For many years, Ricardo de Pascual was a familiar face on the iconic Mexican show ‘El Chavo del Ocho’. You might remember him as “Señor Calvillo” in a 1976 episode. In that story, his character was a businessman ready to buy the whole neighborhood. This was because Señor Barriga, played by Édgar Vivar, needed to move to a lower altitude for his heart.
Almost 50 years later, a new biographical series called ‘Chespirito, sin querer queriendo’ has brought the classic show back into the spotlight. Ricardo de Pascual, now 88, recently spoke with reporters. He shared that he’s heard a lot about the new production. “There are many truths, many lies,” he said, “but those of us who were actually there, we know what happened.”
De Pascual believes the bioseries is “very good and impactful.” He noted that it made him recall many events from that time. However, he also made it clear that Roberto Gómez Fernández and his sister Paulina, the show’s producers, never reached out to him for his side of the story.
Beyond “Señor Calvillo,” Ricardo de Pascual played other memorable roles in the series. In 1974, he appeared as “Señor Hurtado.” This character was a neighbor who started stealing things around the neighborhood. But after a talk with El Chavo, he felt bad and returned everything he took.
Later, in 1979, after Carlos Villagrán, Ramón Valdés, and Enrique Segoviano had left the show, de Pascual took on the role of a waiter. He worked in Doña Florinda’s diner.
Ricardo de Pascual Weighs in on Florinda Meza Criticism
De Pascual didn’t shy away from discussing the backlash against Florinda Meza. When asked about the criticism stemming from the bioseries, especially its focus on Chespirito’s first wife, Graciela Fernández, he used a well-known saying. “When the river makes noise, it’s carrying stones,” he stated. This implies that where there’s smoke, there’s often fire.
He added, “If people are criticizing her for what has been said in the series, there must be some truth to it.” He reminded everyone how much the public loved Roberto Gómez Bolaños.
De Pascual also spoke about the famous love triangle involving Chespirito, Florinda Meza, and director Enrique Segoviano. He confirmed he witnessed it firsthand. “The three you mentioned, and ‘Quico’ too,” he said, referencing the rumored romance between Florinda Meza and Carlos Villagrán.
“I lived through all of that,” Ricardo de Pascual explained. “But I won’t say more because I have deep respect for Roberto. I love him very much, and the others are my colleagues.” He ended by calling Enrique Segoviano “a genius of television directing.”