Julio Aleman Dead: Veteran Actor, Pioneer Of Mexican Telenovela Dies At 78

MEXICO CITY -- Mexican television and movie actor Julio Aleman, who starred in the first telenovela ever produced in the country, died Wednesday. He was 78.

Aleman had been fighting lung cancer since early 2000 and was admitted to a Mexico City hospital on Monday with an infection, according to Televisa, his broadcast employer.

Considered a pioneer in the telenovela industry, Aleman also starred in movies and served as a state representative. His last telenovela was produced only two years ago.

He had six children and married three times, including twice with the same woman. He is survived by nine grandchildren.

Aleman was born on Nov. 29, 1933, in the western Mexican city of Morelia.

Comments

[Fran Jaime]

03:41 PM on 04/13/2012

I got to meet Julio Aleman in the 90s, when he was doing a program that went from to different neighborhoods. He was a very charming man. I loved him in "Tunco Maclovio" and "Los Hermanos del Hierro". He will be missed.

[WoodsyLadyM]

09:49 AM on 04/13/2012

Julio Aleman was the star of one of my favorite telenovelas ever, "El Adorable Profesor Aldao." He also starred in one film version of "Corazon Salvaje." May he rest in peace

[Miss Diamond Lil]

12:52 AM on 04/13/2012

Now if only all the reality tv producers would kick off.

[Rob Paterson1]

03:33 PM on 04/12/2012

R.I.P MR.ALEMAN! the Cleant Eastwood of Mexico#1!

[mira chancleta]

11:09 AM on 04/12/2012

this is news?

[Fran Jaime]

03:39 PM on 04/13/2012

Yesm it is. Quite a few people know who he was. On the other hand, nobody knows or cares who you are.

[MHB48]

05:29 AM on 04/12/2012

I had no idea Pat Riley moonlighted as a Mexican actor. Who knew?

[113]

04:44 AM on 04/12/2012

I didn't know Pat Riley was Mexican

[parabq]

09:28 AM on 04/13/2012

hahahahahahaha thats funny !!!!!!!!!!!

[oldwolf49]

04:43 AM on 04/12/2012

Telenovela, is that like soup or something?

[MexicanDude]

11:38 PM on 04/12/2012

Yep. Telenovela is a Soap opera. Mexican Telenovelas are world famous, they get translated to lots of languages (some have even played as far away as Russian TV).

They differ from their American counterparts in that the storylines are usually much better (since they play in the more prime afternoon slots as opposed to the morning), and they actually *end* after a year or two.

So if you're busy you're actually likely to watch a full one for a season and then be done with it when it ends since it's not actually a futile eternal endeavor. People usually pick one or two to watch with regularity and ignore the less interesting ones.

A funny thing: Usually the same crowd of major actors will revolve around more than one Telenovela, prompting funny situations if you're not paying attention: H: "But wait, wasn't that the villain and the brunette girl was his jilted lover instead of his wife?" - W: "No, husband, that's on the one that airs at 7:00pm" :-)

[Rob Paterson1]

12:36 AM on 04/13/2012

jaja so True! thumbs up friend.