a living for the first time. He performed in several Madrid theatres and then toured with a theatre company. However, that company closed in 1893.
A New Beginning in Theatre
In 1893, Fernando was offered a job at the Spanish Theatre in Madrid. This theatre was run by the city. His first performance with this company was at the Teatro Princesa (now called the Teatro María Guerrero). He appeared in ""El desdén, con el desdén! in late 1893.
In January 1894, he starred in the comedy "Mariana." Newspapers in Spain wrote great reviews about his performances. In October 1894, he acted alongside María Guerrero in a classic play. María was the daughter of the man who hired him for the Spanish Theatre. Their stage partnership grew stronger, and they married in 1896. Around this time, Fernando Díaz de Mendoza became the main actor, director, and producer of the Spanish Theatre.
Success in South America
In 1896, Fernando Díaz de Mendoza and María Guerrero started their own theatre company. They left the Spanish Theatre in April 1897. A few days later, they sailed from Barcelona for their first tour in South America. They planned to perform 90 shows in Montevideo and Buenos Aires.
The most important place they performed was the Odeón Theatre in Buenos Aires. They put on 16 shows, including classic plays and new ones. Audiences loved their performances. Spanish newspapers reported that the tour was "one of the greatest theatrical successes" Buenos Aires had ever seen.
The Guerrero-Díaz de Mendoza company also had great success in Montevideo. This first tour was a huge hit and led to many more tours. They performed in countries like Perú, Colombia, Bolivia, and Cuba.
Performing in Europe
During a 1902 tour, Fernando Díaz de Mendoza was involved in a sad event in Cuba. Another famous Spanish actor, Antonio Vico y Pintos, died there. Fernando arranged to take Vico's body back to Spain and paid for everything. However, the return was stopped, and Vico had to be buried in Cuba. Five years later, thanks to Fernando's efforts, Vico's remains were finally brought back to Madrid in 1907.
Their success in South America encouraged Fernando and María to tour in Europe. Their first show in Paris was on October 4, 1900. Later that year, they performed in Italy and Belgium, receiving good reviews. They also performed several times in Portugal.
Official Recognition and New Theatre
In March 1903, Fernando Díaz de Mendoza received an important honor. He was appointed a professor at Madrid's Conservatory of Music and Drama. He taught acting there. In 1904, Fernando and María moved into a beautiful new mansion. It was designed by María Guerrero herself and cost a lot of money. The house even had three of the first cars in Madrid in its garage! They also had many servants working in their home.
In 1908, the city of Madrid ended the company's contract for the Spanish Theatre. They complained that the company's South American tours meant they weren't performing enough in Madrid. Fernando also had to resign from his professorship for the same reason.
Around this time, Fernando started a big new project. On March 20, 1908, he bought the Teatro Princesa in Madrid. This theatre was later renamed the Teatro María Guerrero. The company performed their first show there on November 27, 1909. Fernando and María even moved into a building connected to the theatre, with a direct path to the stage. They owned the theatre until María's death in 1928. Today, it is home to Spain's National Drama Centre.
Throughout the 1910s and 1920s, their company continued to have successful shows in Spain and Latin America. They were so famous that some venues had to wait years for them to visit. In Argentina, they helped start the National Cervantes Theatre in 1921. Fernando Díaz de Mendoza also became known as one of the best theatre directors of his time. In his later years, he was in charge of the Madrid Royal Conservatory.
Fernando's Family
Fernando Díaz de Mendoza had three sons who all became actors. He also had another son with the actress Catalina Bárcena. This son grew up with the name Fernando Vargas.
See also
In Spanish: Fernando Díaz de Mendoza y Aguado para niños
