Rubén Aguirre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rubén Aguirre
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Aguirre in 2016
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| Born |
Rubén Aguirre Fuentes
15 June 1934 |
| Died | 17 June 2016 (aged 82) Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1967–2016 |
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Notable work
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Professor Jirafales in El Chavo del Ocho |
| Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) |
| Spouse(s) |
Consuelo de los Reyes
(m. 1959) |
| Children | 7 |
| Signature | |
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Rubén Aguirre Fuentes was a beloved Mexican actor, comedian, and television personality. He became famous across Latin America and the world for playing Professor Jirafales in the comedy show El Chavo del Ocho.
Standing at 1.96 meters (6 feet 5 inches) tall, his towering height and friendly personality made him a memorable figure on television. Over a long career, he worked on radio shows, theatrical tours, and classic television comedies created by Roberto Gómez Bolaños.
Contents
Early Life and Growing Up in Mexico
Rubén Aguirre was born on 15 June 1934 in the neighborhood of Santa Anita in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. He grew up during a time when Mexico was changing rapidly, and opportunities for formal studies were limited in smaller towns.
Schooling and Agricultural Studies
During the 1950s, finding higher education in northern Mexico required moving far from home. Aguirre moved to Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, to attend the Escuela Superior de Agricultura Hermanos Escobar.
At this famous school, he studied agricultural engineering. He learned about crop science, farm machinery, and mechanized irrigation systems. He eventually graduated with a degree in agricultural engineering with a specialization in mechanized farming.
Early Working Life and Radio Passion
Living right along the United States border allowed Aguirre to experience life in two countries at once. He often crossed the border into El Paso, Texas, where he took side jobs, such as gardening, to support his college studies.
While studying science, Aguirre discovered a deep passion for communication and performance. He started volunteering as an announcer on local radio stations in Ciudad Juárez. His voice was deep and resonant, which helped him stand out on the airwaves.
Aguirre was so enthusiastic about radio that he paused his university studies to travel to Mexico City. There, he took professional exams to earn an official radio announcer license. After returning to northern Mexico, he balanced radio hosting with his final university exams.
Family Life and Moving to Monterrey
During his time in Ciudad Juárez, Aguirre met Consuelo de los Reyes. The couple fell in love and married in 1959, remaining together for the rest of his life and raising seven children.
After finishing his engineering studies, Aguirre decided to pursue media instead of agriculture. He moved his family to the industrial city of Monterrey, Nuevo León, to seek full-time work in television and entertainment.
How Rubén Aguirre Started His Acting Career
Breaking into the acting industry proved challenging for Aguirre at first. Many television casting directors thought he was too tall for regular acting parts.
Working with Pipo the Clown
In Monterrey, Aguirre found his breakthrough by joining a popular children's television program hosted by a famous clown named Pipo. Aguirre played comedic sidekicks and learned how to make audiences laugh through physical comedy, timing, and funny voices.
Working in live television gave him hands-on experience in timing, improvisation, and stage presence. His work on the show quickly earned him a reputation as a dependable comedic performer across northern Mexico.
Meeting Roberto Gómez Bolaños
During the late 1960s, Mexican writer and producer Roberto Gómez Bolaños noticed Aguirre's talent and towering height. Chespirito was putting together a comedy team for television in Mexico City.
Chespirito hired Aguirre for sketch comedy shows like Los Supergenios de la Mesa Cuadrada and El Ciudadano Gómez. Aguirre's ability to stay serious while delivering absurd lines made him an essential part of Chespirito's core group of actors.
Famous Characters Created with Chespirito
Rubén Aguirre became a household name across Spanish-speaking countries through his memorable television characters.
The Famous Professor Jirafales
Aguirre's most famous role was Professor Jirafales in the classic television sitcom El Chavo del Ocho.
Classroom Adventures
Professor Jirafales taught all the neighborhood children in a one-room schoolhouse. He was patient and well-mannered, though the silly answers from students like El Chavo, Quico, and Chilindrina frequently tested his patience.
When frustrated by his students' antics, he was famous for shouting his catchphrase: "¡Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta!". Despite his strict teacher persona, he cared deeply about the education of every child in the neighborhood.
Romance in the Neighborhood
Professor Jirafales was also famous for his polite courtship of Doña Florinda. Whenever he visited the neighborhood, he brought her a bouquet of flowers, leading to elaborate and polite exchanges before having a cup of coffee.
Other Memorable Television Roles
Aguirre played many other characters in Chespirito's television universe:
- Lucas Tañeda in the sketch Los Chifladitos, where he played a quirky companion alongside Chaparrón Bonaparte.
- Sargento Refugio in Los Caquitos, portraying a clumsy but kind-hearted police officer trying to keep order.
- Various Villains in El Chapulín Colorado, playing villains like Rufino Rufián, El Shory, and extraterrestrial visitors.
Touring, Circus Life, and Later Adventures
As television programs like El Chavo del Ocho grew in popularity, the cast began performing live shows throughout Latin America.
International Tours
The cast toured across Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Aguirre visited countries like Brazil, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Chile, where thousands of fans filled stadiums to see the actors in costume.
The Jirafales Circus in Argentina
After regular production of the television series slowed down, Aguirre took his performances on the road independently. He traveled to Argentina and launched his own traveling circus called El Circo del Profesor Jirafales.
Aguirre spent many years touring South America with his circus, performing live comedic skits for families and children. The show combined traditional circus arts, such as acrobatics and clowns, with appearances by Professor Jirafales.
Memoir and Later Years
In his later years, Aguirre settled in the coastal city of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. He enjoyed spending time with his family, greeting visiting fans, and writing.
In February 2015, he published his autobiography, titled Después de Usted (After You). The title came from the famous phrase his character exchanged with Doña Florinda. In the book, he shared stories about his childhood, his friendship with Chespirito, and the history of Latin American television.
Aguirre passed away on 17 June 2016, at the age of 82, due to complications from pneumonia. Fans and actors across the world celebrated his decades of entertaining generations of children.
Selected Filmography
Here are some of Rubén Aguirre's major television and film appearances:
Television Programs
- Los Supergenios de la Mesa Cuadrada (1968–1971) as Various Characters
- Chespirito (1970–1972; 1980–1995) as Lucas Tañeda, Sargento Refugio, and Doctor Rafael Contreras
- El Chavo del Ocho (1973–1980) as Professor Jirafales
- El Chapulín Colorado (1973–1979) as Various Characters
Motion Pictures
- Santo y Blue Demon contra el Dr. Frankenstein (1974) as Dr. Genaro Molina
- El Moro de Cumpas (1977) as Señor Cura
- Lo Veo y no lo Creo (1977)
- Capulina Chisme Caliente (1977)
- La Hora del Jaguar (1978)
- El Chanfle (1979) as Sr. Matute
- Mi Caballo el Cantador (1979) as Padre Aparicio
- Sabor a Sangre (1980) as Sacerdote
- Aventuras en Marte (1981) as Astronaut
- El Chanfle 2 (1982) as Sr. Matute
- Viva el Chubasco (1983)
- Don Ratón y don Ratero (1983) as Rufino Rufián
- Charrito (1984) as Director
- Este Vampiro es un Tiro (1991)
- El Chivo (1992) as Padre Correa
- Las Aventuras de Fray Valentino (1994) as Fray Valentino
- El Show del Vampiro (2004)
See also
In Spanish: Rubén Aguirre para niños
