"La India Maria" Dead at 74

It seems God needs some comedy in Heaven. First Robin Williams, then Mexican comedian Roberto Gómez Bolaños and now another popular Mexican comedian commonly known among Hispanics as "La India Maria."

Her real name was Maria Elena Velasco and she passed away at the age of 74 from stomach cancer. Velsaco often portrayed a clumsy and dimwitted Native Mexican.  She exaggerated known stereotypes of Mexico's indigenous popular making the character lovable and funny. In her films, she was always accompanied by her donkey "Filemon." She would always find herself in the "big city" completely aloof on its ways and finding herself in trouble.  Apart from movies, she also did shows and also directed films.  In many of her films, she often incorporated Catholicism with deference. Her "India Maria" character was fond of "La Virgencita" or the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Velasco was born in Publa, Mexico on December 17 in the year 1940 to Tomas Velasco and Maria Elena Fragoso.  She had three siblings, Gloria, Tomas, and Susana. After the death of her father, she moved to Mexico City.  There, she would work as a dancer at the Teatro Tivoli. As a showgirl there, this is when she began her comedy sketches which made her famous.  She later married Julian de merich whose real name was Vladimir Lipkies Chazan.  Both had three children, Goretti, Ivan, and Ivette.

May Maria Elena Velasco "La India Maria" rest in peace.    

IMCINE lamenta el fallecimiento de la actriz María Elena Velasco "La India María" http://t.co/eo7GvjHGxH pic.twitter.com/I2nECBWaw3

— IMCINE (@IMCINE) May 1, 2015

Source:

http://www.dailyprogress.com/mexican-actress-best-known-for-la-india-maria-dies/article_65aeeb82-83e1-5099-8585-e7a2973a5ca3.html

http://www.startribune.com/mexican-actress-best-known-for-la-india-maria-dies/302187121/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mexican-slapstick-comedy-icon-la-792782

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/01/la-india-maria-dead_n_7189188.html

http://www.latintimes.com/la-india-maria-dies-maria-elena-velasco-dead-mexico-74-313199

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/01/la-india-maria-dead_n_7189188.html

Roberto Gomez Bolanos dead at 85

This summer we lost a comedic genius in the person of Robin Williams and now the world has lost another one from Latin America.  Roberto Gomez Bolanos passed away today at the age of 85 after suffering heart failure.  Bolanos was known for his comedy program which featured him and other actors taking on different roles.  Some of the well known roles he was known for was "El Chavo del Ocho," "El Chapulin Colorado," etc.

These characters are a staple in Latin culture.  Recently, an animated version was produced as well as a toy line of "El Chavo del Ocho." The death of Bolanos made social media news, even becoming the number 1 trending topic on Twitter. This shows how Bolanos has touched the lives of many throughout the generations that have passed.

Bolanos was born on February 21, 1929 in Mexico City to Francisco Gomez Linares and Elsa Bolanos Cachos.  As a youth, he loved to box.  However, dues to his short stature, his boxing career did not go professional. During his college years at the Universidad Autonoma de Mexico, Bolanos studied engineering.  However, he worked in advertising and not in engineer.  This is where he would learn how to do script-writing.  His amazing acting skills would earn him the nickname "Chespirito" which means "little Shakespeare."  

Later on, he would star in his own program where he would get into character playing several personalities which would become iconic in Latin America.  Generations of people would grow up watching this program which is still aired in syndication on Spanish networks.  His comedy was clean, funny and original.  This is lacking in today's comedy program both in American and Spanish networks.

Rest in peace!


   





Source:

http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-roberto-gomez-bolanos-85-20141128-story.html

http://www.latintimes.com/pulse/11-chespirito-tribute-memes-will-leave-you-tears-279160

http://blog.chron.com/tubular/2014/11/comedy-legend-chespirito-dies-in-mexico/#28805101=0


http://www.chespirito.com/

http://www.tmz.com/2014/11/28/chespirito-dead-dies-mexican-comedian-chapulin-colorado/

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/iconic-mexican-comedian-chespirito-dies-85-27240401

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/28/chespirito-quotes_n_6238736.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/roberto-gomez-bolanos-latin-american-tvs-chespirito-dies/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/28/chespirito-quotes_n_6238736.html

http://www.latintimes.com/chespirito-death-reactions-fellow-cast-members-and-friends-say-farewell-roberto-gomez-279065