Hernando Casanova

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Hernando Casanova
Hernando Casanova amor a mil.jpg
Hernando in early 2000s
Born
Hernando Casanova Escobar

(1945-04-21)April 21, 1945
Neiva, Huila, Colombia
DiedOctober 24, 2002(2002-10-24) (aged 57)
Bogotá, Colombia
NationalityColombian
Occupation(s)Actor, director, screenwriter, singer, composer
Years active1965–2002
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Spouses
Elsa Ruiz
(m. 1969;div. 1983)
(m. 1984;div. 2002)
Children5

Hernando Casanova Escobar known as El Culebro Casanova (Neiva, Huila, April 21, 1945 - Bogotá D.C., October 24, 2002), [1] [2] [3] was a Colombian actor, director, singer, and television presenter. He is considered one of the pioneers of comedy and one of the most important actors in the history of Colombia. [4] [5] His versatility as an actor led him to become not only an icon of humor but also of drama. [6] [7] He was regarded as the best actor in Colombia during the peak of his career. [8] Throughout his career, he received multiple awards and recognitions for his artistic achievements, including his nomination as a revelation actor at the Ondra Awards in Spain and the award for best dramatic actor at the APE Awards.

Contents

Hernando Casanova began his career as a singer in the Club del Clan (1966), where he was part of the first generation of Colombian rock, and later made his acting debut with a brief role in the soap opera "Cartas a Beatriz" (1969). [9] His career gained momentum, and he gained national recognition for his role as Hernando María de las Casas in the series "Yo y tú" (1975) by Alicia del Carpio. Later, he reached the peak of success with his character Eutimio Pastrana Polanía in the series "Don Chinche" (1982) by Pepe Sánchez. His portrayal of the Huilense culture made him one of the most representative and influential figures in Colombian television history. Additionally, Casanova was a pioneer in sketch comedy, directing, writing, and acting in "Los Meros Recochan Boy's," a section of the successful show "El Show de Jimmy" (1971) hosted by Jimmy Salcedo. [10] [11] Among his other notable roles are Salomón in "Embrujo Verde" (1977), the lead role in "Farzán" (1983), presenter in "El tiempo es oro, su pueblo gana" (1986), Wilson Rodríguez in "El pasado no perdona" (1991), Yardines Murillo in "Perro Amor" (1998), and Vicente Secretario in "Amor a mil" (2001). In the film industry, Casanova was the emblematic actor of Chilean filmmaker Dunav Kuzmanich, even being named "the greatest Colombian actor of all time." [12] He acted in movies such as "Canaguaro" (1981), "La agonía del difunto" (1982), "Mariposas S.A" (1986), and "Apocalipsur" (2007).

In 2015, his children started the production of a documentary feature film about his life titled El Culebro: La historia de mi papá. [13] The film narrates the actor's life from the perspective of his youngest son, Nicolás Casanova. It premiered on September 20, 2017, at the Eureka University Festival. The documentary received favorable reviews and was well-received by the Colombian audience, highlighting its historical importance. Later, the film was broadcast on the program "Entre Ojos" on Caracol Televisión, becoming the most-watched program in its time slot that day. It also premiered in the United States in October 2022. Additionally, "El Culebro: La exhibición," an exhibition of photographs, video clips, awards, and costumes of Casanova's characters, took place at the Huila House in Bogotá. [14]

Casanova's controversial private life received significant attention. His parties, disorder, and excesses led him to experience periods of depression and anxiety. He was married twice and had five children. He passed away on October 24, 2002, due to a fulminant heart attack at the Cardioinfantil Foundation in Bogotá. His death was a national shock and considered an invaluable loss in the Colombian entertainment world. [15]

Early life

Hernando Casanova was born in Neiva, department of Huila, Colombia, on April 21, 1945, the only male of his parents Blanca Casanova and Guillermo Escobar. Her mother gave him her last name since his father did not legally recognize him. [16] Casanova attended Santa Librada School in Neiva and he dropped out after ninth grade. At the age of sixteen he joined the National Army of Colombia in the Marine Corps. Besides his duties as a militar, he performed with the soldiers in several plays, musicals and fashion shows. However, two months later, while serving in Buenaventura, he deserted. Soon after, he turned himself in and was transferred to Bogotá to take a course for non-commissioned officers. [17] During his time in the army, he became an Olympic wrestling and featherweight boxing champion in the military engineers unit. [18] Later, he settled in Yaguará, Colombia, to work as a teacher for fifth-grade students.

From an early age, Casanova showed a fascination for the world of entertainment. He performed several plays at his school in Neiva, among them a play about Adam and Eve, where Casanova played the role of Eve. [19] At the age of eleven, he would escape from school to join the circus or participate in RCN's Ondas del Huila radio show, where he sang in the evenings. He also participated in a radio show called El Mundo infantil where he dramatized stories based on real events. [17] Later, Casanova joined Carlos Emilio Campos' theater company. His debut as an actor occurred in his native Neiva, in the middle of a dispute between an actor and Carlos Campos. The actor resigned and it was Casanova who replaced him. After this, he toured the country with the theater company. [20] Hernando Casanova never took drama classes, but he was an avid consumer of cinema and was convinced that much could be learned about the craft in movie theaters. [19]

