German Valdes aka Tin Tan was a Mexican actor famous for clearing Pachuco. In his career he participated in more than 100 films
Today Google celebrates an actor little known in Italy, but who in Mexico and the United States is considered one of the most important of the last hundred years. We are talking about Germán Genaro Cipriano Gómez Valdés de Castillo, simply known as "Tin Tan". Today German Valdes would have turned 104 years old and in the month dedicated to the Hispanic cultural heritage (only a few days ago Google celebrated Ynes Mexía, a botanist of Mexican origin) the Mountain View company wanted to remember one of the most famous Mexican characters of the twentieth century.
Tin Tan had a flourishing career as an actor, singer and especially as a comedian. In his 30-year career, he appeared in more than 100 films and recorded 11 records. But his name will forever be linked to the clearance of Pachuco and the Calo dialect, the language spoken by Mexicans living on the U.S. border, a kind of Spanish-English. Pachuco is symbolic of the subculture of Chicanos and Mexican-Americans. associated with flamboyant clothes and nightlife.
German Valdes "Tin Tan", biography and career
Tin Tan was a Mexican actor, singer and comedian born in Mexico City on September 19, 1915 (he would have been 104 years old today). His entire career, however, took place in Ciudad Juarez, in the state of Chihuahua. His career as an actor and comedian began almost by accident: he was working as a garbage collector for the radio station XEJ and one day he tried to imitate the radio presenters, thinking that the microphone was off. In reality it was on and many people listened to his performance which was so successful that he was promoted as a radio presenter. From the radio to the movies the step was short and in a short time he established himself as one of the most famous comic actors in all of Mexico.
In the movies he starred along with his brothers Manuel "El Loco" Valdés and Ramón Valdés and cleared customs for the term Pachuco and the calò language spoken by Mexicans living on the border with the United States. It is a kind of Spanglish, a mixture of English and Spanish based on that of Mexican immigrants. He boasts a rather unusual record: that of having kissed the highest number of actresses in his career.
In his 30-year career, he has appeared in more than 100 films and recorded 11 albums. He also dubbed some Disney cartoons (The Jungle Book and The Aristocats).
He died on June 29, 1973 in Mexico City at the age of 57 due to hepatitis turned cancer. Upon his death he received the "Medalla Virginia Fábregas" from the Actors' Association of Mexico for his 25 years of honorable career
Where does the nickname "Tin Tan"
German Valdes is known by everyone as "Tin Tan". The genesis of the nickname is quite peculiar. At the beginning of his career his nickname was "Topillo", but his friends advised him to change it because it was too vulgar for a comedian. And they suggested him "Tin Tan", the sound of tolling bells.