Hernando Casanova Explained

Hernando Casanova
Birth Name:Hernando Casanova Escobar
Birth Date:April 21, 1945
Birth Place:Neiva, Huila, Colombia
Nationality:Colombian
Death Place:Bogotá, Colombia
Years Active:1965–2002
Occupation:Actor, director, screenwriter, singer, composer
Spouse:
    Children:5
    Height:5 ft 7 in

    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 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 .[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. During his time in the army, he became an Olympic wrestling and featherweight boxing champion in the military engineers unit. 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.[17] 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. 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. 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.

    Filmography

    Television

    YearTitleRolNotes
    2020República de Comedia HimselfArchive 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

    Notes and References

    1. News: Adios a el 'Culebro' del humor . 29 May 2020 . El país.
    2. News: Carlitos. 2 March 2018. es.
    3. News: Entrevista de Juan Harvey Caicedo a Hernando Casanova. 23 July 2012. 9 November 2015. YOUTUBE.
    4. News: Julián Arango, infiltrado . 1 June 2020 . El Espectador . 1 September 2011.
    5. Web site: 10 personajes que marcaron la historia de la pantalla colombiana . La Vanguardia . La Vanguardia . 1 June 2020.
    6. Web site: Patiño . Jorge . La locura y el método del Culebro . Esquire . Esquire . 1 June 2020 . March 9, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160309142121/http://www.esquire.com.co/detalleNoticia.php?detalle=933%2Fl%3Den . dead .
    7. Web site: La tele letal con Dago García . La Tele Letal . 1 June 2020.
    8. Web site: Expediente Final: Culebro Casanova . Caracol Televisión . 1 June 2020.
    9. Web site: Hozzman . Édgard . Así empezó la balada en Colombia . Eje 21 . Eje 21 . 1 June 2020.
    10. Book: La caja mágica . Semana . 58 . 1 June 2020.
    11. Web site: Viveros . Wilson . Yo fui un... Recochanboys . Revista Soho . Revista Soho . 1 June 2020.
    12. Web site: 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 . 1 June 2020.
    13. News: Habrá documental sobre la vida del "Culebro" Casanova . 1 June 2020 . Publimetro . Publimetro . 2015.
    14. News: Nicolás Casanova y el documental sobre su padre "El Culebro Casanova" . 1 June 2020 . Caracol Radio . Caracol Radio . 2 September 2017.
    15. News: León Giraldo . Diego . Humor: el legado del Culebro . 1 June 2020 . El Tiempo . El Tiempo . 25 October 2002.
    16. Web site: ‘El Culebro’ Casanova . 2023-02-06 . Publimetro Colombia . es.
    17. Web site: Uribe . Maria Elvira . El Culebro en TV .