Tony Leblanc facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tony Leblanc
Shown in 2012.
Born	Ignacio Fernández Sánchez (1922-05-07)7 May 1922 Madrid, Spain
Died	24 November 2012(2012-11-24) (aged 90) Villaviciosa de Odón (Madrid), Spain
Nationality	Spanish
Occupation	Actor Director Comedian
Years active	1944–2012
Spouse(s)	Isabel Páez de la Torre (1955-2012)
Children	8

Ignacio Fernández Sánchez (born May 7, 1922 – died November 24, 2012), known as Tony Leblanc, was a famous Spanish actor, director, and comedian. He was well-loved for his funny roles in movies and on TV.

Tony Leblanc's Early Life and Talents

Tony Leblanc was born in Madrid, Spain. His family lived right at the Museo del Prado because his dad worked there as a janitor.

As a teenager, Tony was very active. He loved boxing and even became a champion in the lightweight "amateur" category in Castilla. He also enjoyed acting in local plays. Besides acting and boxing, Tony was a talented soccer player. He played for RCD Carabanchel in the Third Division and was the top scorer with 23 goals!

Becoming a Star: Movies and Theater

Tony Leblanc started his professional acting career in 1944. He worked with a famous theater company led by Celia Gámez. His first movie roles were in films like Eugenia de Montijo (1944) and Los últimos de Filipinas (1945).

Tony became very popular between 1955 and 1965. He starred in many well-known Spanish movies of that time. Some of these include El Tigre de Chamberí (1957), Muchachas de azul (1957), and Los tramposos (1959). He also appeared in Las chicas de la Cruz Roja (1960) and Tres de la Cruz Roja (1961).

During these years, Tony often worked with actress Concha Velasco. They formed a great acting team. He was also part of a funny trio with José Luis Ozores and Manolo Gómez Bur. Tony was best known for his comedy roles in both movies and on stage. He had big hits in theater shows like Te espero en el Eslava (1957–1958).

Challenges and a Big Comeback

In the mid-1970s, Tony Leblanc faced health problems. An old injury got worse, which made it hard for him to continue acting. He had to stop his career for a while. Before his break, he still did great work in movies like El astronauta (1970).

Tony was also a pioneer in Spanish television. In the 1950s and 1960s, he appeared in many comedy specials and TV shows. These included Las Gomas (1956) and Gran Parada (1963–1964) on Televisión Española.

After his role in Tres suecas para tres Rodríguez, Tony decided to retire from movies in 1975. Then, in 1983, he had a serious car accident. This accident made it impossible for him to continue his theater career. He was in a wheelchair for several years.

After almost 15 years away from acting, something amazing happened. Director Santiago Segura saw Tony on TV at an awards ceremony. Santiago convinced Tony to act in his new movie, Torrente (1998). This role earned Tony a Goya Award for Best Supporting Actor! It was a very emotional moment when he received the award. He managed to walk to the stage after being in a wheelchair for so long. Tony continued to appear in Santiago Segura's Torrente movies, including films in 2001, 2005, and 2011.

From 2001 to 2008, Tony Leblanc was also in the popular TV series Cuéntame cómo pasó. He played Cervan, a charming old newsagent, in 181 episodes.

Other Talents and Legacy

Tony Leblanc was not just an actor. He also produced, directed, and wrote several films. His first movie as a director was El pobre García. However, he stopped producing and directing when his films didn't become big hits.

Tony was also a talented songwriter! He wrote a very successful pasodoble song called Cántame un pasodoble español. This song was for a show in 1970. He also wrote other songs like Las piedras del camino.

In 2008, Tony wrote a book about his life called This is my life. On May 10, 2008, the town of Villaviciosa de Odón, where he lived for 30 years, held a special tribute for him.

Tony Leblanc passed away in Villaviciosa de Odón on November 24, 2012, at the age of 90. He died from a heart attack. Today, there is a road in Benidorm named in his honor.

Awards and Recognition

Tony Leblanc received many important awards for his work:

• Goya Award for Best Supporting Actor (1998) for Torrente, el brazo tonto de la ley
• Honorary Goya Award in 1994
• Gold Medal of the Círculo de Bellas Artes
• Premio de Interpretación del Sindicato del Espectáculo
• Medalla del Mérito al Trabajo, 1980
• II National Theatre Award "Pepe Isbert"
• Honorary President of Amigos del Teatro de España (AMITE, Friends of Theatre)
• Gold Medal of AMITE, 2010
• Tony Leblanc has a star on Madrid's Walk of Fame

Selected Movies

See also

In Spanish: Tony Leblanc para niños