Late Mexican comedian Mario Moreno, best known by his stage name Cantinflas, will join other late Latine celebrities like Frida Kahlo and Selena Quintanilla and have a museum dedicated to his life and career.
Moreno’s widow, Tita Marbez, confirmed the opening of the new museum during a recent interview with Televisa Espectáculos. “The things of Cantinflas belong to the Mexican people,” Marbez said.
The museum will be opened in the Roma neighborhood in Mexico City in 2023 and will include more than 1,500 items that belonged to the well-renowned actor.
On August 12 (Friday), Marbez held a mass to celebrate Cantinflas’ 111th birthday. She told Televisa Espectáculos that she wanted the public to be able to enjoy some of the comedian’s belongings “any time they want.”
The architect for the project is Paul Zarquin. He said the building for the museum has not been finalized yet, but that the team is currently working on all the details for the exhibition and what it will entail.
Known as the “Charlie Chaplin of Mexico,” Moreno was born in Mexico City on August 12, 1911. The comedian started making movies in 1937 with the Mexican comedy-drama Don’t Fool Yourself, Dear and went on to star in dozens of films – usually credited under his stage name.
In 1957, Moreno won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy or Musical for his role in the adventure comedy Around the World in 80 Days. In the film, he played Passepartout, the servant of an English gentleman who sets off to circumnavigate the world in 80 days. Moreno was nominated for another Golden Globe for his work as the title character in the 1961 film Pepe. The actor died of lung cancer on April 20, 1993, at the age of 81.
