Juan Diego (actor)
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Juan Diego Ruiz Moreno (14 December 1942 – 28 April 2022), professionally known as Juan Diego, was a Spanish actor who appeared on stage, in television and film productions since 1957. He starred in films such as ''
The Holy Innocents The Holy Innocents may refer to: * The victims of the Biblical Massacre of the Innocents, and any of several artistic depictions of this massacre (e.g. by Giotto di Bondone) * The Holy Innocents (Adair novel), by Gilbert Adair ** The Dreamers (20 ...
'', '' The 7th Day'', '' Dragon Rapide'', ''París-Tombuctú'' and '' You're the One''. Performing with a raspy voice for much of his career, he is often associated with abrupt, violent, and authoritarian roles, having a knack for nailing fascist-like characters. His most known television role was the foul-mouthed Don Lorenzo in ''
Los hombres de Paco ''Los hombres de Paco'' (English: ''Paco's Men'') is a Spanish television series that originally aired from 9 October 2005 to 19 May 2010 on Antena 3. Created by Daniel Écija and Álex Pina, it stars numerous actors; primarily Paco Tous and Pep ...
'', popular for the idiom Also known for his left-wing political activism, Juan Diego took part in the struggle for advancing film workers' labor rights in Spain.


Biography

Juan Diego Ruiz Moreno was born on 14 December 1942 in Bormujos, and spent his childhood there. He made his acting debut in theatre in 1957. Key stage credits throughout his career include performances in plays such as ''Olvida los tambores'', ''El lector por horas'', ''La gata sobre el tejado de zinc'', and ''Yo me bajo en la próxima, ¿y usted?'' After studying performing arts in
Seville Seville (; es, Sevilla, ) is the capital and largest city of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir, in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula ...
, Juan Diego moved to
Madrid Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the Largest cities of the Europ ...
in order to develop his acting career, featuring in
Televisión Española Televisión Española (acronym TVE, branded tve, "Spanish Television") is Spain's national state-owned public television broadcaster and the oldest regular television service in the country. It was also the first regular television service in ...
shows (most notably in plenty of ''
Estudio 1 ''Estudio 1'' was a long-running Spanish TV drama series by Televisión Española since 1965 presenting many classic plays for the home audience. It was equivalent to '' :fr:Au théâtre ce soir'' (1966-1985) on TF1 and ''Play of the Month'' (1 ...
'' plays), likewise making his film debut in
Eloy de la Iglesia Eloy de la Iglesia (1 January 1944 – 23 March 2006) was a Spanish screenwriter and film director. De la Iglesia was an outspoken gay socialist filmmaker who is relatively unknown outside Spain despite a prolific and successful career in his ...
's '' Fantasía... 3'' (1966). Having joined the then clandestine
Communist Party of Spain The Communist Party of Spain ( es, Partido Comunista de España; PCE) is a Marxist-Leninist party that, since 1986, has been part of the United Left coalition, which is part of Unidas Podemos. It currently has two of its politicians serving a ...
in the late 1960s, Juan Diego had a leading role in organizing the . The first of his two children was born in 1970. His left-wing political activism did not end upon the death of dictator Francisco Franco, but continued during the Transition and beyond. Decades later, he would also be seen demonstrating in Spain against the
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. Diego starred as Marcos, a popular television host and member of a post-Francoist party (and scorned husband), alongside
Ana Belén María del Pilar Cuesta Acosta (born 27 May 1951, Madrid), known professionally as Ana Belén, is a Spanish actress and singer. Life/career Born in 1951, Ana Belén is the oldest of three children. Her father was a cook in Hotel Palace, and ...
and a big black dog in a love triangle in the 1977
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-themed film '' La criatura''. He landed a breakthrough role with his performance in
Mario Camus Mario Camus García (20 April 1935 – 18 September 2021) was a Spanish film director and screenwriter. He won the Golden Bear at the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival with '' La colmena''. His 1987 film '' The House of Bernarda Alba'' ...
' 1984 film ''
The Holy Innocents The Holy Innocents may refer to: * The victims of the Biblical Massacre of the Innocents, and any of several artistic depictions of this massacre (e.g. by Giotto di Bondone) * The Holy Innocents (Adair novel), by Gilbert Adair ** The Dreamers (20 ...
