# Cantinflas

> Mexican comic film actor, producer, and screenwriter (1911–1993)

**Wikidata**: [Q195371](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q195371)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantinflas)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cantinflas

## Summary

Cantinflas, born Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes, was a Mexican comic film actor, producer, and screenwriter widely regarded as one of the most iconic entertainers in Latin American cinema. Active from 1937 until his death in 1993, he gained international recognition for his comedic performances, including a Golden Globe Award for his role in the 1956 film *Around the World in 80 Days*.

## Biography

- **Born:** August 12, 1911
- **Died:** April 20, 1993
- **Nationality:** Mexican (citizen of Mexico)
- **Education:** Chapingo Autonomous University (Universidad Autónoma de Chapingo), a Mexican institution of higher education in Texcoco de Mora
- **Known for:** Comic film acting, screenwriting, producing, and performances across stage, television, and voice acting
- **Field(s):** Film, television, stage, comedy, writing, music
- **Active career period:** 1937–1993
- **Pseudonym:** Cantinflas
- **Also known as:** Mario Alfonso Moreno Reyes, Mario Moreno

## Contributions

Cantinflas built a prolific career spanning multiple entertainment disciplines. His notable film works include:

- ***Around the World in 80 Days*** (1956) — A major international film directed by Michael Anderson, in which Cantinflas played a significant role that earned him the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
- ***You're Missing the Point*** (1940) — A Mexican film directed by Juan Bustillo Oro, regarded as one of his classic domestic works.
- ***Pepe*** (1960) — A film by George Sidney featuring Cantinflas in a leading capacity.

His professional output encompassed roles as a comedian, screenwriter, film actor, television actor, stage actor, voice actor, musician, and writer. He was also documented as having served in a military capacity at some point in his life.

## FAQs

**What was Cantinflas's real name?**
His full birth name was Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes. He also went by Mario Alfonso Moreno Reyes and the shorter name Mario Moreno, but his professional stage name and primary identity was Cantinflas.

**What awards did Cantinflas receive?**
He won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (an award established in 1950 in the United States) and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California.

**What are Cantinflas's most notable films?**
His most recognized works include *Around the World in 80 Days* (1956), *You're Missing the Point* (1940), and *Pepe* (1960). These films span both Mexican cinema and Hollywood productions.

**How long was Cantinflas active in his career?**
His professional work period began in 1937 and continued until 1993, the year of his death, covering over five decades in entertainment.

**What was Cantinflas's connection to Chapingo Autonomous University?**
He was educated at Chapingo Autonomous University (UACha), a Mexican institution of higher education founded in 1854, located in Texcoco de Mora, Mexico. The university is historically known as the Escuela Nacional de Agricultura and is a member of ANUIES (the National Association of Universities and Higher Education Institutions).

## Why They Matter

Cantinflas holds a singular position in the history of Latin American entertainment. As a Mexican comic actor who successfully crossed into Hollywood, he demonstrated that Spanish-language performers could achieve global recognition. His Golden Globe win for *Around the World in 80 Days* marked a rare instance of a Latin American actor receiving a top-tier international acting honor during the mid-20th century. His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame further cemented his enduring legacy in global popular culture. Within Mexico, his work in films like *You're Missing the Point* helped define the golden age of Mexican cinema. His versatility across film, television, stage, voice acting, writing, and music set a precedent for multi-disciplinary entertainers in the Spanish-speaking world. Without Cantinflas, the bridge between Mexican comedic traditions and global cinema would have been significantly weaker during a formative era for both industries.

## Notable For

- **Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy**, recognizing his performance in *Around the World in 80 Days* (1956)
- **Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame** in Hollywood, California, United States
- **International breakthrough** via *Around the World in 80 Days* (1956), directed by Michael Anderson
- **Starring role in *Pepe*** (1960), directed by George Sidney
- **Classic Mexican cinema contribution** through *You're Missing the Point* (1940), directed by Juan Bustillo Oro
- **Career spanning over five decades**, from 1937 to 1993
- **Multiple professional disciplines**: comedian, screenwriter, film actor, television actor, stage actor, voice actor, writer, musician, and producer
- **Education at Chapingo Autonomous University**, one of Mexico's oldest higher education institutions (founded 1854)
- **Subject of extensive documentation** with 52 sitelinks across knowledge platforms and a Wikipedia article under the title "Cantinflas"

## Body

### Early Life and Identity

Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes was born on August 12, 1911, in Mexico. He held Mexican citizenship throughout his life. He was also known by the aliases Mario Alfonso Moreno Reyes and Mario Moreno, but became universally recognized under his stage name, Cantinflas. He was affiliated with an entity identified as Q133543408.

