Hernando Casanova Escobar known as El Culebro Casanova (Neiva, Huila, April 21, 1945 - Bogotá D.C., October 24, 2002), was a Colombian actor, director, singer, and television presenter. He is considered one of the pioneers of comedy and one of the most important actors in the history of Colombia. His versatility as an actor led him to become not only an icon of humor but also of drama. He was regarded as the best actor in Colombia during the peak of his career. Throughout his career, he received multiple awards and recognitions for his artistic achievements, including his nomination as a revelation actor at the Ondra Awards in Spain and the award for best dramatic actor at the APE Awards.
Hernando Casanova began his career as a singer in the Club del Clan (1966), where he was part of the first generation of Colombian rock, and later made his acting debut with a brief role in the soap opera "Cartas a Beatriz" (1969). His career gained momentum, and he gained national recognition for his role as Hernando María de las Casas in the series "Yo y tú" (1975) by Alicia del Carpio. Later, he reached the peak of success with his character Eutimio Pastrana Polanía in the series "Don Chinche" (1982-1989) by Pepe Sánchez. His portrayal of the Huilense culture made him one of the most representative and influential figures in Colombian television history. Additionally, Casanova was a pioneer in sketch comedy, directing, writing, and acting in "Los Meros Recochan Boy's," a section of the successful show "El Show de Jimmy" (1976-1993) hosted by Jimmy Salcedo. Among his other notable roles are Salomón in "Embrujo Verde" (1977), the lead role in "Farzán" (1983), presenter in "El tiempo es oro, su pueblo gana" (1986), Wilson Rodríguez in "El pasado no perdona" (1991), Yardines Murillo in "Perro Amor" (1998), and Vicente Secretario in "Amor a mil" (2001). In the film industry, Casanova was the emblematic actor of Chilean filmmaker Dunav Kuzmanich, even being named "the greatest Colombian actor of all time." He acted in movies such as "Canaguaro" (1981), "La agonía del difunto" (1982), "Mariposas S.A" (1986), and "Apocalipsur" (2007).
In 2015, his children started the production of a documentary feature film about his life titled El Culebro: La historia de mi papá. The film narrates the actor's life from the perspective of his youngest son, Nicolás Casanova. It premiered on September 20, 2017, at the Eureka University Festival. The documentary received favorable reviews and was well-received by the Colombian audience, highlighting its historical importance. Later, the film was broadcast on the program "Entre Ojos" on Caracol Televisión, becoming the most-watched program in its time slot that day. It also premiered in the United States in October 2022. Additionally, "El Culebro: La exhibición," an exhibition of photographs, video clips, awards, and costumes of Casanova's characters, took place at the Huila House in Bogotá.
Casanova's controversial private life received significant attention. His parties, disorder, and excesses led him to experience periods of depression and anxiety. He was married twice and had five children. He died on October 24, 2002, due to a fulminant heart attack at the Cardioinfantil Foundation in Bogotá. His death was a national shock and considered an invaluable loss in the Colombian entertainment world.
Early life Hernando Casanova was born in Neiva, department of Huila, Colombia, on April 21, 1945, the only male of his parents Blanca Casanova and Guillermo Escobar. Her mother gave him her last name since his father did not legally recognize him. Casanova attended Santa Librada School in Neiva and he dropped out after ninth grade. At the age of sixteen he joined the National Army of Colombia in the Marine Corps. Besides his duties as a militar, he performed with the soldiers in several plays, musicals and fashion shows. However, two months later, while serving in Buenaventura, he deserted. Soon after, he turned himself in and was transferred to Bogotá to take a course for non-commissioned officers. During his time in the army, he became an Olympic wrestling and featherweight boxing champion in the military engineers unit. Later, he settled in Yaguará, Colombia, to work as a teacher for fifth-grade students.
From an early age, Casanova showed a fascination for the world of entertainment. He performed several plays at his school in Neiva, among them a play about Adam and Eve, where Casanova played the role of Eve. At the age of eleven, he would escape from school to join the circus or participate in RCN's Ondas del Huila radio show, where he sang in the evenings. He also participated in a radio show called El Mundo infantil where he dramatized stories based on real events. Later, Casanova joined Carlos Emilio Campos' theater company. His debut as an actor occurred in his native Neiva, in the middle of a dispute between an actor and Carlos Campos. The actor resigned and it was Casanova who replaced him. After this, he toured the country with the theater company. Hernando Casanova never took drama classes, but he was an avid consumer of cinema and was convinced that much could be learned about the craft in movie theaters.
