Rubén Aguirre, Mexican actor, Died at 82

  Actor

Rubén Aguirre Fuentes was born on June 15, 1934, and died on June 17, 2016.

He was a Mexican actor.

Aguirre was best remembered for his characterization of Profesor Jirafales in the Televisa’s television show El Chavo del Ocho.

He also participated in another well known television show of the era, El Chapulín Colorado, albeit less frequently.
Life and work

Aguirre Aguirre was born in Saltillo, Coahuila.

Rubén started his acting career in Monterrey, Nuevo León, working with a character (a famous clown) named Pipo.

Aguirre went on to Mexico City, where he worked on several television scripts with Chespirito, creator and main star of both El Chavo and El Chapulín Colorado.

However, Chespirito noticed the tall, skinny figure of Aguirre (therefore, the last name “Jirafales”, derived from “jirafa”, giraffe in Spanish) and asked him to play Professor Jirafales, to which Aguirre agreed.

He was a personal friend of journalist Carlos Villagrán, who later played Quico in the same show and also acted in El Chapulín Colorado.

In a party at Aguirre’s house, he “discovered” Villagrán, recommending him for the role of “Quico”.

Rubén received much fame across Latin America when both El Chavo and El Chapulín Colorado became major international hits.

There was group of actors that comprised the casts of both shows toured often, and sometimes they would venture out on their own.

He was not the exception, visiting such places as Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Brazil many times.

Rubén Aguirre passed away 82 yrs old.