### Education

Cantinflas attended Chapingo Autonomous University (UACha), a Mexican institution of higher education founded in 1854 and located in Texcoco de Mora, Mexico. The university, historically known as the Escuela Nacional de Agricultura (National School of Agriculture), operates as both a university and an open-access publisher. It holds membership in ANUIES (Asociación Nacional de Universidades e Instituciones de Educación Superior) and Editoriales Universitarias y Académicas de México. UACha uses the DOI prefix 10.5154 and maintains its website at https://chapingo.mx/.

### Career Overview

Cantinflas maintained an active professional career from 1937 until 1993. His occupations spanned an exceptionally broad range within the entertainment industry:

- **Comedian:** Person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh
- **Screenwriter:** Writer who writes for films, TV shows, comics, and games
- **Film actor:** Actor who appears in films
- **Television actor:** Actor who performs on television
- **Stage actor:** Actor who performs live before an in-person audience
- **Voice actor:** Person who provides voice-overs for a character in films, animation, video games, or in other media
- **Writer:** Person who uses written words to communicate ideas and to produce literary works
- **Musician:** Person who composes, conducts, or performs music
- **Military personnel:** People who serve in an organized armed military force (indicating some period of military service)

### Notable Film Works

Cantinflas appeared in or contributed to several significant films:

- ***You're Missing the Point*** (1940): A film directed by Juan Bustillo Oro, recognized as a landmark in Mexican cinema. The film has 7 sitelinks in knowledge databases.
- ***Around the World in 80 Days*** (1956): Directed by Michael Anderson, this major international production featured Cantinflas in a prominent role. The film has 50 sitelinks, indicating its broad cultural recognition.
- ***Pepe*** (1960): A film directed by George Sidney, featuring Cantinflas. The film has 16 sitelinks in knowledge databases.

### Awards and Honors

Cantinflas received two major documented recognitions:

- **Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy**: An award established in 1950 in the United States, with 35 sitelinks documenting its significance.
- **Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame**: An award located on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California, United States, with 8 sitelinks.

### Identifiers and Documentation

Cantinflas is extensively documented across numerous knowledge and library systems. His records appear in the following databases and identifiers:

- **IMDb ID:** nm0134594
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n83122227
- **ISNI:** 0000000439844710
- **VIAF:** 14961296, 452146997392318892492
- **GND ID:** 122741382
- **BNF ID:** 139307371
- **SUDOC ID:** 070183201
- **CiNii ID:** DA1681434X
- **Freebase ID:** /m/013q78
- **Open Library ID:** OL5095335A
- **BNE ID:** XX4578958
- ** encyclopaedia Britannica ID:** biography/Cantinflas
- **SNAC ARK ID:** 899/000065704
- **Find a Grave ID:** 8088473

He has 52 sitelinks across various language editions and platforms, with a Wikipedia article titled "Cantinflas." His gravesite is documented with an image file (Tumba de Cantinflas.jpg). A Google Doodle was created in his honor with the identifier "mario-moreno-cantinflas-107th-birthday," celebrating his 107th birthday anniversary.

### National and Cultural Context

Cantinflas was a citizen of Mexico, a sovereign state and country in North America with a population of approximately 132 million as of 2024. Mexico declared independence from Spain on September 16, 1810, and was recognized as independent in December 1836. The country operates as a federal republic with Mexico City as its capital. Mexico's rich cultural heritage, blending indigenous traditions with Spanish colonial influences, provided the backdrop for Cantinflas's career and comedic style. His work contributed to the cultural legacy of a nation known for 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, globally recognized cuisine, and influential arts traditions including muralism and the Day of the Dead celebration.

### Death and Legacy

Cantinflas died on April 20, 1993, bringing an end to a career that had spanned 56 years. He is classified as a human instance (Homo sapiens) in knowledge base records. His legacy endures through his films, his documented contributions to multiple entertainment disciplines, and the extensive cataloging of his life across global library, academic, and cultural databases.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. [Source](http://www.infoplease.com/biography/c-bios.html)
4. [Cantinflas y su vida en CDMX: trenecito, estatua oculta y más. Chilango. 2020](https://www.chilango.com/ocio/cantinflas-en-la-cdmx/)
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. CiNii Research
7. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
8. SNAC
9. Find a Grave
10. filmportal.de
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
12. [BnF authorities](http://data.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb139307371)
13. CONOR.SI
14. Quora
15. The Movie Database