'', playing Señorito Iván, a repulsive authoritarian landlord from an Extremaduran , obsessed with game hunting and disdainful of his workers. He earned his first
Goya Award The Goya Awards ( es, Premios Goya) are Spain's main national annual film awards, commonly referred to as the Academy Awards of Spain. The awards were established in 1987, a year after the founding of the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sci ...
nomination at the first edition of the awards celebrated in 1987, for his leading role as Francisco Franco in the period drama '' Dragon Rapide'', which tracks the early stages of the
Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, link ...
. He earned another best actor nomination for his role as
Saint John of the Cross John of the Cross, OCD ( es, link=no, Juan de la Cruz; la, Ioannes a Cruce; born Juan de Yepes y Álvarez; 24 June 1542 – 14 December 1591) was a Spanish Catholic priest, mystic, and a Carmelite friar of converso origin. He is a major figu ...
in the 1989 film '' The Dark Night'', his first collaboration with
Carlos Saura Carlos Saura Atarés (born 4 January 1932) is a Spanish film director, photographer and writer. Along with Luis Buñuel and Pedro Almodóvar, he is considered to be one of Spain’s most renowned filmmakers. He has a long and prolific career t ...
. He played a again in the 1988 film ''
Jarrapellejos ''Jarrapellejos'' is a 1988 Spanish drama film directed by Antonio Giménez-Rico based on the 1914 novel of the same name by Felipe Trigo. Set in La Joya, Extremadura, the plot straddles between the social denunciation and the ''costumbrista'' ...
'', as Saturnino, a rapist and murderer. He portrayed another historical figure by playing the title character of the 1991 Mexican film ''
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''. He won his first Goya Award for his supporting role in ''
The Dumbfounded King ''El rey pasmado'' (English: The Dumbfounded King) is a 1991 French-Portuguese-Spanish comedy-historical film directed by Imanol Uribe and written by Joan Potau and Gonzalo Torrente Ballester. The screenplay was based on Torrente's 1989 novel ' ...
'' (1991), playing Father Villaescusa, a 17th-century scheming friar characterised by his "arrogant, enervated, and irascible" gaze. He featured in supporting roles in the 1992 film '' Jamón, jamón'' and in the 1993 film '' Banderas, the Tyrant'', respectively portraying Manuel, the owner of the Sansón underwear factory and father of José Luis (
Jordi Mollá Jordi () is the Catalan form of the ancient Greek name Georgios. Jordi is a popular name in Catalonia and is also given in the Netherlands and in Spanish-, English- and German-speaking countries. Jordi may also refer to: * Sant Jordi – patron ...
), and the Nacho Veguillas, a sycophant pandering to megalomaniac dictator Santos Banderas, portrayed by Gian Maria Volonté. Juan Diego appeared in
Luis García Berlanga Luis García-Berlanga Martí (12 June 1921 – 13 November 2010) was a Spanish film director and screenwriter. Acclaimed as a pioneer of modern Spanish cinema, his films are marked by social satire and acerbic critiques of Spanish culture under t ...
's last full-length film ' (1999), playing the anarchic
nudist Naturism is a lifestyle of practising non-sexual social nudity in private and in public; the word also refers to the cultural movement which advocates and defends that lifestyle. Both may alternatively be called nudism. Though the two terms ar ...
Boronat, a role that won him his second
Goya Award for Best Supporting Actor The Goya Award for Best Supporting Actor ( es, Premio Goya a la mejor interpretación masculina de reparto) is an award presented annually by the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain. It is given in honor of an actor who has deli ...
. He starred as the title character in the 2002 television miniseries ', directed by Benito Zambrano, in a story based on true events in which Juan Diego's character enters the underworld to find those responsible for the murder of his son. Juan Diego's supporting performance in the 2003 comedy '' Torremolinos 73'' as Don Carlos, a porn film producer, landed him another Goya award nomination. Another of his collaborations with Carlos Saura, his supporting performance in the 2004 film '' The 7th Day'' portraying Antonio Izquierdo (an illiterate man and co-perpetrator of the Puerto Hurraco massacre), earned him Goya award nominations in consecutive years. The television role earning Juan Diego the most public recognition was that of the foul-mouthed Don Lorenzo in the crime comedy-drama television series ''
Los hombres de Paco ''Los hombres de Paco'' (English: ''Paco's Men'') is a Spanish television series that originally aired from 9 October 2005 to 19 May 2010 on Antena 3. Created by Daniel Écija and Álex Pina, it stars numerous actors; primarily Paco Tous and Pep ...