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRolNotes
2020República de ComediaHimselfArchive Footage - Episode 03
Yo, José Gabriel InolvidableHimself / Yardines MurilloArchive Footage - Episode 40 Don Chinche, Laura Pausini, Gregorio Pernía
2019Los InformantesHimselfArchive Footage - Episode 292 'Todo por mi madre / Suso, el Dani / Las vidas del Culebro Casanova'
Expediente FinalHimselfArchive footage
2016Simplemente PachecoHimselfArchive footage
2015Colombia en el espejo: 60 años de la TelevisiónHimselfArchive footage
2002Protagonistas de fuera de LugarHimselfActuación Especial
Historias de hombres, sólo para mujeresVariousActuación Especial - 3 episodios
Y por qué no?Himself
2001 - 2002Amor a milVicente Secretario
2001Waku-WakuHimself
2000Se armó la gordaJusto Franco
Modestia aparteHimself
1999FrancotiradoresHimselfGuest
Yo, José GabrielHimself / Yardines Murillo
Crónicas de CatreVarios personajes2 Episodes
1998Perro AmorYardines Murillo
GenteHimself
El siguiente programaHimselfArchive Footage
1997Fuego VerdeTitoSpecial Guest
1996Charlas con PachecoHimself
1993–1995Las Aventuras de EutimioEutimio Pastrana Polanía
1991El pasado no perdonaWilson Rodríguez
El Doctor Don ChincheEutimio Pastra Polanía
NostalgiaHimself
1989Bendita Mentira
1986–1988MusiloquisimoVarious
1987Me río de los martes
1985–1987El Tiempo es oro, su pueblo ganaHimselfHost
1983FarzánFarzán
1982-1989Don ChincheEutimio Pastrana Polanía
1971-1993El show de JimmyHimselfWriter, actor and director "Los Recochan Boys"
1984SabariedadesHimself
1982El Esmeraldero-
Cuánto vale su actuaciónHimself (Jurado)
Juanita-
1981La tía Julia y el escribidor-
Revivamos nuestra historia: Bolívar, el hombre de las dificultadesDomingo Monteverde
La aldeana-
1980Humor Imposible-
Las dos huerfanitas-
1979Mujercitas-
El Cuento del domingo: Bola de sebo-Directed by Bernardo Romero and Based on Guy de Maupassant's Boule de Suif
1978Manuelita SáenzAlcides de Mendoza
Los Pérez Somos así--
El caballero de RauzánBoris-
Teatro popular Caracol: Cachaco, Palomo y GatoGato-
1977Embrujo verdeSalomónWon at the APE's an award for best drama actor
Puerta Al Suspenso--
1976Las señoritas Gutiérrez-
Teatro Popular Caracol: Después nos divorciamos
La Trampa--
Aroma de SecretoTurco-
Memorias Fantásticas--
Una pareja con suerte--
El gran musicalHimself
1975La Mala Hora-
La Suicida
1973Sábados felicesVarious
La Herencia--
La Rosquilla--
1973 - 1975Yo y túHernando María de las casas
1972Caso Juzgado--
1971Una vida para amarte
1969Cartas a Beatriz-
Vespertina DominicalHimself
1966El Club del ClanHimself

Films

YearTitleDirectorCharacterNotes
1971TaciturnoJorge Gaitán Gómez-
1978El candidatoMario Mitrotti-
El PatasPepe Sánchez-
1979TigreRodolfo de Anda-
1980Cien años de infidelidadEduardo Sáenz-
1981CanaguaroDunav KuzmanichProfesor
1982La agonía del difuntoDunav KuzmanichBenigno Sampués
1984Ajuste de cuentasDunav KuzmanichEliazar
1985El Día de las MercedesDunav KuzmanichSantiago Rodríguez Las Mercedes
1986Mariposas S.A.Dunav KuzmanichSerrano-
2007ApocalipsurJavier MejíaEl PapítoCameo
2014DuniJavier MejíaHimselfArchive footage
2017El Culebro: La historia de mi papáNicolás CasanovaHimselfArchive footage

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References

  1. "Adios a el 'Culebro' del humor". El país. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  2. "Carlitos" (in Spanish). Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  3. "Entrevista de Juan Harvey Caicedo a Hernando Casanova". YOUTUBE. July 23, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  4. "Julián Arango, infiltrado". El Espectador. September 1, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  5. "10 personajes que marcaron la historia de la pantalla colombiana". La Vanguardia. La Vanguardia. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  6. Patiño, Jorge. "La locura y el método del Culebro". Esquire. Esquire. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  7. "La tele letal con Dago García". La Tele Letal. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  8. "Expediente Final: Culebro Casanova". Caracol Televisión. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  9. Hozzman, Édgard. "Así empezó la balada en Colombia". Eje 21. Eje 21. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  10. La caja mágica. Semana. p. 58. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  11. Viveros, Wilson. "Yo fui un... Recochanboys". Revista Soho. Revista Soho. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  12. Osorio, Oswaldo. "Dunav Kuzmanich: el compromiso, la valentía y el puro cine". Festival de cine de Santafé de Antioquia. Festival de cine de Santafé de Antioquia. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  13. "Habrá documental sobre la vida del "Culebro" Casanova". Publimetro. Publimetro. 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  14. "Nicolás Casanova y el documental sobre su padre "El Culebro Casanova"". Caracol Radio. Caracol Radio. September 2, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  15. León Giraldo, Diego (October 25, 2002). "Humor: el legado del Culebro". El Tiempo. El Tiempo. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  16. "'El Culebro' Casanova". Publimetro Colombia (in Spanish). Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  17. 1 2 Última entrevista al Culebro Casanova en "Y por qué no?" (Canal Capital) , retrieved February 6, 2023
  18. Revista Cromos (February 18, 1976), En 25 papeles, 24 ha sido el malo , retrieved February 6, 2023
  19. 1 2 Uribe, Maria Elvira. "El Culebro en TV".
  20. Entrevista de Juan Harvey Caicedo a Hernando Casanova , retrieved February 6, 2023