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 presenter. He is considered one of the precursors 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 one of the greatest icons of acting in Colombia.[6][7] He was considered during a gap of his career as the best actor in Colombia.[8] In a career spanning over four decades, he received multiple recognitions for his artistic achievements, including a nomination as a 'revelation actor' at the Ondra Awards in Spain and an award for 'best dramatic actor' at the APE.
Casanova started out as a singer at the Club del Clan (1966) and then debuted as an actor with a minor role in Cartas a Beatriz (1969).[9] Later His career gained national recognition for his role as Hernando María de las Casas in the TV series Yo y tú (1975) by Alicia del Carpio. Wide acclaim and recognition came with his breakthrough role as Eutimio Pastrana Polanía from Don Chinche (1982) by Pepe Sánchez. Where fed with the idiosyncrasy of his hometown, he became one of the most representative and influential figures in the history of Colombian Television. Likewise, Casanova was a pioneer in the sketches format when he was directing, writing and acting in Los Meros Recochan Boy’s, a section of Jimmy Salcedo's hit show El Show de Jimmy (1971).[10][11] Other of his most notable roles include Salomón in Embrujo Verde (1977), his leading role in Farsán (1983), as 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 cinema, Casanova was the flagship actor of the Chilean filmmaker Dunav Kuzmanich, even naming him as "the best Colombian actor of all time".[12] Casanova acted in films such as Canaguaro (1981), La agonía del difunto (1982), Mariposas S.A (1986) and Apocalipsur (2007).
In 2015 his children began the production of a documentary feature about his life entitled El Culebro: La historia de mi papá.[13] The film tells the actor's life from the perspective of his youngest son, Nicolás Casanova. It premiered in September 2017 at the Eureka Film Festival. The documentary received favorable reviews and was widely received by the public, highlighting its historical importance. Subsequently, the film was broadcast on the TV show Entre Ojos from Caracol Televisión, becoming one of most watched programs that day. In addition, El Culebro: La exhibición, a sample of photographs, video clips, recognitions and costumes of Casanova's characters in La casa del Huila in Bogotá, was held.[14]
Casanova's controversial private life received much attention. His parties, disorder and excesses led him to struggled with depression and anxiety. He was married twice and had five children. He died on October 24, 2002 from a sudden heart attack at the Cardioinfantil Foundation in Bogotá. His death was a national commotion and was considered a invaluable loss in the entertainment business.[15]
Year | Title | Rol | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | República de Comedia | Himself | Archive Footage - Episode 03 |
Yo, José Gabriel Inolvidable | Himself / Yardines Murillo | Archive Footage - Episode 40 Don Chinche, Laura Pausini, Gregorio Pernía | |
2019 | Los Informantes | Himself | Archive Footage - Episode 292 'Todo por mi madre / Suso, el Dani / Las vidas del Culebro Casanova' |
Expediente Final | Himself | Archive footage | |
2016 | Simplemente Pacheco | Himself | Archive footage |
2015 | Colombia en el espejo: 60 años de la Televisión | Himself | Archive footage |
2002 | Protagonistas de fuera de Lugar | Himself | Actuación Especial |
Historias de hombres, sólo para mujeres | Various | Actuación Especial - 3 episodios | |
Y por qué no? | Himself | ||
2001 - 2002 | Amor a mil | Vicente Secretario | |
2001 | Waku-Waku | Himself | |
2000 | Se armó la gorda | Justo Franco | |
Modestia aparte | Himself | ||
1999 | Francotiradores | Himself | Guest |
Yo, José Gabriel | Himself / Yardines Murillo | ||
Crónicas de Catre | Varios personajes | 2 Episodes | |
1998 | Perro Amor | Yardines Murillo | |
Gente | Himself | ||
El siguiente programa | Himself | Archive Footage | |
1997 | Fuego Verde | Tito | Special Guest |
1996 | Charlas con Pacheco | Himself | |
1993–1995 | Las Aventuras de Eutimio | Eutimio Pastrana Polanía | |
1991 | El pasado no perdona | Wilson Rodríguez | |
El Doctor Don Chinche | Eutimio Pastra Polanía | ||
Nostalgia | Himself | ||
1989 | Bendita Mentira | ||
1986–1988 | Musiloquisimo | Various | |
1987 | Me río de los martes | ||
1985–1987 | El Tiempo es oro, su pueblo gana | Himself | Host |
1983 | Farzán | Farzán | |
1982-1989 | Don Chinche | Eutimio Pastrana Polanía | |
1971-1993 | El show de Jimmy | Himself | Writer, actor and director "Los Recochan Boys" |
1984 | Sabariedades | Himself | |
1982 | El Esmeraldero | - | |
Cuánto vale su actuación | Himself (Jurado) | ||
Juanita | - | ||
1981 | La tía Julia y el escribidor | - | |
Revivamos nuestra historia: Bolívar, el hombre de las dificultades | Domingo Monteverde | ||
La aldeana | - | ||
1980 | Humor Imposible | - | |
Las dos huerfanitas | - | ||
1979 | Mujercitas | - | |
El Cuento del domingo: Bola de sebo | - | Directed by Bernardo Romero and Based on Guy de Maupassant's Boule de Suif | |
1978 | Manuelita Sáenz | Alcides de Mendoza | |
Los Pérez Somos así | - | - | |
El caballero de Rauzán | Boris | - | |
Teatro popular Caracol: Cachaco, Palomo y Gato | Gato | - | |
1977 | Embrujo verde | Salomón | Won at the APE's an award for best drama actor |
Puerta Al Suspenso | - | - | |
1976 | Las señoritas Gutiérrez | - | |
Teatro Popular Caracol: Después nos divorciamos | |||
La Trampa | - | - | |
Aroma de Secreto | Turco | - | |
Memorias Fantásticas | - | - | |
Una pareja con suerte | - | - | |
El gran musical | Himself | ||
1975 | La Mala Hora | - | |
La Suicida | |||
1973 | Sábados felices | Various | |
La Herencia | - | - | |
La Rosquilla | - | - | |
1973 - 1975 | Yo y tú | Hernando María de las casas | |
1972 | Caso Juzgado | - | - |
1971 | Una vida para amarte | ||
1969 | Cartas a Beatriz | - | |
Vespertina Dominical | Himself | ||
1966 | El Club del Clan | Himself |
Year | Title | Director | Character | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1971 | Taciturno | Jorge Gaitán Gómez | - | |
1978 | El candidato | Mario Mitrotti | - | |
El Patas | Pepe Sánchez | - | ||
1979 | Tigre | Rodolfo de Anda | - | |
1980 | Cien años de infidelidad | Eduardo Sáenz | - | |
1981 | Canaguaro | Dunav Kuzmanich | Profesor | |
1982 | La agonía del difunto | Dunav Kuzmanich | Benigno Sampués | |
1984 | Ajuste de cuentas | Dunav Kuzmanich | Eliazar | |
1985 | El Día de las Mercedes | Dunav Kuzmanich | Santiago Rodríguez Las Mercedes | |
1986 | Mariposas S.A. | Dunav Kuzmanich | Serrano | - |
2007 | Apocalipsur | Javier Mejía | El Papíto | Cameo |
2014 | Duni | Javier Mejía | Himself | Archive footage |
2017 | El Culebro: La historia de mi papá | Nicolás Casanova | Himself | Archive footage |
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