Pseudonym Pucho Birth name Leopoldo Fernandez II | Medium Stand-up, television Name Pucho Fernandez | |
Notable works and roles Pepon/Superpan on El Barrio Cuatro Calles | ||
"Aplauso Please"
Leopoldo "Pucho" Fernández II (September 2, 1927 – July 29, 2008) was a Cuban-Puerto Rican comedian. He was the son of veteran Cuban comedian Leopoldo Fernández, known as Tres Patines.
Contents
Barrio 4 Calles
Biography
Fernández was born on September 2, 1927 in La Habana, Cuba. He started working theater in Cuba when he was only 13 years old doing several minor jobs behind the curtains. However, he quickly started performing with his father in his show La Tremenda Corte.
In 1954, he came to Puerto Rico and was quickly hired as floor coordinator for Telemundo due to his knowledge of both English and Spanish. He was also the technical coordinator of El caso de la mujer asesinadita, one of the first Puerto Rican telenovelas. He also worked with producers Henry Lafont, Gaspar Pumarejo, Luis Vigoreaux, Marta Silva, and Fernando Hidalgo. Later on, he started performing comedy sketches in El Show del Mediodía at WAPA-TV.
One of Fernández' more famous roles was in El Barrio Cuatro Calles, where he played the role of Pepón, one of the owners of two bakeries located one in front of the other both competing for customers and sales. Later on, the comedy took another route where Fernández' character became "Superpan", a superhero spoof like Chespirito's Chapulín Colorado (Mexico).
In the late 1980s, Fernández worked in El Cuartel de la Risa, another sitcom that took place in a police station, starring Carmen Dominicci, Rafael José, and Antonio Sánchez "El Gangster". Other characters he was known for were Machito Pichón, Poncito, Cabo Blanco, and 20/20 (a Latin version of Mr. Magoo). Later, he collaborated in shows like Con Lo Que Cuenta Este País and intervened in some of Héctor Marcano's shows.
Fernández was also a stand-up comedian, screenwriter, and director. In his late years, he retired and dedicated himself to writing.
Fernández died on July 29, 2008 at a retirement home in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He died of pulmonar emphysema because of his cigarette addiction. Fernández son, Leo Fernández III is a known reporter and paparazzo in Puerto Rico. Pucho also had four other children from two different marriages. Leonardo, Hector, Leandro, Maria Victoria and Marisol.