Rubén Aguirre, famous for his portrayal of the towering “Profesor Jirafales,” the likable and often disrespected giraffe teacher on the 1970s-era hit show “El Chavo del Ocho,” died Friday from complications of pneumonia. He was 82.
Aguirre, who had battled various complications of diabetes in recent weeks, was hospitalized in May, then released, his daughter Veronica told BBC World. She said he died at home in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Aguirre was a stalwart of “El Chavo.” Although the show was aimed at adults, it was popular with children. Grown actors played the children depicted in the show’s odd world. They included Roberto Gómez Bolaños — known as “El Chespirito,” a giant among Latin American humorists — who portrayed the iconic character, El Chavo.
The adults-as-children device helped lend the screwball comedy an edge, and helped usher in an era of edgier comedy in Mexico and elsewhere.