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.

Hernando Casanova
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 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

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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

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Television

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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

Films

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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

References

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  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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Uribe, Maria Elvira. "El Culebro en TV".
  20. ^ Entrevista de Juan Harvey Caicedo a Hernando Casanova, retrieved February 6, 2023