Around 1978 and 1979, the hit show ‘El Chavo del Ocho’ faced some drama behind the scenes. Trouble stirred between the show’s creator, ‘Chespirito,’ and actor Carlos Villagrán, known as Quico. Villagrán eventually left. Soon after, another beloved star, Ramón Valdés, also decided to step away. At 54, Valdés wasn’t ready to stop. He kept performing comedy, forever tied to his iconic character, Don Ramón.
Carlos Villagrán often shared his take. He said Valdés left ‘El Chavo del Ocho’ out of loyalty, standing with him. Villagrán believed Don Ramón’s absence would doom the show. This would happen even if Quico himself had stayed.
But Ramón’s son, Esteban Valdés, offered a different perspective. He shed light on his father’s real reasons for leaving the popular 80s series. Esteban confirmed it wasn’t simply loyalty to Villagrán. Money wasn’t the issue either. Ramón, his son explained, simply wasn’t happy.
“My dad made a dignified choice to step aside,” Esteban recalled. “It wasn’t a tantrum or a quarrel. It was about his peace of mind.” He mentioned that changes in the show’s production weighed on Ramón. At that time, Chespirito and Florinda Meza had also publicly shared their romantic relationship.
Life After the Neighborhood
After parting ways with the ‘Chespirito’ team, Ramón Valdés found his next big stage: the circus tent. He left TV screens, but he never truly left his audience. In live performances, he brought back beloved characters. He always carried that playful, kind spirit of Don Ramón.
In a Chilean interview, Valdés himself spoke fondly of this era. He loved connecting directly with audiences, a bond he cherished deeply. “I never paid Mr. Barriga his rent, champ,” Valdés quipped in one interview, “so I just went and bought a circus in Mexico.”
He also teamed up again with his old friend, Carlos Villagrán. Villagrán had renamed his character from Quico to Kiko for his show, ‘¡Ah que Kiko!’ Together, they traveled to Venezuela. They created new TV shows and live performances there. These brought back a bit of the old ‘vecindad’ feel, even without the full original cast.
Don Ramón: A Symbol for Generations
Don Ramón wasn’t just a TV character. He grew into a powerful cultural symbol. His image crossed borders, touching generations. In Brazil, for instance, his face appeared in social protests. People used it when demonstrating against rising rents. Don Ramón, the eternal tenant who never paid, became their mascot. His famous line, “I have no money,” turned into a rallying cry. His face became a protest banner.
His face even shows up in street fashion. You can find his image on t-shirts, often styled like the band The Ramones. It’s a cool blend of humor, a rebel spirit, and warm nostalgia. Don Ramón, with his signature hat, worn-out pants, and endless dance with Mr. Barriga over rent, became the face of the common Latin American person. He was friendly, hardworking, and proud. Always on the edge, but always with a smile.
Of course, he’s also a big hit on social media. Don Ramón is a recurring meme. People use his image for funny or witty comments. Few TV characters manage to stay so relevant for so long. On apps like WhatsApp, you’ll spot stickers of his classic expressions. And his famous quote always pops up on Labor Day: “There’s no bad work, the bad thing is having to work.”