Filmography
Television YearTitleRolNotes2020República de Comedia HimselfArchive Footage - Episode 03Yo, José Gabriel InolvidableHimself / Yardines MurilloArchive Footage - Episode 40 Don Chinche, Laura Pausini, Gregorio Pernía2019Los InformantesHimselfArchive Footage - Episode 292 'Todo por mi madre / Suso, el Dani / Las vidas del Culebro Casanova'Expediente FinalHimselfArchive footage2016Simplemente PachecoHimselfArchive footage2015Colombia en el espejo: 60 años de la TelevisiónHimselfArchive footage2002Protagonistas de fuera de LugarHimselfActuación EspecialHistorias de hombres, sólo para mujeresVariousActuación Especial - 3 episodiosY por qué no?Himself2001 - 2002Amor a milVicente Secretario2001Waku-WakuHimself2000Se armó la gordaJusto FrancoModestia aparteHimself1999FrancotiradoresHimselfGuestYo, José GabrielHimself / Yardines MurilloCrónicas de CatreVarios personajes2 Episodes1998Perro AmorYardines MurilloGenteHimselfEl siguiente programaHimselfArchive Footage1997Fuego VerdeTitoSpecial Guest1996Charlas con PachecoHimself1993–1995Las Aventuras de EutimioEutimio Pastrana Polanía1991El pasado no perdonaWilson RodríguezEl Doctor Don ChincheEutimio Pastra PolaníaNostalgiaHimself1989Bendita Mentira1986–1988MusiloquisimoVarious1987Me río de los martes1985–1987El Tiempo es oro, su pueblo ganaHimselfHost1983FarzánFarzán1982-1989Don ChincheEutimio Pastrana Polanía1976-1993El show de JimmyHimselfWriter, actor and director "Los Recochan Boys"1984SabariedadesHimself1982El Esmeraldero -Cuánto vale su actuaciónHimself (Jurado)Juanita -1981La tía Julia y el escribidor -Revivamos nuestra historia: Bolívar, el hombre de las dificultadesDomingo MonteverdeLa aldeana -1980Humor Imposible -Las dos huerfanitas -1979Mujercitas -El Cuento del domingo: Bola de sebo -Directed by Bernardo Romero and Based on Guy de Maupassant's Boule de Suif 1978Manuelita SáenzAlcides de MendozaLos Pérez Somos así - -El caballero de RauzánBoris -Teatro popular Caracol: Cachaco, Palomo y GatoGato -1977Embrujo verdeSalomónWon at the APE's an award for best drama actorPuerta Al Suspenso - -1976Las señoritas Gutiérrez -Teatro Popular Caracol: Después nos divorciamosLa Trampa - -Aroma de SecretoTurco -Memorias Fantásticas - -Una pareja con suerte - -El gran musicalHimself1975La Mala Hora -La Suicida1973Sábados felicesVariousLa Herencia - -La Rosquilla - -1973 - 1975Yo y túHernando María de las casas1972Caso Juzgado - -1971Una vida para amarte1969Cartas a Beatriz -Vespertina DominicalHimself1966El Club del ClanHimself
Films YearTitleDirectorCharacterNotes1971TaciturnoJorge Gaitán Gómez -1978El candidatoMario Mitrotti -El PatasPepe Sánchez -1979TigreRodolfo de Anda -1980Cien años de infidelidadEduardo Sáenz -1981CanaguaroDunav KuzmanichProfesor1982La agonía del difuntoDunav KuzmanichBenigno Sampués1984Ajuste de cuentasDunav KuzmanichEliazar1985El Día de las MercedesDunav KuzmanichSantiago Rodríguez Las Mercedes1986Mariposas S.A.Dunav KuzmanichSerrano -2007ApocalipsurJavier MejíaEl PapítoCameo2014DuniJavier MejíaHimselfArchive footage2017El Culebro: La historia de mi papáNicolás CasanovaHimselfArchive footage
References