'', whose original broadcasting run spanned from 2005 to 2010. The series was picked up for a revival in 2020, leading up to the release of new episodes in 2021 featuring Juan Diego in a recurring role. Juan Diego won his only Goya Award for Best Leading Actor (and third overall) for his performance in Víctor García León's 2006 drama '' Go Away from Me'', playing an aging thespian and father to a freeloading son portrayed by
Juan Diego Botto Juan Diego Botto Rota (born 29 August 1975) is an Argentine-Spanish film, stage and television actor. Born in Argentina, he moved to Spain together with his mother (the actress and acting coach Cristina Rota) in 1978. Following early film appe ...
. In his later career, Juan Diego often worked for newcoming directors in films such as ''Anochece en la India'' (2014), '' Can't Say Goodbye'' (2017), ''
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'' (2021), or Víctor Conde's ''Venus'', a posthumously released work. He also featured in the 2011 political thriller ' playing general
Alfonso Armada Alfonso Armada Comyn, 9th Marquis of Santa Cruz de Rivadulla (12 February 1920 – 1 December 2013) was a Spanish military officer involved in both the Spanish Civil War and the 1981 Spanish coup d'état attempt. Biography Armada was born int ...
, a member of the clique of officers who plotted the 1981 attempted coup d'etat in Spain; in the 2012 drama ''Todo es silencio'', portraying Mariscal, a local cacique with a grip over maritime smuggling; in the 2017 Catalan period drama '' Uncertain Glory'', playing Cagorcio, the abusive father of '' femme fatale'' Carlana; and in the martial arts film '' Xtreme'' (2021), playing Ricardo, an aging crimelord. Juan Diego died at Clínica de la Zarzuela in
Madrid Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the Largest cities of the Europ ...
on 28 April 2022. Many fellow actors and friends attended his
lying in repose Lying in repose is the tradition in which the body of a deceased person, often of high social stature, is made available for public viewing. Lying in repose differs from the more formal honor of lying in state, which is generally held at the pr ...
at the
Teatro Español Teatro may refer to: * Theatre Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific ...
, including
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,
Ana Belén María del Pilar Cuesta Acosta (born 27 May 1951, Madrid), known professionally as Ana Belén, is a Spanish actress and singer. Life/career Born in 1951, Ana Belén is the oldest of three children. Her father was a cook in Hotel Palace, and ...
,
Víctor Manuel Víctor Manuel San José Sánchez (born July 7, 1947) is a Spanish singer-songwriter. He has been married to the Spanish singer and actress Ana Belén since 1972. He and his wife are considered symbols of the Spanish Transition, and his songs ...
,
Imanol Arias Manuel María Arias Domínguez (born 26 April 1956 in Riaño, León, Spain) better known as Imanol Arias, is a Spanish actor and film director. Career Imanol Arias began his career with a travelling theatre group performing in the Basque Co ...
,
Gabino Diego Gabino Diego Solís is a Spanish actor, born on 18 September 1966 in Madrid. He was educated at Runnymede College, in Madrid. His credits include: ¡Ay Carmela! and Belle Époque. Awards *Goya Awards **1999 - Nominated - Best Actor for '' ...
,
Eduard Fernández Eduard Fernández Serrano (born 25 August 1964) is a Spanish screen and stage actor. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including three Goya Awards and four Gaudí Awards. Biography Eduard Fernández was born in Barcelona on 25 August ...
,
Manolo Solo Manuel Fernández Serrano (born 1964), better known as Manolo Solo, is a Spanish actor. Biography Born in Algeciras in 1964, Manuel Fernández Serrano (his real name) was raised in neighbouring Los Barrios until age 6, later moving to Sevill ...
, Emilio Gutierrez Caba,
Carmelo Gómez Carmelo Gómez Celada (born 2 January 1962) is a Spanish actor. He is the recipient of two Goya Awards, for best supporting actor in '' The Method'' and best leading actor in '' Running Out of Time''. A very popular actor in 1990s Spanish cine ...
,
Mariano Barroso Mariano Barroso (born 26 December 1959) is a Spanish film director and screenwriter. He has directed more than 20 films since 1982. His 1996 film '' Éxtasis'' was entered into the 46th Berlin International Film Festival. Since 9 June 2018, he ...
, and María José Goyanes.


Filmography


Film


Television


Accolades


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Diego, Juan 1942 births 2022 deaths Spanish male film actors Best Actor Goya Award winners Best Supporting Actor Goya Award winners Spanish male stage actors Spanish male television actors 20th-century Spanish male actors 21st-century Spanish male actors People from Seville Male actors from Andalusia